Most computers with unlicensed software have malware.

Microsoft's research shows that up to 69% of unlicensed computers and installation discs in five Southeast Asian countries contain malware. In Vietnam, this number is significantly higher.

This information was released by Microsoft Vietnam on February 27th, and it is clearly a worrying figure.

Users should purchase computers with licensed software to avoid viruses. (Illustrative image. Source: Internet)

Specifically, Microsoft purchased computers (from brands such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung) and unlicensed installation discs from stores in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and conducted research. Through 282 sets of installation discs and hard drives, Microsoft discovered that 69% of the samples contained malware, posing a high risk of virus spread and distribution.

After conducting in-depth analysis of the samples, Microsoft experts identified 5,601 cases of malware infection belonging to 1,131 different types of malicious software. “Among them, the Zeus malware is considered particularly dangerous. In the past five years, Zeus has caused approximately $1 billion in damage globally,” shared Mr. Vu Minh Tri, General Director of Microsoft Vietnam.

In Vietnam, a study of 41 hard drives and 9 installation discs revealed that 66% of pirated installation discs and 92% of hard drives were infected with malware—the highest rates in the region.

According to the study, when using pirated software, Windows firewall settings are altered on 97% of devices. This means that the latest security patches are not updated, and hackers can easily exploit this vulnerability to launch attacks.

This study was conducted on new computers that came pre-installed, which means that many customers are unaware of the potential security risks inherent in them when they purchase the machines.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Hoan, Director of the Copyright Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), advises that to keep information safe from criminal activities, users need to check whether the products have pre-installed copyrighted software.

According to Microsoft, users should buy devices from trusted stores, avoid suspiciously attractive promotions, and check that the product is sealed and has a certificate of authenticity.../.

According to (Vietnam+) - VT