My friend works for a company which requires her to use Microsoft specific application, she didn’t really want to switch to Win 11 and choose to just use Wine Linux package and install a 2016 version of MS office on her Linux laptop. That’s all well and good, but this company she is working for servers other clients at pretty high up places and she is terrified that she using the pirated version of MS would create a liability for her company as if Microsoft wants to target pirated software, they hunt for organisations rather than individuals.

So, what should she do? Is there a way you can hide the fact that the excel sheet was created on pirated software, is it even possible to tell excel sheets apart which are using pirated software?

PS: If there is a way to destroy all metadata related to the excel sheets, it would be very helpful.

edit: Thanks to everyone who chipped in for an answer, gonna suggest her to either ask her employer to give her the necessary software + hardware and if denied quit. I now realize this is not the norm in any company but hers. Anyways, thanks everyone.

  • 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘬@lemmy.ml
    89·
    9 months ago

    My friend works for a company which requires her to use Microsoft specific application

    So the company needs to provide said friend with all the needed software.

  • Ulu-Mulu-no-die@lemm.eeEnglish
    30·
    9 months ago

    she didn’t really want to switch to Win 11

    On which computer? Her own?

    Does not the company provide a PC with the tools needed? If yes, she has no right to decide what goes on it, the company does and she should respect that, doing what you want on a company PC can get you in serious trouble, way more serious than finding out you’re using a pirated version of Office.

    If the company expects her to use her own PC, they should at least provide the needed software licenses, Office365 can be used on the web, no need to install anything and it can be used on Linux no problem.

    BUT the serious problem remains of having company data on her own PC, the best thing to do in such a case would be creating a VM, encrypting the file system and keeping all company data contained inside the VM.

    Tho in such a case I would change company, no serious company today would expect employees to keep company data freely on whatever personal PC, that could lead to data breaches, I would never want to be involved in case like that, tho I live in EU, we have very strict laws about data integrity and privacy, dunno about other countries.

  • Quazatron@lemmy.world
    203·
    9 months ago

    She should abide by the company rules, use company provided software and follow company policies if she likes working there.

    Otherwise she should move. Bypassing the rules is very unprofessional and can get you in trouble.

      • limelight79@lemm.ee
        2·
        9 months ago

        In both directions…my employer would have a heart attack if I was doing work on my own machine like that (well, outside of a virtual desktop).

  • bushvin@lemmy.world
    12·
    9 months ago

    Aside from the obvious (company providing all the necessary tools) why not using libreoffice and saving it as M$ excel?

  • auth@lemmy.ml
    12·
    9 months ago

    Fun fact: MS was onced caught using pirated audio software to create an audio file for (I think) Windows XP

  • Vector@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    9 months ago

    I’m going to assume that by the way you’re describing it, using an excel alternative is totally out of the question or simply not possible, but just in case it isn’t…

    If you haven’t heard of it, check out LibreOffice.

    • Safipok@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      I don’t think this is what she had in mind when she was thinking about changing metadata to look more legit.

      • Vector@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        Yep, hence the preface. Just offering up an alternative to using software they’re concerned about in case they don’t know they have the option. 🙂

  • warmaster@lemmy.world
    6·
    9 months ago

    There have been many cases where they found out it was made by a pirated version of MS office. Just google it. Sometimes the pirates add some metadata, like the author for example. If she wants to live at peace and not put the business at risk, she should do the right thing and get a licensed copy, whoever pays for it.

    If the latest version doesn’t work on Windows then get a key for an older version, or sub for the web version.

    But under no circumstance use pirated software at a serious business.

  • fidodo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    61·
    9 months ago

    Why isn’t the company paying for it? Anyways, you could just export it to a different format and then back to Excel depending on which features you’re using. But also, I think this is being paranoid. Microsoft isn’t the NSA

    • Anonymous_TorPerson@lemmy.mlOP
      1·
      9 months ago

      Can she use Google sheet? You can download the sheet as Excel file.

      actually the whole purpose of using excel is because of the advanced features. Doubt if you will find it on web version of Gsheets.