Is Pirated Windows Software Safe?

    We all know that without the Operating System, no system can operate!!! 

As simple as that may sound, if your Operating System is compromised then your will likely face some hitches while using your system.

                  Windows Logo Source

    Using an activated Windows Operating System comes with a cost but many people prefer to bypass paying Microsoft.

Microsoft will actually let you use unactivated Windows but with limitations.

Is it then safe to use a pirated copy of Windows? 

I will highlight some of the pitfalls one might encounter while using a pirated copy of Windows:

1. Your system might be prone to cyber attacks. 

    It actually doesn't go without a cost using a pirated Windows OS. The hacker that cracked the software might have added viruses, malware, keyloggers or ransomware that can expose you to cyber attacks. If you store confidential documents on your system, then you have entered a bargain with such hacker. Windows Defender will also not receive any security patch update and you are surely in for any issue you face while using the internet.

    I scanned a Windows 10 patch with Bitdefender antivirus sometime ago and I wasn't surprised when a lot of Trojan.Gen viruses were detected. Trojans are a no go area if you value your privacy while using the internet.

You can also read: Computer Storage Optimization

2. You may not receive update notification from Microsoft.

    Occasionally, Microsoft releases updates of Windows to fix bugs of previous realeases, add new features, add new security patches to keep you safe online and some other things to aid improvement. If you are using a pirated copy, you are not likely to receive any update from Microsoft.

    That will cause bugs to abound since you can't receive updates to fix them and things may slow down. Hackers take advantage of un-updated Operating Systems a lot and they wreck a lot of havoc with your privacy. You could get locked out by hackers who will demand ransome to restore your system's operation when you are attacked with ransomware. You have no option but to pay if you really need your system back.

3. You won't be able to update Microsoft apps.

     Using a pirated Windows OS will prevent you from updating Windows apps like Windows Photo, Groove and other pre-installed Windows software. In situations where you come across File System Errors associated with outdated application software, you won't be able to use those apps. You might be tempted to download another cracked software to do the job which might again come with other risks. Crack upon crack, all is crack. (Pun intended)

4. Your system might become laggy.

   Sometimes, some users who have CPUs with blazing speed and gigabytes of RAM still complain of slow performance of their system. It might not always be that the hardware is aging or deteriorating. You don't know what the hacker has loaded into the operating system which might considerably slow down the performance as time goes on.

5. You might be faced with financial thefts.

    It's very possible for the hacker that cracked your operating system to load other software under the hood that can steal your financial details like credit card number and the likes. Also, there are keyloggers than can record keystrokes of your keyboard as you type.

   Since the operating system is in charge of the whole system, as you type anything on your keyboard your keystrokes can be recorded and sent to the hacker spying on you without you knowing. In that case, you passwords can be recorded and then your accounts can be hijacked from you. So money starts leaking out from your bank account unknown to you because you've decided to bypass paying Microsoft. Your crypto coins can also be mined out by hackers in such scenerio.

    Since you are at risk of your passwords being sent to hackers who are spying, your social media accounts can be compromised as well. If you are using your social media accounts for business transactions, you can't just imagine how much havoc will be wrecked on your finances!!!

6. You can't receive Customer Support from Microsoft.

   You don't expect to get assistance from a company you stole from. When you are faced with security issue that can only be solved most times by formatting, you have no one to turn to so you do the fight by yourself.

7. It is a Crime.

     Using a pirated software that is supposed to be paid for is illegal and one can end up behind the bars if one is caught by Microsoft. It is an illegal act that is punishable under the law. If you attempt activating a pirated copy of Windows, your IP address is sent to Microsoft. IP address has details about your Internet Service Provider which can  reveal all your personal information and details about your Internet. You can be traced and taken to court on this charge.

How can you check if your Windows OS is genuine?

1. Go to Settings. You can also press Windows key + I to get to Settings.

2. Click on Update & Security.

3. On the left-hand side locate and click Activation.

4. If you don’t have pirated Windows 10 you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license” in the activation status. 

If you have a pirated copy and don't want to experience the pitfalls highlighted above, you can either manually activate it via internet connection or you rather do a fresh installation by formatting and installing a genuine one with a genuine digital license. 

You will have to back up all your work first to an external drive before you can do a complete formatting and fresh installation of Windows.

If you can't afford to buy a genuine Windows key, you can use the unactivated one but you will only have limited features under your belt. At least it is better than being locked out by Windows if they discover you are using a pirated copy.

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