Are users being spyed on by pirated programs?

Question

Windows

Some of my friends have pirated programs installed on their computers.
Is it possible that the authors of such "repacks" and "assemblies" can track the user's actions for personal gain? For example, view files or broadcast from the screen?
Is it possible to install such programs so that they do not have such access? But somehow more comfortable than through a virtual machine?

Answer 1

Is it possible that the authors of such "repacks" and "assemblies" can track the actions of the user for personal gain?

Maybe. Only with a greater probability they will make a zombie network.
There are sandboxes, there are firewalls. In the end, it is not necessary to use exactly "repacks" and "assemblies"; it still makes sense to assess the reputation of the source.

Answer 2

The Chinese have managed to get out of the virtual machine recently.
They can, of course. If you download from some left site or from unverified repackers, then you can pick up infections.