Software piracy is a significant problem for companies around the world, often leading to

software piracy
  • Lost revenue
  • Inserted viruses and malware
  • Introduced errors
  • Incorrect results

For some, the impact of piracy is simply a loss of revenue, but for highly technical software like Xchanger Suite®, pirated and cracked versions can lead to far more serious and unanticipated problems.

When software is cracked, hackers can insert viruses and malware, or change large sections of the program to bypass security routines. It's impossible to know if malicious code has been added or if fundamental operations and calculations in the software have been altered. Because of the highly interdependent nature of the incremental calculation engines in HTRI software, even a small error introduced by a hacker could lead to drastically different predictions. Without access to the latest updates and findings, people using pirated versions are likely not getting adequate results. Furthermore, these people cannot access additional guidance directly from our staff.

What can you do?

An engineer reviewing blueprints at a factory

Verify — When seeking consulting, design, or construction bids from a third party, we strongly urge you to verify that your contractors and subcontractors are current HTRI members in good standing. Simply visit the Current Members list on the HTRI website. If the company isn't listed, it's possible they're using pirated HTRI software or materials.

Question — Review the HTRI reports received from your contractors and subcontractors. The top section of each Xchanger Suite calculation report page should list the HTRI member company that generated the document. When receiving these HTRI reports, you should be suspicious if that top section displays either a blank space where the company name should appear or a company name that is not listed as a current HTRI member on the website.

Report — If you have questions or concerns, or want to report suspected piracy, send an email to the HTRI Contract Officer. Your report will be kept confidential unless we are authorized to use your name.

Support the Consortium

Your membership fees directly support HTRI's research program and the ongoing improvement of our products. If you associate with companies that use pirated copies of HTRI software, you are hurting your own investment, rewarding companies that don't contribute, and dramatically increasing your exposure risk.