Cracked Software: What Is the Real Price of “Free”?

In today's era of rapidly developing digital technology, computer software plays an indispensable role in most fields, especially in design, creation and business operations. However, not everyone is willing to invest in copyrighted software because the cost is often not small, especially for individual users or newly established startups. Therefore, many people choose a seemingly "smarter" path: using cracked software - software that is cracked for free use.

However, is that "0 VND" price really free? Or are there hidden risks that can make you trade data, equipment, even reputation and legality? In this article, SaDesign will help you understand the nature of cracked software , the unpredictable risks when using them and provide safe, legal solutions for you to protect your equipment as well as your work.

1. What is cracked software and its current situation in Vietnam?

Cracked software is a program that has been tampered with or modified illegally to bypass copyright protection mechanisms set up by the developer. Users can access all the features of the software without having to buy a legal license. This is the reason why cracked software attracts many people, especially when the price of popular copyrighted software such as Adobe, Microsoft, Autodesk... is quite high.

According to statistics from the BSA (Business Software Alliance), about 37% of software used globally is unlicensed. In Vietnam, this rate is much higher, especially in creative fields such as graphic design, filmmaking, architecture, etc.

At SaDesign, we have received hundreds of cases of customers having serious problems due to using cracked software: computers locked, data disappeared, systems infected with malware, or more seriously, personal information stolen.

So what is really hidden behind the "free" appearance of cracked software?

2. The dark side of cracked software

When it comes to cracked software, most users only look at the immediate benefit of "saving money", forgetting that behind it is a hidden system of risks - which can even leave consequences many times more serious than the amount of money you intend to save. These risks not only affect individual users, but also spread to businesses, communities, and society in general.

Let's peel away each "dark side" behind the glitz and "free" appeal of cracked software:

2.1. Violation of intellectual property laws

One of the most obvious and serious consequences of using cracked software is violating the law, specifically the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law. Using unlicensed software is not simply an act of "freeloading", but in fact, it is an infringement of the legal rights of the software manufacturer - this is strictly prohibited by law and has specific sanctions.

According to Decree No. 131/2013/ND-CP of the Vietnamese Government, individuals and organizations using illegal software may be subject to administrative fines of up to VND500 million, along with confiscation, temporary suspension of business operations, or forced destruction of infringing software. In cases where serious consequences occur (e.g., leaking customer data, affecting national security, or causing significant economic damage), this behavior may be subject to criminal prosecution, with a prison sentence of up to 3 years under the Penal Code.

2.2. Risk of losing control of the device

When you install a cracked software, you are handing over complete control of your device to a completely unknown third party. The scary thing is that you have no way of knowing what else is hidden inside the software – because it is no longer a “legitimate” product that has been tested and certified safe.

Cracked software is often shared via:

Personal blogs are not trustworthy.
Foreign forum sites.
Torrent sites or anonymous links, no censorship mechanism.

This is a "fertile ground" for hackers to insert malicious code, taking advantage of users' trust and lack of vigilance to carry out sophisticated attacks.

According to a report from Kaspersky in 2025, up to 40% of cracked software contains malware with many different dangerous forms:

Keylogger: Records all keystrokes, thereby stealing passwords, bank card numbers, social network accounts or personal emails.

Backdoor: Opens a “backdoor” that allows hackers to remotely control your computer – using your device as a proxy server for DDoS attacks, cryptocurrency mining, or hosting illegal content.

Ransomware: This is an extremely dangerous type of malware that encrypts all data on the computer and requires users to pay a ransom to decrypt it. Many victims in Vietnam have lost all design data, financial reports, or customer documents due to ransomware infection from cracked software.

2.3. Directly affects work performance

Not everyone can imagine that a cracked software can also be an invisible "disruptor" in the professional workflow.

Due to unauthorized interference and the inability to update regularly, cracked software is prone to system errors, software conflicts, crashes, or file loss in the middle. This is especially dangerous in work environments that require high stability such as graphic design, film editing, architectural engineering, or audio editing.

Imagine you're editing a banner with a deadline of 2 hours and the software suddenly:

Machine hangs when exporting file.
Missing layers or fonts not displaying properly.
Installed preset not recognized.
Error when reopening old file due to incompatible crack version.

Even a small problem can slow down progress, reduce product quality, or cause you to lose a partnership opportunity. For design firms, this can mean having to redo the entire project – wasting time, effort, and the trust of the client.

In addition, users of cracked software cannot receive technical support from the manufacturer, cannot update patches or add new features. This makes you always fall behind modern design trends - a big disadvantage in the creative industry that changes every day.

3. Commonly cracked software and associated risks

Below is a summary table of some popular software that is easily cracked and the specific risks involved:

Software

Specific risks

Windows

Fake updates, no security patches, vulnerable to remote attacks.

Microsoft Office

Vulnerable to keyloggers, stealing Microsoft accounts or corporate emails.

Adobe Photoshop, Premiere

Contains trojan, lost project files, infected with malware throughout the system.

AutoCAD, CorelDRAW

Error saving file, lost design data, no new feature update.

IDM, Camtasia

Attached with malicious ads, cryptocurrency mining, slow system performance.

The above table shows that, whether it is office software, design or support utilities, using cracked versions poses serious risks to users.

4. Safe and legal alternatives

4.1. Choose licensed software that suits your actual needs

There is no need to “embrace” the whole expensive software suite, you just need to choose the tools that really suit your needs. Major suppliers such as Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft, Corel… now have flexible licensing policies, dividing costs into monthly or yearly subscription packages, helping you easily control your budget.

4.2. Only download software from reputable and trusted sources

No matter how tempting it is, you should never download software from unknown sources such as forums, anonymous link sharing sites, or websites without security certificates. These are the “hot spots” that hackers often target to spread malware.

Instead, make sure to:

Always download software from the developer's official website.

Or buy software through an authorized distributor like SaDesign - which is committed to providing 100% copyrighted software with absolute security.

Benefits of choosing a trusted source:

Get quick updates to new versions, including bug and security patches.

Genuine technical support, quick troubleshooting during use.

No more worries about hidden malware, spyware, keyloggers or ransomware.

4.3. Install reputable anti-virus software to prevent from the root

Even if you choose licensed software, it is still important to be proactive in protecting yourself against malware. A quality antivirus software will help you:

Detect dangerous files early before installation.
Warns of suspicious behavior in the system.
Protect personal data and sensitive information from theft.
Some recommended antivirus software:

Kaspersky: High security, friendly interface, optimized performance.
Bitdefender: Highly rated for its anti-malware and anti-phishing capabilities.
Windows Defender: Free and effective for basic needs, built into Windows 10 and 11.
Don't forget to update regularly and set up periodic scans to keep your device safe all the time.

5. Advice from SaDesign: Invest properly, protect for a long time

As a company with many years of experience in the field of designing and providing copyrighted software, SaDesign understands that the line between savings and risks is very fragile. Using cracked software can help you "profit" from a few hundred thousand to a few million VND in the short term, but the price to pay later can be data loss, loss of reputation, or even legal trouble.

Therefore, SaDesign always encourages the user community, especially young people working in the fields of design, communication, and creativity, to choose sustainable, legal, and safe solutions.

When coming to SaDesign, you will receive:

Personal consultation: We will help you choose the most suitable licensed software for your actual needs whether you are a student, freelancer or startup business.

Technical support: From installation, activation to maintenance and software updates, SaDesign's technical team is always ready to support you quickly and enthusiastically.

Special Offers: We offer great prices for students, educational institutions, and small and medium-sized businesses, making it easier than ever to access licensed software.

If you are struggling between “temporary free” and “sustainable investment”, let SaDesign accompany you on the journey to build a stable, safe and long-term effective software system.

In a digital world full of “easy” options, cracked software can make you think you are saving money. But in reality, what you trade off is safety, data, reputation and legality, things that are not easy to recover if lost. Don’t let the price of “free” become an expensive lesson. Invest properly, smartly, sustainably and responsibly. And if you need a reliable companion in that process, SaDesign is always ready to support you from A to Z with comprehensive and flexible copyrighted software solutions.