Thwarting Software Pirates
Jan. 15, 2011
I got suckered into buying a back-up copy of Windows XP two years ago. I bought it off Amazon. But other on-line sales outfits are also risky.
When I tried to install it last month, I found that it was a clever pirated copy. It was useless. The seller had pasted a Microsoft label over the disk -- a tip-off of piracy.
A Microsoft customer relations person says that 90% of all Microsoft products sold through on-line outfits are pirates.
One way to test is to run your fingernail over the disk. Is it a label? If it is, return it to the seller. This means that you must open the package immediately.
If it is not in the original box, test it immediately. I was sent a disk in what looked real: a sealed sleeve. But the Microsoft box was missing. I did not think about this then. Next time, I will.
For 300+ more tips, go here://www.garynorth.com/public/department54.cfm