Leo had a deadline looming—a final project for his digital arts class. His hard drive had failed, and the only backup of his portfolio was stuck on an old iPhone that wouldn't sync with his new computer. Panic setting in, he remembered hearing about "cracked" software that could bypass Apple’s security restrictions.

Leo didn't have any Bitcoin. He watched as his terminal, the crack he'd installed, began deleting his files one by one. The "free" tool was actually ransomware disguised as utility software.

Against his better judgment, Leo searched for "CopyTrans 7.200 Crack With Activation Key Latest Version 2021." He found a forum link promising a free, full-version patch. Desperate, he downloaded the file and ran it.