The adage "if you aren't paying for the product, you are the product" holds significant weight in the world of software piracy. The risks generally fall into three categories:

Fortunately, the landscape has changed. Tools like DaVinci Resolve provide professional-grade capabilities for free, allowing editors to build their skills and business legally and securely. For those committed to the Adobe ecosystem, the official trial or student discounts remain the safest routes to entry.