China's Bootlegged Computer Software Problem

A recent article written by PAUL MOZUR, in the NY Times, on May 15, 2017, titled, "China, Addicted to Bootleg Software, Reels From Ransomware Attack," reminded us of a number of troubling things, such as, the depth of China’s pirated computer software culture.

According to one study cited in the article, software installed in 70 percent of the computers in China is not licensed properly, followed by Russia at 64 percent, and India at 58 percent, respectively.

One cybersecurity expert is quoted as saying, “Using copied software and other media has become embedded in China’s computing culture. Some people are under the impression that using pirated goods in China is legal, while others are simply not used to paying for software."

The same cybersecurity expert said he had the experience of working at a U.S. client's Beijing office and found that all their computers and software had been bootlegged.

Link to the article...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/15/business/china-ransomware-wannacry-hacking.html