Software Piracy Exposed
By Paul Craig, Ron Honick
HIGHLIGHT
According to the Joint IDS and Business Software Alliance report, for every $2 worth of software purchased legally, $1 worth of software is pirated illegally. For the first time ever, the dark underground of how software is stolen and traded over the internet is revealed. The technical detail provided will open the eyes of software users and manufacturers worldwide! |
For every $2 of software purchased legally, $1 of software is pirated.
Date: Sep 2005
Pages: 400 (est.)
User level: All |
| SAMPLE CHAPTER : |
The Suppliers |
DESCRIPTION
This book is about software piracy--what it is and how it's done. Stealing software is not to be condoned, and theft of intellectual property and copyright infringement are serious matters, but it's totally unrealistic to pretend that it doesn't happen. Software piracy has reached epidemic proportions. Many computer users know this, the software companies know this, and once you've read the Introduction to this book, you'll understand why. Seeing how widespread software piracy is, learning how it's accomplished, and particularly how incredibly easy it is to do might surprise you. This book describes how software piracy is actually being carried out.
KEY
SELLING POINTS
- Software manufacturers lose over $30 billion in revenue annually to software piracy. This "tell all" book will give software companies invaluable insight into the techniques of those responsible.
- The first book ever to describe how software is actually stolen and traded over the internet.
- Discusses security implications resulting from over 1/2 of the internet's computers running illegal, unpatched, pirated software.
MARKET
INFORMATION
According to a joint study by IDC and the Business Software Alliance, in 2004 $30 billion of software was obtained and installed illegally compared to $50 billion of software that was purchased, licensed, and installed legally. Considering the number of computer users worldwide, and the amount of revenue being lost by software companies to piracy, the potential market for this book is enormous.
This type book has no competition, as the actual how-to aspects have been completely ignored and treated as a taboo subject by the mainstream media. However, it's precisely that hush-hush attitude that should enhance the book's appeal, even among the majority of computer users not disposed to commit piracy themselves. \
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Paul Craig is currently working in New Zealand for a major television broadcaster, and is also the lead security consultant at security company Pimp Industries. Paul specializes in reverse engineering technologies and cutting edge application auditing practices. Paul has contributed to many books including the Stealing the Network: How to Own the Box (Syngress, ISBN: 1-931836-87-6) and Stealing the Network: How to Own a Continent (Syngress: 1-931836-05-1).
Ron Honick has been an electronics engineer for over 30 years, with a career spanning electronic hardware design, research and development, engineering management, and running his own small telecommunications company. A relentless inventor, he holds two patents.
TECHNOLOGY
BACKGROUND
Written in plain English, almost no technical background is necessary to learn what software piracy is about, and the book should have equal appeal for novice computer users and experts alike. Although most computer users have heard of software piracy, very few have any knowledge how widespread it has become and how incredibly simple it is to do.
Starting with a general description of software piracy and the economic and moral issues surrounding it, the book quickly moves onto the many reasons behind piracy, the different types of software, and the various types of cracks. Hazards that may be encountered are discussed next, followed by sources where pirated software may be obtained. Examples show different ways that programs are cracked, and some of the tools that the pirates use in doing so. Finally, the technical and legal methods the software companies use for combating piracy are discussed.
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