Historically, trusted groups (such as "Myth" or "Paradox") released cracks that were verified as working. However, the modern definition of "verified" has shifted to imply "scanned for malware." Because these files are executable binaries from unregulated sources, they are prime vectors for malware.
If you are struggling with a legacy installation, the following tools are frequently cited by the community to modernize the experience: simcity 3000 no cd patch verified