BSA offers $20,000 cash to catch software pirates

A cash reward of up to $20,000 for qualified leads of Australian businesses using unlicensed software is being offered by the BSA | The Software Alliance (BSA) in an effort to drive awareness of the cybersecurity risks posed by the use of pirated software.

Potential recipients must disclose accurate information regarding unlawful copying or use of BSA members’ software as well as provide assistance and evidence to support the information, as may be required by the BSA’s legal advisers.

The BSA said this will include assistance in connection with any claim or legal proceedings initiated by its members. 

“With the influx of personal devices into the workplace, security risks and business vulnerabilities in terms of securing critical systems are continuing to increase,” said Roland Chan, senior director, compliance programs – Asia-Pacific.

In 2015, a study conducted by global research firm IDC found that the higher the unlicensed software rate in a country, the more malware generally encountered on PCs in that country.

The BSA said the implication for governments, enterprises and end users is clear: eliminating unlicensed software on their networks could help reduce the risk of cybersecurity incidents.

“BSA will continue to raise awareness around the benefits businesses will see through introducing a robust SAM practice, ultimately helping business to avoid financial, legal and security risks,” said Chan.

“With cybercrime rising in Australia, it’s now more crucial than ever for organisations to introduce a formal policy on licensed software use to create the best possible security to protect them from infringement and cybertheft.”

The BSA said a recent study by the Australian Cyber-Security Centre showed while 56% of organisations increased expenditure on security in the last 12 months, more than 50% of respondents had experienced a cyber attack during that time.

With Australia being targeted by cyber attackers, local businesses are being urged to ensure their software is properly licensed as a crucial first step towards securing intellectual property and business processes.

For the full terms and conditions, click here. Reports on corporate users of unlicensed software can be lodged here.

For more information the alliance, go to www.bsa.org.

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