Like electronic ID theft, PC viruses, and the dissemination of other PC crimes, software robbery is rising.

The issue with software robbery is that software costs make this unlawful activity appealing to the end user. The most vulnerable victims of software robbery are software companies or independent programmers who create and distribute commercial software or shareware.

We described shareware in another article, but because both commercial software and shareware need payment, they are the target of pirates who attempt to make these sorts of programs free to use. Depending on their binding legal agreements, licensing often allows the application of a single program on a single PC. This set up is mostly fine for a user who uses software at home on one PC. But in an environment where there are 5, 10, 20 or more PCs, purchasing a license for each PC can be down-right dear.

So expensive the enticement to pirate a little software here and there may be pretty enticing. Work-mates are acquainted with this enticement and they are frequently those who "share" bought software among those that need it. However the same enticement also prompts others to deliberately or unknowingly buy illicit copies of commercial software or registered shareware. As tantalizing as it is, it's still illegal and the punishments / fines for sharing commercial or registered software is too much for one to bear. Colleges can research student versions of commercial software or ask for a school discount.

Freeware or opensource software ( also described in another one of our articles ) is another option to pirating commercial-ware, as well as shareware. Up till recently, public opinion held small religion in freeware or opensource software - frequently per it as low-quality knock-off's of better known commercial products. But if you are taking a close look at what's being offered at no charge, you will be in for a giant surprise.

The standard of today's freeware and open-source software made a robust rift among the commercial community and it's literally driving the competition bananas. So much so, that even some famous software development firms have joined the cause and made a few freeware opensource products of their own. If you can remember that there are hoards of alternatives to expensive commercial software ( and you make the effort to get it ), you can discover that you can keep up with the remainder of the PC industry at a noticeably less expensive cost than if you tried to pay your way down the software aisle.