For tools and stuff: FOSS

For games: No need to pirate thanks to Epic overloading me with free stuff. If I want something specific, keyforsteam usually does the trick for a very reasonable amount of money.

Both of these categories are just not worth it to risk a potential infection due to malware in the pirated stuff.

The only places where I do do some pirating are:

• TV shows/movies if they aren't on the two streaming services that I pay for
• Games for the hacked retro consoles that I own
• Android apps that I can hack myself

These categories are pretty safe

I've always used FOSS wherever possible, even before I switched off Windows - mainly because I didn't like the risk pirated executables posed.

I could pirate games, but because I almost always play indie and can afford $15-$30 now and again, I choose to support the devs.

Been on Linux for years so I don't need pirated software.

Most of the time FOSS, but things like After Effects that already has a huge community or plugins or things that make it super easy to use, then I just pirate it.
Yes, I know there are alternatives, but most of the time the curve to learn how to achieve the same thing is much more steep or it lacks the free plugins/presets that make it simple for a normal home user that might use it every now and then to create a shitpost or something.

FOSS. Not everywhere though. I still use windows and still use SwiftKey. I'm just not adept enough for Linux. I tried it. SwiftKey will be switched eventually.

I don't trust any proprietary software. I don't like putting a lot of work into something only to have the rug pulled out from under me by an arbitrary change from the dev. Open source means I can always keep using the software, even if it means I have to push code myself.

Both actually, there are certain softwares like photoshop, ms office suite,idm etc. that I pirate. I try to use foss for almost everything else.

FOSS all the way. I don't want to be dependent on proprietary software as much as possible.

If kdenlive was even in the same ballpark of usability as Premiere maybe, but so far it's not even in the same country.

FOSS if I can find a good Windows alternative to what I need.

Warez if I can find a trustworthy release, but it's kinda rare these days.

When I was a student I had almost everything pirated, because of the lack of money and unreasonable pricing. Back then it was easy because in most cases I knew someone who knew someone who already had pirated the program.

Meanwhile I switched for alternatives (for instance I used to have Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, now I have purchased Affinity Photo and Designer) as the trend leads into the direction of subscribed software (software-as-a-service). I prefer software to be installed locally and not dependent of a stable internet connection. Also, I have no problem with paying for proprietary software, given it is priced reasonably.

The only program I have considered pirating in the last few years has been Topaz Gigapixel AI. I then realized that I could wait as there will likely be open-source alternatives available in the future. Upscaling old videos is not a priority for me.

FOSS by default. Proprietary if an absolute must

i have slowly bought games i started playing 20+ years ago on steam for a few dollars each on sale. i largely use FOSS i still pirate windows i don't play AAA games the new games i play are largely free/crossplay/splitscreen

The last software I aquired unconventionally was photoshop. Then came windows 10 and my migration to linux, so that was the end of adobe on my systems.

I always search for a foss alternative first when it comes to software games are a fairgame for piracy tho unless they are indie

Mostly FOSS these days. There's just so many options now. There's a few things I have from the old days as I've updated from Windows 7 through 10 over the years.

usually use FOSS, it has been long since I pirated software

Used to pirate apps all the time but I started getting into Linux and learn more about privacy. Now i just look for foss alternatives and have stopped pirating apps altogether.

Both

I mostly pirate games and when I play 10 - 20 hours and like the game, I buy them. Exceptions are when it's EA, because fuck EA and their greedy bullshit. I'd rather burn €10,- than to give it to EA

Other than Windows I guess everything I use is Foss with only few free stuff (like visual studio). And it's a lot. Many different Software.

I don't pirate software anymore, the risks aren't worth it to me

I used to pirate everything. But, I have never used/installed any commercial software since I jumped onto the FOSS bandwagon since at least 2010. I love the freedom! I even support the developers when I can.

Always FLOSS I even stopped my hobby of producing music because Ardour was just not good enough for that.

yes

My Policy:

FOSS if there is something I like that does what I need in a way I can understand.

Paid software if its useful software that doesn't have a stupid high price.

Overprice software or software that thinks their software needs a subscription service? Raise the flag!

If there's a free software alternative to what I want to pirate, I always use that instead. Software is like sex. It's better when it's free.

I use FOSS. You can't ever truly know if a pirated piece of software is back doored or not, so why even risk it?