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
    1·
    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.

  • Vector@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    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
      0·
      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
        0·
        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. 🙂

  • Quazatron@lemmy.world
    0·
    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.

  • fidodo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    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

  • warmaster@lemmy.world
    0·
    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.

  • LeFantome@programming.dev
    0·
    9 months ago

    If Office 365 online has enough features for her, maybe just do that. It works just fine on Linux. The web versions are not that feature rich but honestly they have more features than most people use.

    Another option is running a Windows VM on Linux with the latest office installed. You probably do not need much RAM.

  • bushvin@lemmy.world
    0·
    9 months ago

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

  • fxdave@lemmy.ml
    0·
    9 months ago

    Using your own device is good and comfortable. I always hated companies that wants to force windows laptop or macbook on me. I suggest compell them for their tech choice or consider leaving that company and searching for a better one that supports libre software. I know it’s hard but there are some areas like web development, which usually lets you use linux.

  • FalseMyrmidon@kbin.run
    0·
    9 months ago

    Are they not providing the hardware and software for this? If so she should just use what they provide for work.

  • auth@lemmy.ml
    0·
    9 months ago

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

  • merthyr1831@lemmy.world
    0·
    9 months ago

    In the interim, as I know jobs are kinda hard to give up at a moment’s notice, OpenOffice has good compatibility with Microsoft file formats, as does Microsoft’s online suite of applications.