Internet
warez
What does warez mean?
Used attributively for the underground subculture around piracy.
"Warez groups race to be the first to crack a new release."
Origin
A respelling of 'wares' (as in software) that emerged in 1980s BBS and 'scene' piracy culture, with the '-z' plural marking underground slang. Documented in the Jargon File and early hacker glossaries.
Frequently asked questions
What does warez mean?
It refers to pirated, cracked software shared illegally, a term from 1980s BBS culture.
Where did the word warez come from?
It's a respelling of 'wares' (software), with the '-z' marking it as scene/underground slang.
Is downloading warez illegal?
Yes, distributing or downloading cracked commercial software is copyright infringement in most jurisdictions.
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