Microsoft wants to use blockchain to tackle software piracy
Blockchain technology could help make anti-piracy campaigns more open and transparent
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Researchers fromMicrosofthave devised a new way to fight online piracy using a proposed bounty system called “Argus” that runs on theEthereum blockchain.
AsreportedbyTorrentFreak, the software giant’s research department recently published an article detailing its blockchain-based bounty system titled “Argus: A Fully Transparent Incentive System for Anti-Piracy Campaigns”.
In addition to hurting copyright holders such asMicrosoftand other tech giants, online piracy also presents a serious risk to consumers that download illegal software. In fact, areport from Musoreleased last year, warned that a surge in traffic to piracy websites could lead to a flood of PCs infected withmalware. Users could also end up paying significantly more for the software, films or other online content they pirated if it leads to them becoming a victim ofidentity theft.
Microsoft has long worked to fight online piracy and the company is part of the Software Alliance (BSA) which tracks copyright infringements both online and in the real world. While the BSA is known for paying bounties to those that report piracy, Microsoft believes that Argus can offer a more transparent way to fight piracy and reward those involved in doing so.
Argus
In its new paper, which researchers at Alibaba and Carnegie Mellon also contributed to, Microsoft laid out its plans to use ablockchain-based system to make reporting piracy more open and transparent.
The company’s researchers explained in the paper how a lack of transparency hampers the effectiveness of existing anti-piracy incentive campaigns, saying:
“Anti-piracy is fundamentally a procedure that relies on collecting data from the open anonymous population, so how to incentivize credible reporting is a question at the center of the problem. Industrial alliances and companies are running anti-piracy incentive campaigns, but their effectiveness is publicly questioned due to the lack of transparency. We believe that full transparency of a campaign is necessary to truly incentivize people.”
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Argus on the other hand will allow users to anonymously report piracy in exchange for a bounty. The system will trace pirated content back to the source by using a unique watermark that corresponds with a secret code. When pirated content is then reported, the status of the source (licensee) will be changed to “accused” and then to “guilty” if an appeal is denied.
Microsoft’s new system has the potential to change theonline piracylandscape as it includes numerous safeguards to prevent abuse as well as false accusations. However, we’ll have to wait and see whether or not the company decides to go forward with bringing Argus to market.
ViaTorrentFreak
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
7 myths about email security everyone should stop believing
Best Usenet client of 2024
This new malware utilizes a rare programming language to evade traditional detection methods
