thanks for the warning

Giant red flag warning with a blaring siren: Western Union     

http://www.thatsnonsense.com/viewdef.php?article=western_union_scams

The inclusion of malware with cracked/pirated software is the best thing we can hope for.  It will fix the problem culturally if cracked software gains a reputation for doing damage.  Whether people are smart enough to know it's happening...

Kids need to be taught to be honest.

-Noel

Noel Carboni wrote:

 

The inclusion of malware with cracked/pirated software is the best thing we can hope for.  It will fix the problem culturally if cracked software gains a reputation for doing damage. 

Sadly, the type of malware that is most often added to cracked software does no physical damage to the user's system. Rather, it is keystroke loggers and 1+1+1 search engines looking for social security / credit card / bank account numbers and passwords.

Whether people are smart enough to know it's happening...

... And that's the problem. Most people will figure some store clerk or bank employee stole their info when they start getting the fallout. Never thinking of thie own infected computer.

Kids need to be taught to be honest.

 

Amen to that. But it is difficult when, so often, their parents are just the same. Situational ethics; the old; "It's okay if you can get away with it." garbage.

Getting off my soapbox now...

--OB

Noel Carboni wrote:

 

Reasonable points, but I say that if a thief has their identity stolen - or worse - it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person.  Perhaps they'll get so bogged down in the aftermath they'll have trouble finding idle time to steal more software.  Fine by me.

 

Effecting a cultural change for the better will be difficult but is ultimately necessary.  Capitalism only works if everyone is substantially honest.  An honest wage for an honest day's work, honest profit from a good product, that sort of thing.

 

Why isn't morality taught more thoroughly in schools?  Teach 'em right from wrong, and show them the big picture - show them how if they steal something then they should expect to have things near and dear to them stolen.  What goes around comes around, that kind of thing.  Would parents complain that the school is trying to impose its morals on their precious little DNA carriers?  Do they complain that the school imposes its views on what side of the road we have to drive on in Driver's Ed?

 

As one who feeds my family and puts my son through college on the money I make selling licenses for software I've written, this subject is close to my heart.  I know how many man-months I've already had to put into anti-piracy measures, and frankly I'd like to have had that time for other things.

 

-Noel

To paraphrase Robert Burns;

To all of that, and all of that;

I say Amen to all of that.

--OB