What is the ruling on pirated software that I have used in the past, and is it permissible to use essential pirated software in a state of financial hardship?

It is most likely not permissible to use copied software without the permission of its owners, based on the evidence that prohibits infringing upon the rights of others. Some software owners only prohibit public copying, in which case private copying for personal benefit is permissible. However, if both public and private copying are prohibited, then it is absolutely not permissible. Repentance from using such programs involves ceasing the infringement, feeling remorse, resolving not to return to it, and attempting to seek forgiveness from the rights holders or reconcile with them. If that is not possible, one can donate the equivalent value of the benefit gained from those programs, along with sincere repentance. There is another opinion that permits copying for personal use without earning profit, and in this case, donating the value of the benefit is not obligatory, but doing so is preferable. If copying for personal use is permissible, one must limit it to what is necessary, because exceeding that is an act of transgression and aggression.