Installing software on a government computer: Do you know the rules? Published Dec. 13, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Darius Harper 20th Communications Squadron SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Every day, many Air Force personnel subject the service to potential fines and make the network vulnerable. How you might ask? When using new software, they check the "I accept" box, and click next to continue without a thought. Before clicking next, please verify with your unit software license manager that the software is both legal and authorized. Software is legal when it is properly acquired by the Air Force and the proper documentation is maintained. Software is authorized only after it has been cleared through the base software license manager, and the wing information assurance site certification checklist has been completed. By now, every unit should have a designated unit software license manager that works in conjunction with the base software license manager. Every time software is installed, vendors require users to agree to their terms and conditions. How many people actually read the terms and conditions prior to agreeing to them? The terms and conditions vary from vendor to vendor, but typically include clauses that forbid making anything other than a single backup of their product or installing it on more than the number of computers that you purchased licenses for. Most vendors require that the product is registered as well. For products installed on Air Force computers, registration is mandatory. In addition to the restrictions imposed by the vendor, the government and the Air Force have rules to follow as well. The U.S. Copyright Law applies to software and provides that you can make only one back up copy of software. This is where the fine applies. For every instance of illegal or bootleg software, the Air Force and or responsible personnel could be fined $250,000. Software that is shareware, freeware or personal software can also be problematic. This is the difference between what is legal and what is authorized. Per Air Force Instruction 33-114 Software Management, shareware, freeware and personal software are unauthorized on government computers. The only software authorized on any Shaw computer is listed on the Air Combat Command Enterprise Product List. The ACC staff confirms that the software on the list will not negatively impact the network. Also, all users on Shaw AFB are required to receive training annually from their unit software license manager. Shaw AFB has a checklist that must be completed prior to installing any commercial off-the-shelf software. All software installations and questions should be directed to unit software license managers or the client service center. For more information regarding software licensing, please call Staff Sgt. Darius Harper at 803-895-2666 and select option 2.