A new Global Software Survey from BSA The Software Alliance has established that computer users in Malaysia are using unlicensed software at an alarming rate.
This, said the survey, is happening despite the link between unlicensed software and cyber attacks.
The survey, named 'Seizing Opportunity Through Licence Compliance', found that in Malaysia, 53 percent of software installed on computers are not properly licensed.
BSA The Software Alliance president and chief executive officer Victoria A. Espinel said this rate of access has been influenced in part by important trends underway in Malaysia.
"The personal computers market is in full decline although more so in the commercial sector than the consumer sector.
"The 'consumer effect' in shipments and 'installed base' effect put upward pressure on the unlicensed rate but overall the rate has dropped, in part due to both legalisation and and commendable enforcement efforts of the government," she said in a statement today.
Victoria said the report underscores that it is critically important for a company to be aware of what software is on the company network.
"Many CIOs do not know the full extent of software deployed on their systems or if that software is legitimate," she said.
The survey, which canvassed consumers, Internet technology managers and enterprise and PC users, reinforces that use of unlicensed software is still rampant, and that individuals and companies are playing with fire when they use unlicensed software.