According to a surprising new study, more than half of small to medium-sized businesses would consider breaking the law by using pirated software to cut costs.
But take our advice: Think twice before you “walk the plank”.
The most popular types of pirated software currently are project management tools and software for sales and marketing. But a whopping 56% of business owners reported that they’d be willing to use illegal cybersecurity software to try to save money.
Please – Just. Don’t. Do. It.
Pirated software is unsupported, so when you have any problems with it – which you most likely will – you won’t have anywhere to turn to for help in fixing things. More importantly, it can expose your business to even bigger problems.
Cybercriminals often use pirated software to spread malware, some of which is designed to bypass firewalls and other protections. So once it’s installed, it can distribute malicious files throughout your network, which can lead to having your sensitive data compromised or stolen.
The costs to rectify things after this kind of cyber attack can end up costing a fortune. On top of that, the pirated software can damage your devices by making them slow down or overheat.
Always use genuine software from a reputable source. Remember the “too good to be true” adage – if the cost of a software program seems too good to be true, it likely is.
As a business owner, there’s more you can do as well. Prevent unauthorized employees from downloading software that could be (knowingly or unknowingly) harmful by ensuring the proper administrative rights are set up. Make sure everyone on your team has regular cybersecurity awareness training to keep them informed about things that can be a risk to your business data.
Need help choosing or authentic and trustworthy software for your business or developing a cybersecurity plan? Contact us.
Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.
