Microsoft 365 Is 50 Percent Off, But Only for Users on Pirated Versions

Microsoft is providing 50 p.c off its cloud-based Microsoft 356 Personal and Family subscriptions as a part of the corporate’s efforts to show software program pirates into paying prospects. The firm is reportedly nudging customers who’ve unlicensed variations of Microsoft Office put in on their computer systems to subscribe at a reduced value for the primary 12 months. Microsoft can be warning customers in regards to the dangers of operating counterfeit software program on their PCs, and it seems that solely customers who’ve pirated the software program are eligible to say the low cost on-line.

The firm’s discounted subscription supply for Microsoft 356 was not too long ago spotted by gHacks as a banner within the ribbon UI of a counterfeit model of Microsoft Office. Clicking on the banner, which advertises a 50 p.c low cost, takes the consumer to a web site that warns customers in regards to the dangers of utilizing pirated software program on the left and has a purchase order button with the annual subscription costs of Microsoft 365 Personal (Rs. 4,899) and Microsoft 365 Family (Rs. 6,199) on the appropriate. It has a message alongside that claims 50 p.c low cost for “eligible customers”.

Microsoft has a webpage that nudges pirates to modify to a paid Microsoft 365 subscription
Photo Credit: Microsoft

However, not all customers look like eligible, in line with Microsoft. Visiting the official URL by a standard browser exhibits the suitable internet web page, however Gadgets 360 was unable to avail of the supply. Users must check in so Microsoft can examine if they’re eligible for the low cost, and accounts which have a real Microsoft Office license key (or Office 365 subscription) look like excluded from the supply, in line with the report.

As Microsoft Office is without doubt one of the most generally used workplace and productiveness suites on this planet, additionally it is pirated by a number of customers. The transfer appears to be aimed toward turning these operating pirated software program into paying prospects. It is value noting that the low cost supply was nonetheless accessible, assuming Microsoft deems a consumer eligible, on the time of publishing this text. However, the discounted value of Rs. 3,100 for Microsoft Office 365 Family might be legitimate for the primary 12 months solely, after which the corporate will cost customers the common Rs. 6,199 value for the software program.

Users who should not eager on paying an annual subscription or want there was a reduction on the standalone model of Microsoft Office may have a look at open-source and free alternate options reminiscent of LibreOffice, Onlyoffice, and SoftMaker Office. Users who wish to use Microsoft providers free of charge may use the corporate’s Microsoft Office Online instruments free of charge, which permits them to entry and edit recordsdata in a browser window, with no need a license or subscription.