Ethics of warez

Very well said aj. I think that it is a good thing to know how to hack/crack, especially in the field in which we work - Network Security. This includes software security. What better way to know how to code a secure program than to have been able to crack software at some point. No, I am not a cracker. However, there are some things I know now that I would not have known if it weren't for them. So for that, I am appreciative. I was in the same boat with those that could not afford to buy the expensive software, but now, I can afford to contribute to the profit of a Software Engineer working hard at a program. We all reap the benefits in some way, even if it is just knowing that it has been done and ways to prevent things like buffer overflows/stack overflows and such. You know, this makes me think about the Police here. In the city, they hire ex-cons as cops. Why? I don't know for sure. But I can tell you this, I have been told by numerous cops (when they were trying to get me to join the force) that you have to think like a criminal to catch a criminal. Now, I don't mean that cops should be criminals, but I am saying that those that have a less-than-perfect background do have somewhat of an upper hand, especially in major cities across the nation. It's essentially the same concept These guys are able to do their jobs better - they know the territory.

aj, how many programmers do you know who don't use a single piece of pirated software on their home PCs. I can safely say that I know none. I don't really think using pirated software at home is too much of a threat to the programmers who make the software (except in the case of games and other such stuff that's used only at home). It's when companies start to use warez that the programmers are really hard hit. Nuff said.
Cheers,
cgkanchi

Quote:

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If you don’t come from a family with a decent income and you don’t use warez like office, photoshop and all the others. Your not even in the ball game. Without warez this culture would almost be a cast system, only those already making money could afford to buy the new software and learn to use it well.

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I completly agree with this. On one hand I certainly don't advocate stealing. But on the other hand I don't think that people should be forced to pay outragous amounts of money for software that isn't worth that much. Example: windows xp. I am told that this os cost around $150+ for the professional version.
Is an os that will crash while viewing a web page worth that much? Especally while there are perfectly free alternatives that will do a hell of a lot better.
While people can think what they will about warez, all i have to say is that i don't think it is anywhere near ethical for people to be forced to line Bill Gates' pockets with money just so that they can use a computer that was bought withen the last year or so.
You be the judge.