software pirates
Illegal program copiers
Software pirates are people who illegally copy, distribute, or use software without proper licensing or payment.
The term borrows the romantic image of seafaring pirates to describe digital theft—though the crime involves copying rather than taking.
Software pirates cost the industry billions annually.
The practice ranges from casual sharing to organized distribution networks.
- skull and crossbonesSkeletal danger symbol
- crackersCrispy flat biscuits
- warezIllegally distributed programs
- torrentsViolent, rushing streams
- serialOccurring in ordered succession
serial number · license key · cracks · bootleg · illegal · downloads · file sharing · hackers · copying · sharing · peer-to-peer · seeders · leechers · counterfeit · stolen · underground · scene · release
- infringersplagiarists, counterfeiters, bootleggers, forgers, copiers
- cybercriminalshacker, hackers, scammer, scammers, phishers