Single software licence shared 774,651 times

[Simon]

A single licence for Avast security software has been used by 774,651 people after it went viral on a file-sharing site, according to the company.

Avast noticed that a license for its paid-for security software, sold to a 14-user firm in Arizona, was being distributed online. Rather than shut down the piracy, the company decided to see how far the software would spread.

The Avast Pro licence showed up on file-sharing sites, and a year and a half later it had topped three-quarters of a million active users.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/363379/single-software-licence-shared-774-651-times

[Steve]

Interesting that they let it stay 'live' . Avast ye scurvy file sharers!

[Simon]

I'm surprised they can afford to let that much potential income go. 

[armadillo]

No, they stand to gain much more than they lose. It is clever marketing. If they revoke the stolen licence immediately, the only people who are deprived are those who otherwise would have later got hold of a copy of the stolen licence. Those people would not have bought a licence from Avast anyway. But if Avast let them use it freely for a year, Avast can then invite them to pay. Some will choose to pay at that stage. After a certain elapsed time, Avast can revoke the stolen licence anyway. If Avast get even a 10% take up, that is 75000 sales they would not have made if they had revoked the stolen licence immediately.

[Simon]

Good point. 

[DorsetBoy]

It amazes me the number of people that do actually "pay" for an avast license that is a rip off, there are a number of sites selling av products illegally, one sells avast with a 5 or 10 year license, something avast have never provided, sadly when things go wrong the buyer then finds themselves with a duff product and no support.

Always check that the seller is legitimate.

[Rik]

It's not just AV products, of course, Dorset.