You might think, “It’s just a file on Google Drive – how dangerous can it be?” The truth is alarming.

The frustration with Adobe’s subscription model is understandable. But the 2020 Master Collection is now several versions old. Instead of risking your digital security and legal standing, consider these legitimate alternatives:

A: Run a full scan with Malwarebytes and Windows Defender Offline. Change all saved passwords. Consider a clean Windows reinstall.

If you clicked a Google Drive link and ran an installer, do this immediately:

Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of Creative Cloud All Apps. During that week, you get full access to all 2020 (or newer) versions. No credit card required for the first 7 days in some regions.

You don’t actually need Adobe for most creative tasks. These powerful free tools can replace the entire Master Collection:

| Adobe App | Free Alternative | |-----------|------------------| | Photoshop | GIMP, Photopea (browser-based) | | Illustrator | Inkscape, Vectr | | Premiere Pro | DaVinci Resolve (used in Hollywood!) | | After Effects | Natron, Blender (VFX) | | Audition | Audacity | | Lightroom | Darktable, RawTherapee | | InDesign | Scribus | | Animate | Synfig Studio, Pencil2D |

DaVinci Resolve, in particular, is so good that many professional editors have switched from Premiere Pro entirely.