Trust Only Genuine Software
Find out what steps to take to protect yourself from the risks associated with using illegitimate software.
What to Watch Out For
Purchasing software from unlicensed distributors increases the risk of receiving counterfeit software. Avoid websites offering free downloads in exchange for uploading another program, online distributors offering special deals supposedly on behalf of the software publisher (such as inventory liquidation or bankruptcy sales), internet auction sites, and peer-to-peer networks that enable unauthorized transfer of copyrighted programs.
Identity Theft
When customers purchase counterfeit software from legitimate looking "OEM software sites," they potentially give away credit card and other personal information. Hackers can then use that information to commit fraud.
Dangerous Websites
Installing free software from bit locker and torrent file sharing sites can harm your computer. These sites often can contain malware that gets installed by tricking the user to click on misleading download buttons.
The Benefits of Genuine Software
Updates and Upgrades
Since updates to software will always come directly from the software maker, they often are not compatible with counterfeit software versions. TechSmith makes our best effort to work with people in this situation, but we cannot promise updates/upgrades for counterfeit software.
Product Support
TechSmith gives free technical support to all customers with a valid key, a practice that is not the norm in the software industry. Unfortunately, we cannot offer technical support to anyone using a counterfeit software key because of the excess stress it puts on the backlog for our technical support team.
Safety and Stability
Avoiding counterfeit software reduces the risk of infecting your computer with various forms of malware such as viruses, Trojans, and worms, which can degrade computer performance or possibly lead to security breaches by hackers.
Think You've Purchased Pirated Software?
The best way to ensure your software is genuine is to buy it directly from the manufacturer or from an official reseller. TechSmith offers online sales through our store or from our list of approved resellers.
Always register your software. Most pirate resellers go to great lengths to discourage product registration with the original software company. If registration is discouraged, it's a sure sign something is wrong.
Check the return policy. Legitimate resellers will have a reasonable return policy and a way to handle credit card charge backs on disputes.
If you think you may have purchased software from an illegal reseller, you can report the piracy to BSA - the trade association representing the global software industry.