Microsoft is tracking down pirated Windows 7 and 8 users

Microsoft is now fiercely fighting pirates. Recently, they have managed to track down pirates who have activated more than 1,000 copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems which had been stolen from supply chains.

According to a report by Computer World, Microsoft has filed lawsuits in a Seattle court which includes piracy of Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows 8 operating systems and also Office 2010 and Office 2013. The company has tracked down the pirates IP addresses and is asking the judge for authorisation to find the identity of the pirates and make them pay for the theft.  

“Microsoft's cyberforensics have identified over one thousand product activations originating from IP address 66.51.73.111 (‘the IP Address’), which is presently assigned to Earthlink Inc., and which, on information and belief, is being used by the Defendants in furtherance of the unlawful conduct alleged herein,” reveal the court documents that lawyers filed in the complaint.

The report mentions that product keys that are used to activate the software were stolen from the company’s supply chain and used more than their given legal amount. The activations were done both within and outside their intended geographical regain, claims Microsoft.  

Last month, Microsoft had filed a lawsuit and asked for permission to name the subscriber via an IP address from where Microsoft believes that thousands of product activations have taken place.

Microsoft said as much in the complaint. "Cyberforensics allows Microsoft to analyze billions of activations of Microsoft software and identify activation patterns and characteristics that make it more likely than not that the IP address associated with the activations is an address through which pirated software is being activated," the company stated.