In 2017, a small integrator used a cracked version of Unity Pro (now Control Expert) to program a water pump station. The crack contained a time bomb that corrupted function blocks after 90 days. The pumps failed to start during a flood event, causing $2M in damage and a criminal investigation into the integrator’s software practices.

Schneider released a forensic tool, Safety Checker, to detect such anomalies – but it only works on licensed versions.

Common reasons include:

While these are understandable frustrations, cracking the software is never the solution — especially in industrial automation.

Students and teachers can request free 1-year licenses via Schneider Electric University or authorized academic partners.

For smaller projects (Modicon M221), Schneider provides free, unlimited software – no crack needed. It supports Ladder and IL.

Licenses are transferable with Schneider’s approval. Sites like PLC Center legally resell used licenses at 40-60% discount.

If you can’t afford Control Expert legally: