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Canada's university campuses are a hotbed of software piracy, according to a new survey, and the biggest offenders may be computer science students.

The Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft says almost half of all university students admit they pirate software by downloading it online without paying for it. Fifty-three per cent say they swap computer disks among friends.

CAAST surveyed 3,000 students in early July, including 500 who identified computer science as their major course of study.

The survey reveals an ethical rift, which is deepest among computer science students.

Eighty-three per cent of computer science students feel very strongly about someone stealing their own intellectual property, yet 64 per cent admit to downloading commercial software from the Internet without paying for it---compared to 46 per cent of students in other fields of study.

"It's alarming to see so many computer science students pirating software when their future livelihood could be directly hurt by pirating activities. Clearly, more education is needed to help students understand that their actions can have serious implications for themselves now and in the future," says Jacquie Famulak, president of CAAST.

The survey found that while 72 per cent agree that using pirated software is unethical, only 16 per cent consider it an illegal activity that warrants punishment.

CAAST says using pirated software can expose users to viruses and spyware and may also involve legal consequences.

"Students who use school networks to pirate software may also be compromising their school's computer security and safety and should be aware that their school may be held liable for the actions of its students. That's why education and awareness are key preventative steps that can and should be taken," says Mr. Famulak.

The results mirror a similar survey among U.S. college students.