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Our computers have become almost indispensable ministry tools. What would you do if the worst happened and you had to function without your computers? Would your ministry survive?

This article is the final installment in a 3-part series on how to protect your ministry from serious computer-related loss. This time we’re going to focus on what every ministry should know about software license compliance.

It’s a fact that software piracy is rampant in the world today…but did you know it’s also common in the Christian community, too? Webster’s dictionary defines piracy as “the unauthorized use of another’s production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright”. Whether we download them, copy them or buy them off the shelf, the software packages we use in everyday ministry operations are copyright-protected products with stiff laws in place to uphold the rights of their creators. Violating these laws could needlessly cost your ministry hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and open you up to potential prosecution.

The Law

When you purchase a software package for your ministry, it’s not quite the same as buying a tangible item, such as a paper shredder. If you buy a paper shredder for your office, you can use it in any room in the office and shred any document you like with it. With software, you are dealing with “intellectual property”. You don’t actually “purchase” the intellectual property from the software manufactureryou are only purchasing the right to use this intellectual property under a strict set of conditions (known as a “license agreement”). Any use outside of this license agreement falls under the category of software piracy.

There are several flavors of software piracy, but the most common ways churches and ministries fall into non-compliance (both knowingly and unknowingly) are “End User Piracy” and “Client-Server Overuse”.

“End User Piracy” happens when a ministry employee reproduces copies of a software package without the proper authorization. Examples of this would include:

Buying one copy of a program and installing it on more than one computer

Purchasing upgrade-priced software when a legal copy of the software was never originally purchased

Bringing ministry discs home and installing the software on personal computers

Helping someone else copy software illegally

“Client-Server Overuse” occurs when you use software in a network environment. If you only have 5 licenses for a particular software package, but 25 people access it over the network, you are violating the license agreement for that software package (and effectively stealing 20 copies of the package from the manufacturer).

The Consequences

Software manufacturers figured out how easy it was for users to make unauthorized copies of their products a long time ago. They reacted to this by forming an organization called the “Business Software Alliance” (AKA the BSA). The BSA exists to enforce software licensing in the business (and ministry) community, and they do this by investigating allegations of piracy and imposing the penalties provided under the law. Most of the tip-offs the BSA investigate come from disgruntled employees who call in and inform on their former employers.

Your ministry can be held liable for the actions of its employees under civil and criminal law, which means you could be both prosecuted and sued for copyright infringement even if you had no knowledge of the activity. In a civil lawsuit, the manufacturer can stop you from using the software package in question and also seek monetary damages, up to $150,000 per software package and even any profit or income attributed to the infringement. If the government prosecutes you in a criminal proceeding, the penalties could be as high as $250,000, 5 years in jail or both.

Beside the legal and financial ramifications of software piracy, I believe the spiritual implications are also important to consider. For God to bless our ministries and use them to build His kingdom, we need to obey the laws of the land and conduct our operations with the utmost integrity. It’s not worth saving a few hundred dollars on software if you end up losing the effectiveness and credibility of your ministry.

The Solution

Now that you know a little about this issue, here are a few important steps you can take to protect yourself and your ministry.

Perform a thorough software license audit. Document every software license you’ve purchased and compare that list against every software package you have installed. The difference may surprise you! Purchase whatever licenses you need to make up this difference.

Take advantage of software charity licensing and donation programs. Microsoft and many other manufacturers offer Charity licensing programs that allow your ministry to buy software at enormous discounts. Some even offer donation programs that let you get the software for free, if you qualify. With such huge discounts available to ministries and churches, it makes no sense to violate software licensing laws and face so much risk.

Implement an acceptable use policy. Education is the best way to keep your employees compliant. Put together a document that explains exactly what they can and can’t do with ministry computer and software assets, go over the document with each employee and have them sign off on it.

For more detailed information about the BSA, software piracy and to download a free copy of the BSA’s “Guide To Software Piracy and the Law”, visit their website at http://www.bsa.org or call (202) 872-5500.

Well, that’s about it. I hope your ministry can benefit from the valuable information presented in this series of articles, and that with some wisdom and good counsel, you can avoid all the pitfalls we discussed and be more successful in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Donnie Schexnayder is a ministry technology expert. He holds industry certifications from Microsoft and CompTIA and has over 10 years experience in supporting churches and Christian ministries with technology. With a mixture of passion and expertise, Donnie helps ministries advance their mission of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth by using cutting-edge technology. Donnie lives with his wife and 2 children in Colorado Springs, CO.

Eternitek :: Advancing Christian Ministries Through Technology

http://www.eternitek.com

info@eternitek.com

Tags: audit, BSA, charity, church, compliance, computer, donation, license, ministry, piracy, software, technologyaudit, BSA, charity, church, compliance, computer, donation, license, ministry, piracy, software, technology

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Even with the scads of information available, even with the numerous antivirus options available to consumers, and even though internet users are inundated with offers for antivirus and anti spyware programs, it seems that some people prefer to take their chances when it comes to infecting their computers. According to the second annual AOL/National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) Online Safety Study, fewer than 60 percent of survey participants had antivirus protection software installed on their computers, and those who do fail to update it more than once a week.

Studies show that anywhere from 200 to 600 new viruses and other online infections are released each month, and the NCSA reports that 23 percent of Americans are each month affected by phishing attacks. Additionally, 81 percent of protected computers are not fully protected - very few users have the necessary trio of updated antivirus software, spyware protection, and a secure firewall. According to the survey, however, 83 percent of participants thought themselves secure from online infections.

Viruses, spyware, adware, and other malware all have the potential to pose a serious threat to your computer, not only to the hardware itself but to your personal information and identifying details. A good antivirus security suite should be able to detect and cure viruses, spyware, adware, worms, trojans, malicious code, malware, and keyloggers, all of which can do grave damage to your computer. Updating your software daily and scanning regularly for any unfamiliar or suspicious files on the computer, including archives, email, and instant messages, is also a necessary step in catching and preventing infection.

Due to the sheer number and variety of online threats, it’s difficult to keep track of them specifically by name. However, the basic threats you should watch out for are as follows:

1. Spyware: A program that gathers personal information logged in your computer by noting your internet browsing habits and recording your keystrokes and passwords. It can also hijack your browser settings, redirect your search queries, and transfer any noted information to third parties for the purpose of identity theft.
2. Virus: Viruses infect the files on the computer and spread by replicating themselves. A virus can also be spread by email, and will automatically mail itself to people in the address book of the account it infects. Though worms and Trojans are not technically viruses, they often fall into the subcategory of “virus.” A worm is a piece of software that replicates itself via security holes in networks, infecting vulnerable machines by copying itself and spreading to any other connected, unprotected computer. A Trojan horse is a program that masquerades as a benign application, but actually will damage your computer if you try to run the program.
3. Adware: Adware generates revenue by displaying advertisements on your screen, offering links to follow that take the user to the advertised website. Third parties then collect money for every hit on that site. Some adware programs gather personal information about you and select ads to display based on your browsing habits.

To be fair, the age of the browser might have something to do with the high instance of computer infection.The NCSA states that homes with children are more likely to have their computers infected by spyware or adware. In fact, more than 69 percent of homes with children under 18 were infected. But don’t blame it all on the kids - 58 percent of child-free households had their fair share of spyware and adware infection.

With so many viruses, spyware, and other malware clamoring to infect your computer, it is essential to have in place the necessary preventative tools to catch and eliminate online infections. The fact that so many new threats are released on such a regular basis is not an accident - hackers and the writers of malicious code are targeting those who mistakenly think that using only a firewall or updating once a month will keep their computers safe. Persistence and diligence in keeping your software, updates, and antivirus protections software current can help ensure your information and computer access remain yours and yours alone.

http://home.stopsign.com

Tags: adware, antivirus, firewall, Malware, phishing, software, Spyware, Trojan, updates, viruses, wormsadware, antivirus, firewall, Malware, phishing, software, Spyware, Trojan, updates, viruses, worms

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In the early days there was little compatibility between Apple applications and Microsoft Windows applications. However, much has changed over the years, and many applications can be seamlessly shared between the two operating systems. This is especially true of the Max OS X Tiger which enables not only the sharing of files, but can co-exist peacefully on the same network. Sharing printers, scanners and other peripheral devices between Macs and PCs is now almost a non-issue, while there are still the occasional user who has problems sharing files between PCs and Macs, the difficulties have mostly be resolved. It is expected that within the next few years, there should be problems at all.

Best of all, in today’s highly wired world, where electronic mail is a way of life, now even email can be shared across Mac and PC platforms with minimal fuss. Apple started on the road to compatibility in 2003 when they resumed installing PC Compatible Cards into their systems. This was done in partnership with Dell Computers.

With so many businesses using Microsoft Windows, it was only natural that Apple made their systems compatible so that users could work across platforms. Nowhere is this compatibility more appreciated than in the freelancing world where clients and freelancers need to quickly and efficiently exchange files. The introduction of Intel processors in the current lines of Apple Computers has cemented this compatibility relationship across multiple-platforms.

Prior to this, users of Mac applications had to use third party software, like Stuffit Expander and Conversion Plus, to be able to access and work on files created with Microsoft applications. Also, the current generation of Macs now has Mac compatible Windows application suites which include everyday Windows applications, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Office for Mac can be used between Macs and PCs with no problem.

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Tags: article submission, articles, email, email marketing, email newsletter, ezine, publishing, writers, writingarticle submission, articles, email, email marketing, email newsletter, ezine, publishing, writers, writing

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