Information, Computer and Network Security Terms Glossary and Dictionary

Software Piracy

Software piracy refers to the unauthorized duplication and use of computer software. Although some software piracy is done by companies for financial gain, most piracy is done by private individuals who lend discs to friends or copy programs from the workplace to their computers at home. Because computer data is so easy to duplicate, and the use of unauthorized software is so hard to detect, it appears impossible to stop software piracy. In old days, software vendors sell each copy of their software with a dongle – a coded plug that must actually be fitted to the computer for the software to function.

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Software Piracy