Companies are getting smarter, and databases are becoming more secure, and organisations are taking action.

For a while now piracy has been under the spotlight and heat, mainly with record companies chewing out the P2P stuff and trying to stop people from downloading stuff they arn't suppose to. Well now the application industries are in on it too, but in a BIG different way.

I recently got caught out by a new system for an application known as HistoryKiller 2003. This program is the ultimate application for destroying all your history, by re-writing your index logs 23 times, and killing pop-up adds like you wouldn't believe, and all sorts. It's actually the first application i have ever used which i have considered to be very useful in regards to my history and popups and cookie management. It was even recommended by various hacker groups and affiliates of the underground.

HOWEVER. They have an incredibly system in place. I tried using information supplied by a well known crack group, to get the application for free. That was a HUGE mistake on my part. I got a msg stating that it is illegal information and all my information has been gathered and shall be reported to the authorities if i do not purchase the product NOW. So i bought the application, worrying about my current finances as it is because i'm not even sure if i have the money available to cover the cost or not =.=;

But since, i've been seriously considering my situation on things. Just how many times have we come close to being caught for illegal software and not even realised it? Just how much do we take all this stuff for granted and assume we're safe simply because nothing has happened so far? How do we know it isn't all piling up with the authorities, until it reaches the point that they decide to bust you without warning due to the large amount of reports they've received?

the company involved with HistoryKiller is the first to remind me exactly how serious this stuff is, and how extreme the punishment would be if i was ever found out. For this reason i'm seriously considering about getting rid of all my illegal software and going straight.

Also, as an unfortunate side-effect. It's made me exceptionally paranoid. I keep getting the feeling someone is surfing through my computers history and checking up on everything i say online now.... =.=;

Consider it, and decide.