Adobe is carrying out validation tests to alert users who run pirated copies of their software. Those who have "non genuine" software installed receive a pop-up warning them of the potential consequences. For now the validation tests are limited to Acrobat X users based in the United States.

Adobe products are traditionally among the most pirated pieces of software.

Cracked versions of Acrobat, Illustrator and Photoshop are installed on millions of computers, despite recent anti-piracy measures.

In an effort to educate people about the dangers of “non genuine” software the company is now actively warning users. To do so, Adobe is bundling its products with a Software Integrity Service that can scan for and detect pirated software.

“Adobe now runs validation tests and notifies people who are using non-genuine software. Our tests check for software tampering and invalid licenses,” Adobe explains.

“This is a new service, designed to inform and protect our customers from the risks of non-genuine and counterfeit software,” the company adds.

The warnings come in the form of a pop-up and are limited to Acrobat X users in the United States, for now. When a pirate copy of the software is detected the following message appears.

Adobe Validation Testing has found this copy of Acrobat not genuine



The notification is meant to inform users, and can be clicked away. It may reappear after a short while, but Adobe stresses that nobody will get in trouble for it.

Their goal is simply to inform users of the risks and point them toward legal alternatives.

“Adobe’s goal has always been to help customers avoid the dangers of non-genuine or counterfeit software. We have been working on this service for a while, taking our time to ensure it is delivered to customers in an easy to understand and actionable way,” they say.

After running a pilot last year, the service now appears to appears to be rolling out more widely. A new “genuine” website was launched recently and the pilot references have been removed.

Aside from a few recent complaints about the pop-up there hasn’t been much backlash, which could mean that the program is still gearing up, and not operating at full swing just yet.