Leo scrambled to reset the software, but his mouse cursor moved on its own. It dragged itself to his browser, opening his email, then his banking portal. The Cost of "Free"

The $1,200 he’d tried to save by avoiding a legitimate license was nothing compared to the cost of his digital identity. Sitting in the dark, Leo realized that in the world of high-end software, if you aren't paying for the product, you—and your data—are the currency.

Leo was a burgeoning streamer with a vision for a professional broadcast, but his bank account didn't match his ambitions. He clicked the download link. The Midnight Installation The file was small, wrapped in a generic