Windows 7 - Illegal Pirated copies circulating on Internet

While I'm personally anxious to explore Windows 7's new security controls and functionality, these pirated copies of W/7 should be avoided.  Any one interested in exploring this new operating system should patiently wait until a true public offering emerges that would be supported Microsoft's beta program.  According to the article, the first public W/7 beta should emerge in early 2009.

Windows 7 beta leaks to Internet
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9124399

QUOTE: December 27, 2008 (Computerworld)  Pirated copies of a Windows 7 build pegged by many as the beta Microsoft Corp. will release next month have been leaked to the Internet, according to searches at several BitTorrent sites today.  A search on the Pirate Bay BitTorrent site, for example, returned two Windows 7 Build 7000 listings, both of which had been posted Friday.