Software piracy is illegal in most countries, including the US (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), EU member states, and many others. While individual prosecutions are rare, companies have been known to send cease-and-desist letters or demand settlements. For businesses, using cracked software can lead to audits and massive fines.

Kaspersky offers a completely free version for Windows that includes:

Limitations compared to paid: No firewall, no VPN, no parental controls, fewer privacy features. But for basic protection, it’s excellent and perfectly legal.

Understanding the motivation helps provide better solutions:

All of these are valid frustrations, but cracks are never the answer.

If Kaspersky remains too expensive, consider these legitimate free antivirus programs: