Although users typically worry about malware from using unlicensed software, citing hacking and potential data loss as risks, BSA has found that a high proportion of the software installed on PCs in Asia Pacific in 2013 was not properly licensed.
A global study conducted by BSA found that the figures for Singapore are better, but have not changed appreciably over the years. Roughly one in three (32%) software installations carried out in 2013 in Singapore was unlicensed, down from 33% in 2012 and 37% in 2007, the earliest year listed in the survey. This represented a commercial value of US$344 million in 2013.
Singapore was ranked fourth out of 18 countries in the Asia Pacific region, after Japan (19%), New Zealand (20%) and Australia (21%).
These and other findings released today in the BSA Global Software Survey underscore the need for effective software management practices, especially in business settings.
“Most people don’t know what is installed on their systems. That needs to change,” said BSA President & CEO Victoria Espinel. “There are common-sense steps managers and administrators can take to make sure their organisations are using genuine, properly licensed software.”
The BSA Global Software Survey included operating systems, systems software such as databases and security packages, business applications, and consumer applications such as games, personal finance, and reference software in its research. Software loaded onto tablets or smartphones, software which runs on servers or mainframes and routine device drivers, as well as free downloadable utilities, such as screen savers, have been excluded.
The survey is conducted every other year for BSA by IDC, which this year polled computer users in 34 markets including nearly 22,000 consumer and business PC users and more than 2,000 IT managers. It also reveals attitudes and behaviours related to software licensing, intellectual property, and emerging technologies.