Microsoft may be giving users of pirated software a discount.
Microsoft will discount subscriptions of Personal and Family tiers by 50 percent.
Piracy is as widespread as it is widely disliked by software companies. Microsoft is one of them, and it has repeatedly launched campaigns urging people not to use pirated software. The most recent is a 50% discount on genuine Office software that Microsoft will provide to users of pirated versions of Microsoft 365. This promotion is valid for both Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions.
Users of non-genuine software are now seeing a banner on top, according to a promotional offer spotted by Ghacks (via Bleeping Computer). “GET UP TO 50% OFF.” says the banner. Save up to 50% on a genuine Microsoft 365 subscription for a limited time.” By clicking on the banner, users are directed to the Microsoft 365 landing page, where they will not only be warned against using pirated software, but they will also be able to purchase genuine versions at a 50% discount.
If pirated users decide to purchase Microsoft 365, the cost will be around $35 per year for ‘Personal’ users and around $50 per year for ‘Family’ subscribers. In the United States, the regular prices are $69.99 per year and $99.99 per year, respectively. We are unsure if Indian users of non-genuine Microsoft 365 software, such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, are also eligible because we were unable to independently verify the offer. Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions in India cost Rs 4,899 per year and Rs 6,199 per year for ‘Family’ subscriptions.
While pirated software is nearly free, it can be dangerous to your computer because it comes from unknown sources. In fact, if attackers decide to use the software’s nefarious elements, the software may steal your personal information as well. There is also the possibility of file corruption and data loss. As a result, Microsoft is urging users of pirated software to purchase genuine versions in order to ensure the safety of their computers and data.
The 50% discount, on the other hand, may not be as lucrative as getting pirated software for free, but because the risks of using non-genuine Microsoft 365 software outweigh the benefits, some users may decide to make the switch. And, regardless of how many new customers Microsoft may gain from this offer, the company’s goal is to increase the number of paying customers of its Office software as well as the number of active Cloud users.
