How Pirated Software Turns Helpful Employees Into Malware Delivery Agents

Employees seeking free versions of paid software may unknowingly install malware-laced “cracked” apps that can steal credentials, deploy cryptominers, or open the door to ransomware.

Getting your hands on free software may seem attractive, but is often dangerous. 

Employees welcome opportunities to improve their work and benefit their employers. This can include downloading free versions of apparently useful apps that normally require a paid license to use. Sadly, many of these are pirated and / or cracked versions containing malware.

Barracuda reports, “Over the last month, Barracuda’s SOC tools and analysts have detected multiple instances of users trying to download and activate pirate or cracked versions of software and unauthorized installers onto corporate endpoints.”

These are apps not included in the company’s ‘allowed software list’. The employee understands he or she is doing something illicit, so disguises, or at least doesn’t highlight the activity. If the installation process ...