Microsoft Study: Nearly 7 in 10 Computers Running Pirated Software in Southeast Asia also Infected with Malware

Microsoft unveiled details of a forensic study on malware threats that examined name-brand PCs with pirated software installed, as well as counterfeit software DVDs, sourced from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The study, which extends research originally conducted in December 2012, examined a total of 282 computers and DVDs—more than double the original sample—and found an average malware infection rate of 69%, an increase of six points over the preliminary study.