Switched On - Avoid the pitfalls of software piracy
May 03, 2005
Andrew Parker
If you have bought a computer with software pre-installed, make sure you have the necessary software licences to hand in case you ever need to re-install the bundled programs, for instance after a hard drive failure or virus problem.
Software licences usually feature some sort of unique number that is entered during the installation process.
In the past, it was relatively simple to share software installation disks and licence numbers, and although it is an illegal practice, many small businesses and several IT vendors would install software on several computers using a single disk and licence.
This form of piracy is known as disk swopping. Thankfully, major software companies such as Microsoft and Symantec are combating disk swopping using a technology called product activation. This usually occurs during the installation process, and it requires either an internet connection or a phone call to the software company's activation line.
Once a product is activated, it is locked to the computer on which it is installed and subsequent attempts to activate it on other computers usually fail. It's still important to keep the installation CDs and product licence, though, as these are the only proof of legally licensed software.
Be aware of software that is offered at prices that seem too good to be true. Often, these are advertised via unsolicited e-mails or on the internet. These products are usually counterfeited, in much the same way as DVD movies.
Counterfeit
The following may assist in identifying pirated or counterfeit software:
If you suspect you may have been duped into buying or installing pirate software,
e-mail online@intech.co.za for assistance, or contact the Business Software Alliance at 0800 110 447.
It's no mystery that Bill Gates is an incredibly wealthy man: Microsoft's software is not cheap, but its widespread use means that any software from other vendors has to be compatible with Microsoft standards if it is to be a worthy contender.
The OpenOffice.org suite from www.openoffice.org is a powerful, fully-featured office suite that is compatible with Microsoft Office.
This means you can open, edit and save files created with Word, Excel or PowerPoint using OpenOffice.org. It's a free download - although the file is quite big. Unlike commercial software, this suite can be shared with as many users as desired - because it uses a Lesser General Product Licence which allows for unlimited installations, even for commercial use.
It would take a long time to download OpenOffice.org using anything slower than an ISDN connection: expect a four- or five-hour wait if you are still using a dial-up connection.
Several Durban-based companies offer a (legal) copy on CDROM for a small charge. Contact online@intech.co.za
Next week I'll tell readers how to configure OpenOffice.org to save files in Microsoft formats by default. If you're interested in OpenOffice.org, I'd suggest reading up on it on www.8daysaweek.co.uk - a site dedicated to assisting users of the software.
