In a nutshell some sites suggest it is illegal while others state it isn’t. It does seem to be a grey area.
There isn’t any differences between a cracked version & a genuine version of Windows when comparing the features as far as I know.
Are you looking for some specific answer as to any differences other than the answers I’ve given?
These are the points from the Vulcan post link:
- You Could Face Large Fines, Or Even Jail-Time
- Viruses And Malware Are Just The Start
The name “pirate” itself is a warning bell, because many programmes come with backdoors built in that lets the pirate group responsible for the cracked programme to get up to all sorts of mischief.
For example, ransomware is a form of malware that basically locks your computer system up until you pay a ransom fee.
It’s probably wise for you to back all your work online in case this happens to you. Or better yet, just skip the pirated software altogether.
- You’re Killing The Industry, And That’s Just Going To Hurt You
- You Can’t Update Your Software, And You’ll Live With Bugs
- Software Malfunctions, And You Deal With The Fallout