Is there any way to pirate premium WordPress plugins and minimizing the chance of getting malware? Meaning perhaps there are certain sources that are known to provide malware free content and generally have a good reputation. I know piracy will always involve risks but it doesn’t hurt to ask people with first-hand experience. I am even willing to pay but there’s no way I will afford plugins that cost hundreds of dollars a year anytime soon.
They’re also all GPL due to the nature of Wordpress, even the “paid” ones, so if you can find a copy you’re also in the clear - just be careful of your sources.
Some of the plugins I’ve seen use “tokens” for example to enable pro features. They also have free versions but their functionality is often severely limited.