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Protection against Online Marketplace Fraud|
- By CXOtoday Staff, Dec 11, 2007 1646 hrs IST
- Tags : Protection against Online Marketplace Fraud
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To protect consumers from global online marketplace fraud, Microsoft has filed 52 lawsuits and referred 22 cases to local law enforcement in 22 countries. These lawsuits and cases are against resellers who allegedly sold counterfeit Microsoft software on various online marketplaces.
India is one of the countries where these lawsuits and referrals have been undertaken.
In addition, Microsoft has released a new geographical guide to help spot and avoid counterfeit software offered on online marketplaces.
Although it can contain harmful viruses or tools that compromise users' privacy, counterfeit software is designed to closely resemble the original article and fool consumers. As a result, consumers seeking to purchase original software online are often tricked by those who misuse online marketplaces.
"Every day, software pirates around the world put countless consumers at risk by selling defective counterfeit software through Internet marketplaces," said David Finn, associate general counsel (Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting) of Microsoft.
"We encourage consumers to look to the legitimate channel -- both online and offline -- when seeking original Microsoft software," he added.
The 52 lawsuits were filed in Belgium (1), Canada (1), France (3), Germany (12), Hong Kong (1), India (1), Ireland (1), Italy (2), Netherlands (7), Turkey (1), South Africa (1), the United Kingdom (6), and the United States (15). The criminal cases were referred to law enforcement in Argentina (1), Belgium (1), China (1), Dominican Republic (2), France (3), India (1), Japan (2), Korea (2), Mexico (1), Panama (1), Poland (3), Taiwan (3), and Turkey (1).
According to an October 2006 IDC white paper sponsored by Microsoft, counterfeit software can contain spyware, malware, or other dangerous code. It may fail to operate properly and present real risks to consumers and businesses through potential security breaches, thereby resulting loss, damage, or misuse of their important business and personal information.
Savvy shoppers searching online marketplaces for the best deal can be at risk by unknowingly buying counterfeit copies that may contain spyware, malware, etc. Therefore, Microsoft is working with the global online marketplace, eBay, to educate consumers and support honest resellers regarding counterfeit software and to that end has produced the "Microsoft Buying Guide."
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Discussion Board
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by chanakya on Dec 12, 2007 10:57 AMVirtual protection is a myth. When u r out there into the wilderness of the wild wild world u r virtually naked. There is indeed no protection in virtual or real sense. An efficient hacker is capable of hacking into anything if u challenge that strange creature. So the best thing is to guarantee a maximum precautionary protection and never ever brag about it lest a good hacker would take it up as a challenge and hack into your system. Promise.
