I Built an AI Background Remover. Then I Watched It Get Stolen.
I built MadPeel because I needed an AI background remover that runs on my PC, works offline, and doesn't upload my images to someone else's server. I put it on the Microsoft Store thinking that would help people find it. Within weeks, cracked copies appeared on piracy sites across the internet.
This is what happened, what I learned, and why the only safe place to download MadPeel is directly from madfable.com.
What MadPeel actually is
MadPeel is a desktop AI background remover for Windows. It uses three AI models, processes images locally on your machine, and your files never leave your computer. It handles batch processing, edge refinement, shadow tools, export presets for e-commerce and social media, and a manual brush tool for fine-tuning. It costs $14 once.
That's it. One payment, the software is yours, no subscription, no cloud processing, no account required.
What happened on the Microsoft Store
I listed MadPeel and MadCrawl (an SEO audit tool) on the Microsoft Store expecting it to be a safe, trusted distribution channel. Instead, within weeks, cracked versions of both products appeared on piracy sites across Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
The Microsoft Store showed installs happening. My earnings dashboard showed $205 in expected revenue from five legitimate purchases, three MadCrawl installs at $59 each and two MadPeel installs at $14 each. But when I contacted Microsoft support about the discrepancy between installs and payouts, they told me the purchases were either refunded or attributed to developer testing. The $205 was gone.
So the platform that was supposed to protect my software and handle payments did neither. The software got pirated through their distribution channel and the legitimate sales never made it to my bank account.
I pulled both products from the Microsoft Store and went direct-only through my own website. That was the right call and I should have done it from the start.
Why cracked versions of background removers are risky
This isn't just a "support the developer" appeal, although I appreciate anyone who does. Cracked software is a genuine security risk, especially with tools that process your images.
When someone cracks a desktop application, they modify the original code. They patch out the license check, repackage the installer, and upload it. But nothing stops them from adding their own code during that process. Keyloggers, crypto miners, adware, remote access trojans. The installer looks the same. The software runs the same. But something else is running in the background that the developer didn't put there.
With an AI background remover specifically, you're feeding it images. Personal photos, product shots, client work, potentially sensitive material. A compromised version could be quietly uploading those images, logging file paths, or scanning your system while you think it's just removing backgrounds.
I have no control over what gets injected into cracked copies of MadPeel. I didn't write that code. I can't vouch for its safety. And neither can the piracy site hosting it.
If you search for "background remover no virus" or "AI background remover safe download," you're already thinking about this. Good. You should be.
How to make sure you're downloading the real version
The only authorized source for MadPeel is the Madfable website. If you downloaded MadPeel from anywhere other than madfable.com, I can't guarantee what's in that installer.
There is no free version of MadPeel. There is no trial. There are no authorized third-party distributors, resellers, or download mirrors. If a site is offering MadPeel for free, it's not the version I built.
The legitimate version:
Downloads directly from madfable.com/ai-background-remover
Requires a license key purchased through the official checkout
Costs $14
Runs completely offline after installation
Does not phone home, collect data, or require an internet connection to function
If you paid for MadPeel anywhere other than madfable.com, you were likely scammed by someone reselling a cracked copy. I'd recommend uninstalling that version and scanning your system.
What I'm doing about it
I file DMCA takedown requests with Google to remove piracy sites from search results. Some comply. Some don't. The sites that host cracked software are often based in countries where US copyright law doesn't reach, which means the legal options for a solo developer are limited.
What I can do is make sure anyone searching for MadPeel finds this post. If you're here because you Googled "MadPeel download" or "MadPeel free" or "background remover safe download," now you know the situation.
I build software that runs locally because I believe your files should stay on your computer. It's frustrating that the same tools designed to protect your privacy get redistributed by people who may not share that concern.
Why offline background removers exist in the first place
The reason tools like MadPeel exist is that a lot of people don't want to upload their images to a website to get the background removed. Online tools like remove.bg are convenient but your images go to someone else's server. For personal photos, client work, or anything sensitive, that's a tradeoff not everyone is comfortable with.
An offline background remover processes everything on your machine. No uploads. No cloud. No wondering what happens to your images after the background is removed. That's the whole point.
MadPeel uses three different AI models (BiRefNet for products, BiRefNet Portrait for people, and Portrait Mode for quick processing) that run entirely through your GPU or CPU. The AI models are included in the installation. Once it's on your machine, the internet connection is irrelevant.
It also includes features that most online tools charge monthly for: batch processing entire folders of images, edge refinement sliders for cleaning up tricky edges, shadow tools with seven presets for adding natural-looking drop shadows, and 24 export presets sized for Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.
For $14 once, it replaces a monthly subscription to remove.bg or Canva Pro's background remover. Over a year, that's potentially hundreds of dollars saved, depending on which subscription you're comparing it to.
Frequently asked questions
Is MadPeel safe to download?
From madfable.com, yes. That's the only source I control and the only version I can guarantee is clean. From any other site, I have no way to verify what's in the installer.
Is there a free version of MadPeel?
No. If you see MadPeel offered for free, it's a cracked copy that may contain modified code. The only legitimate version costs $14 from madfable.com.
Does MadPeel upload my images anywhere?
No. MadPeel runs 100% offline. Your images are processed locally on your PC. Nothing is sent to any server. There's no telemetry, no analytics, no cloud processing.
Why did you leave the Microsoft Store?
The platform failed to protect the software from piracy, failed to pay me for legitimate sales, and added a layer of distribution that I couldn't control. Selling directly through my own website gives me control over the product, the customer relationship, and the security of the download.
What should I do if I downloaded MadPeel from a piracy site?
Uninstall it immediately and run a full antivirus scan. Then, if you'd like the real version, it's $14 at madfable.com/ai-background-remover. No hard feelings. Just want to make sure you're running clean software.
MadPeel is an AI background remover that runs on your PC, processes images offline, and costs $14 once. The only safe download is at madfable.com/ai-background-remover.
