Illegal copying and distribution of software is called –

Software Piracy violates copyright laws and intellectual property rights. When software developers or companies create programs, they sell licenses allowing specific usage terms.

Forms of software piracy include:

• End-user piracy: Installing a single licensed copy onto multiple computers.

• Internet piracy: Uploading cracked software to websites, torrents, or file-sharing networks.

• Counterfeiting: Illegally duplicating and selling software programs with fake packaging.

This practices heavily damages the economy, limits software support/updates for consumers, and frequently exposes downloaders to malware risks bundled inside the "cracked" applications.