Recognizing the Danger of Malware from Unauthorized Software is Essential for Businesses
In today's digital age, the importance of cybersecurity has never been more critical. A new study confirms the connection between unlicensed software and cybersecurity threats, a link that could pose significant risks for businesses.
According to Jodie Kelley, General Counsel and Senior Vice President of BSA, The Software Alliance, only 35% of companies have written policies requiring the use of properly licensed software. This means that a staggering 65% of companies are potentially exposing themselves to cybersecurity threats.
The risks from cybercrime are real and extraordinary. In 2014, enterprises spent $491 billion as a result of malware associated with counterfeit and unlicensed software. To put this into perspective, the average organization experiences a malware event every three minutes.
The correlation between the use of unlicensed software and malware is higher than that between education and income, or smoking and lung cancer. Unlicensed software often lacks regular updates, security patches, and official support, making it more susceptible to new threats.
Pirated or unlicensed software can contain hidden spyware or keyloggers that capture sensitive information, serve as a platform for ransomware, lack security updates, cause system instability or malfunctions, and indirectly reduce system security.
To mitigate these risks, businesses are encouraged to implement best practices. These include using only licensed and trusted software, keeping software up-to-date, employing endpoint protection and anti-malware tools, regular security training and awareness, implementing strict Software Asset Management (SAM), using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and monitoring tools, and enforcing access controls and role-based permissions.
Additional technical controls such as network segmentation, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and incident response planning further reduce risk exposure related to potentially risky software environments.
Avoiding unlicensed software is a crucial cybersecurity best practice since it greatly reduces exposure to malware infections, data breaches, and operational disruptions associated with pirated software. Maintaining a disciplined, documented, and proactive software management process combined with technical security controls forms the strongest defense against these threats.
CEOs are encouraged to start implementing these best practices to mitigate security risks and avoid their businesses becoming news headlines. In the past year, 43% of companies experienced a data breach, a nightmare scenario for any CEO.
For more information on additional steps to take, visit BSA's website. Business leaders must recognise the importance of legal software usage and take action to protect their businesses from cybercrime.
- In light of the substantial risks from cybercrime, with enterprises spending $491 billion in 2014 due to malware associated with unlicensed software, businesses should prioritize the use of licensed software as part of their cybersecurity strategies.
- Besides implementing technical controls like network segmentation and endpoint detection and response (EDR), businesses should also focus on best practices such as using only licensed software, keeping it updated, and enforcing strict Software Asset Management (SAM), to minimize exposure to potential threats and data breaches.
