At a (thankfully) former job I ordered two really useful under-$50 applications put out by small companies. One had a machine-specific challenge code, the other didn't. My boss was very pleased with both, but when I put in purchase requests for copies for my project team, he rejected them and said one copy was enough to install on all five computers. I argued that the investment was small (less than what my research time and these discussions cost him!). However, when he discovered the challenge code only worked on my computer he immediately signed the order for it - but not for the other. So the more trusting little company got screwed. Dongles are another matter! We had a horrible experience with a misplaced Max dongle that almost derailed a project. A Poser dongle might make me think twice before upgrading. There are privacy issues I care more about: - If a company goes into bankrupcy, customer info is an asset that is likely to be sold whether the company wants to or not, regardless of good-faith promises - don't give more info than you absolutely have to. - Don't use your mother's actual maiden name when asked, too easy to find out - make one up that you always use. - Check if your financial records can be accessed by telephone using your name and social security number; after numerous calls and letters we got systems changed for our mortgage and credit cards to a real password. - Don't use those darn electronic signature pads at stores, ask for a printed copy to sign (I know, they can scan it in; they're just irritating, so why make it easy?) - Most of all, never assume anything is private; I'm amazed at folks who don't know every keystroke at work can be monitored, erased files accessed, and little video cameras can be anywhere. - And never assume you are too small-time to attract notice; unknowingly your path may have crossed sometime with some big fish and wham - your dealings suddenly are in a very bright spotlight (just saw this happen to someone who really deserved it, but still scarey.) Enough paranoia for you?