Microsoft survey shows 1 in 8 have used pirated software in the workplace

by Darren Allan

On the day that the Digital Economy Bill is getting its second reading in Parliament, Microsoft has published a survey highlighting the widespread nature of casual attitudes towards piracy.

A thousand UK citizens were questioned in the company’s “Attitudes to Piracy” report, with the central statistic to emerge being that a third of respondents felt piracy was “acceptable”.

One in six actually admitted to having used pirated software themselves. Only a third of those surveyed showed any knowledge of the risks of using pirated material, such as viruses.

When it came to the business world, some folks admitted to using pirated software in the workplace – one in eight of those surveyed, in fact.

Perhaps most surprising is that nearly two thirds of respondents thought that their boss would be fine with the use of illegally copied programs.

Which doesn’t say much about them, or their boss, one way or another.

Between the security issues, viruses, potential vital data loss and possible fines if caught using pirated software, the risks to a business are even greater than those faced by the individual.

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Tags: attitude, Microsoft, piracy, workplace

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