Business Software Alliance Senior Director Tarun Sawney warned companies to brace for an incoming tidal wave of cyberattack at a press conference held at Winford Hotel and Casino, in Manila last Monday.
“There’s an increasing malware attacks, cyberattacks, and ransomware attacks. This tidal wave, it’s coming,” Sawney said.
Businesses installing and using unlicensed software are more vulnerable—facing a one in three chance of encountering malware.
“With unlicensed software, companies face one in three chance of encountering a malware,” he added.
BSA has been ramping up its efforts against unlicensed software for the past six months since the Legalize and Protect joint initiative with the Optical Media Board (that drew 22 percent of the warned 6,220 businesses to comply.
Despite the double-digit conversion rate, Sawney admitted that there is more work that needs to be done.
“In the Philippines, 64 percent of software still being used are unlicensed,” he said.
To further ramp up the efforts, BSA and OMB launched the more ambitious Clean Up to the Countdown campaign that aims to warn 10,000 companies along with a conversion target of more than 50 percent.
“I’d say if we will be able to convert more than 50 percent, that will be great,” he said.
The campaign will begin by conducting background research on various companies and its CEOs. The CEOs of companies found to be utilizing unlicensed software in their businesses will be directly contacted and encouraged to use licensed software.
Sawney revealed at the conclusion of his presentation that the Philippines’ overall has been improving in licensed software usage.
“The Philippines has been year on year improving,” Sawney concluded.
