Microsoft has announced a series of educational initiatives and enforcement actions worldwide to raise awareness of the dangers of pirated software.

“Microsoft claims that counterfeit software is becoming more dangerous,” writes InformationWeek’s Thomas Claburn. “It cites a 2006 IDC study that found 25 percent of counterfeit software attempted to install unwanted or malicious code when downloaded.”

“Companies using software that’s either unlicensed or counterfeit are 73 percent more likely to suffer data loss or damage than users of legitimate software and 73 percent more likely to suffer computer failures lasting 24 hours or more, according to the Harrison Group,” Claburn writes.

Click here to read the InformationWeek story.