Enforcing piracy policy earned helpdesk worker death threats
- Reference: 1770967632
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/02/13/on_call/
- Source link:
This week, meet a reader we'll Regomize as "Henry" who shared a chilling story from his time delivering internal desktop support for a major internet service provider.
This is a story that doesn't deserve On Call's usual light touch. The Register shares it in the hope it perhaps starts a conversation among readers about how to cope with the worst workplace moments. As you'll see at the end of the story, we're working on a plan to help foster that conversation.
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Back, now, to Henry, who told us an important part of his job was keeping unauthorized software off company computers to protect the ISP from being sued for running pirated programs.
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He enforced that policy with daily software inventory scans and when he found minor infractions, used remote access privileges to remove offending applications.
When he found serious violations, company policy required Henry to confiscate a user's PC and inform management who would commence a formal investigation.
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Henry eventually discovered a colleague who worked late and had downloaded "extreme amounts of pirated software."
He reported it to his superiors, who ordered immediate confiscation.
After the investigation, the culprit begged for lenience, and management decided a brief suspension would suffice.
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That was still too much for the pirate, who on his return to work seethed with rage.
"He would tell anyone who listened that the next time he saw me, he would put a bullet in my face," Henry told On Call.
Henry felt this colleague was capable of violence, so he did not take the matter lightly.
Thankfully, soon after the suspension ended, his antagonist left the business and although the experience rattled Henry, he had no reason to ponder it for years after.
[6]New hire fixed a problem so fast, their boss left to become a yoga instructor
[7]In-house techies fixed faults before outsourced help even noticed they'd happened
[8]Tech support detective solved PC crime by looking in the car park
[9]Engineer used welding shop air hose to 'clean' PCs – hilarity did not ensue
Until he learned, via news reports, that his former colleague had started a small business and murdered his partner in a dispute over borrowed money.
"I hope to never see him again," Henry told On Call.
And with luck, none of us will, as the news report Henry showed us states the murderer will remain in prison for at least another 15 years – and possibly many more.
If you experience threats of violence in the workplace, report it to your employer and do not hesitate to call emergency services if you feel in immediate danger.
If your employer is not supportive, file a complaint with the relevant authorities:
USA – [10]Occupational Safety and Health Administration .
UK – [11]Health and Safety Executive .
Australia – Each State and Territory operates an agency called either "SafeWork" or "WorkSafe." All are listed [12]here .
Has working in tech support put you in an unsafe situation? If so, On Call is interested to hear your story, which you can share by [13]clicking here to send us an email.
We will handle any such contributions with great care, and with a view to using them in future stories about how to handle extremely difficult workplace moments rather than the weekly mirth of On Call. ®
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[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/06/on_call/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/30/on_call/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/23/on_call/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/16/on_call/
[10] https://www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint
[11] https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm
[12] https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/other-workplace-relations-help/related-government-sites
[13] mailto:oncall@theregister.com
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"He would tell anyone who listened that the next time he saw me, he would put a bullet in my face," Henry told On Call.
Henry felt this colleague was capable of violence, so he did not take the matter lightly.
Thankfully, soon after the suspension ended, his antagonist left the business and although the experience rattled Henry, he had no reason to ponder it for years after.
"Left the business" implies there was an element of choice about it. Why wasn't he fired and the matter reported to the Police?
Why wasn't the violent idiot fired immediately and the cops called?
Death threats are actionable by the authorities, never mind the namby-pamby corporate management.
It would do us all well to mention jurisdiction when responding to this one. I'm in California.
Re: Why wasn't the violent idiot fired immediately and the cops called?
Theres a large proportion of Americans who think they have their "Free speech" to say whatever the hell they want , and a growing number in the UK
You can identify these people in the comments under any story about police activity by their comment "too busy arresting people for hurty words"
Re: Why wasn't the violent idiot fired immediately and the cops called?
People _can_ say whatever the hell they want. However, freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.
Re: Why wasn't the violent idiot fired immediately and the cops called?
Fully agree.
Anyway, report to management and make it gets reported to authorities.
And yet, there might be a problem of evidence for such a threat (and other misconduct, too)... but if it hasn't been reported with authorities in the first place, there is no track record if something happens again and it will be more difficult for authorities to take appropriate action.
Was it in "That one gun country"?
I could have been in other countries as well, but...
That type of human exists here too, and with age you recognize the triggers better. They are completely normal, play their role, but sometimes, sometimes they cannot hide it and a small sentence... For example: One who was great at organizing events and parties, really invests time and energy. he asks for help and you are done with what he asked for. If you offer help, a tiny bit too much, you might get "But you won't take this (event) away (from me) now, won't you?"... (word in brackets added for clearer meaning, German was "Du nimmsch mir des aber jetz nich weg, oda?")
Re: Was it in "That one gun country"?
An bisserl Schwäbisch? :-)
> If you experience threats of violence in the workplace, report it to your employer and do not hesitate to call emergency services if you feel in immediate danger.
How times have changed. Back when I was a trainee COBOL programmer for a bank, the most senior developer was a big loud Aussie who would regularly threaten to "come over there and shove that terminal up your arse!". I guess he wouldn't get away with that nowadays.
And guess what? He shouldnt have got away with it back then either.
If you cant be professional when working in a professional environment, then maybe you should consider finding a new profession.
Shouting, making threats, abuse of any kind, is really not acceptable in any profession. And frankly, that guy should have been sat down and had that explained to him. And if he couldnt learn to modify his beahviour, then out the door. I guarantee productivity from the rest of the team would have improved.
Shouting can be excused in very very limited sets of circumstances (provided it then doesn't happen again)...
But I agree with you that coupled with making threats or abuse of any kind, it most definitely is not.
Some hope
And with luck, none of us will, as the news report Henry showed us states the murderer will remain in prison for at least another 15 years – and possibly many more.
Not with the early release schemes these days.
Re: Some hope
I dont think they mentioned which country this occurred in .
But the whole staff attitude to doing what the f they want with their work computers suggests it was a while back , so 15 years to go is surprising! Although the murder did happen an unspecified time after the story
Re: Some hope
Not with the early release schemes these days.
Almost certainly not applicable in the UK, I can't speak for elsewhere. Life sentences are excluded from the early release schemes. He'd still have to serve the 15 years before being eligible to apply for parole.
Has working in tech support put you in an unsafe situation?
On a lighter note: only for having to touch disgustingly filthy keyboards.
I have, on a couple of occasions, pinched some gloves out of the first aid supplies* before handling keyboards or laptops. Even then it's been a case of wiping data then putting them in the recycling pile.
*I controlled these so no need to bother getting some for the department!
Americans
They really are the last people that have should have guns readily available.
Re: Americans
I guess you've been "triggered!!" haha.
Not sure why you're saying that, the story did not mention guns or the country it happened in.
Chilling story
Glad I have never been in any such situation. In the Netherlands any large employer needs to have a health and safety officer or ombuds person to approach if you feel unsafe. Our university has a confidential advisor that can also be reached for these kind of issues. I have once referred someone to this advisor (not for violent threats, fortunately), and they were of great help. Rules here in the Netherlands can be found here:
https://business.gov.nl/regulations/staff/health-and-safety-at-work/