FAST lifts lid on most-pirated software brands

Office and Windows account for nearly half of counterfeit software, with Adobe products hot on their heels, claims industry body

Microsoft Office and Windows are the most-pirated software programmes in the UK, according to new research from the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST).

The industry body has released case work and enforcement information for the first time, which shows that Microsoft and Adobe are the most popular targets for software pirates.

Office and Windows accounted for nearly half – 24 per cent each – of the overall amount of the UK's pirated software known to FAST, with Adobe's Photoshop and Illustrator coming in third, accounting for 16 per cent of the total.

Adobe's Creative Suite made up 10 per cent, with Solidworks, SQL, Quark and Autotask also featuring with figures of between four and six per cent.

Julian Heathcote Hobbins, FAST's general counsel, said Microsoft's products make up 54 per cent of its current enforcement cases, something he said may come as no surprise due to the vendor's diverse portfolio.

The vendor's head of anti-piracy in the UK Michala Wardell said pirated software can lead to long-term problems.

"Businesses that use pirated software frequently run into a whole host of problems, such as identity theft and credit card fraud. They then have to spend many hours trying to reverse the impact the counterfeit software has had on their business," she explained.

Wardell added that the vendor is continuing to evolve its technology and tactics in order to protect its IP and its customers.