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<title>Google's Software Is Malware
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
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<h2>Google's Software is Malware</h2>
(削除) <p><a href="/proprietary/proprietary.html">Other examples of proprietary
malware</a></p> (削除ここまで)
<div (削除) class="highlight-para">
<p>
<em>Malware</em> means (削除ここまで) (追記) class="infobox">
<hr class="full-width" />
<p>Nonfree (proprietary) (追記ここまで) software (削除) designed (削除ここまで) (追記) is very often malware (designed (追記ここまで) to (削除) function in ways that (削除ここまで)
mistreat (削除) or harm (削除ここまで) the (削除) user. (This does not include accidental errors.)
This page explains how Google software is malware.
</p>
<p>Malware and nonfree software are two different issues. The
difference between <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free
software</a> and nonfree (削除ここまで) (追記) user). Nonfree (追記ここまで) software is (追記) controlled by its developers,
which puts them (追記ここまで) in
(削除) <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
whether the users have control of the program or vice versa</a>. It's
not directly (削除ここまで) a (削除) question (削除ここまで) (追記) position (追記ここまで) of (削除) what (削除ここまで) (追記) power over (追記ここまで) the (削除) program <em>does</em> when it
runs. However, in practice nonfree software (削除ここまで) (追記) users; <a
href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">that (追記ここまで) is (削除) often malware,
because (削除ここまで) the (削除) developer's awareness (削除ここまで)
(追記) basic injustice</a>. The developers and manufacturers often exercise (追記ここまで)
that (追記) power to the detriment of (追記ここまで) the users (削除) would be powerless (削除ここまで) (追記) they ought (追記ここまで) to (削除) fix
any (削除ここまで) (追記) serve.</p>
<p>This typically takes the form of (追記ここまで) malicious (削除) functionalities tempts (削除ここまで) (追記) functionalities.</p>
<hr class="full-width" />
</div>
<div class="article">
<div class="important">
<p>If you know of an example that ought to be in this page but isn't
here, please write
to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>
to inform us. Please include (追記ここまで) the (削除) developer (削除ここまで) (追記) URL of a trustworthy reference or two,
preferably in English, (追記ここまで) to (削除) impose some.
</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) serve as specific substantiation.</p> (追記ここまで)
</div>
<div (削除) class="summary" style="margin-top: 2em">
<h3><strong>Type of malware</strong></h3> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="TOC" class="toc-inline">
<h3>Types of Google malware</h3> (追記ここまで)
<ul>
<li><a href="#back-doors">Back doors</a></li>
<li><a href="#censorship">Censorship</a></li>
(追記) <!--<li><a href="#deception">Deception</a></li>-->
<li><a href="#drm">DRM</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a href="#insecurity">Insecurity</a></li>
(追記) <li><a href="#interference">Interference</a></li>
<li><a href="#manipulation">Manipulation</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<!--<li><a (削除) href="#pressuring">Pressuring</a></li>--> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="#jails">Jails</a></li>--> (追記ここまで)
<li><a href="#sabotage">Sabotage</a></li>
<li><a (追記) href="#subscriptions">Subscriptions</a></li>
<li><a (追記ここまで) href="#surveillance">Surveillance</a></li>
<li><a (削除) href="#drm">Digital restrictions
management</a> or “DRM” means functionalities designed
to restrict what users can do with (削除ここまで) (追記) href="#tyrants">Tyrants</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="back-doors">Back Doors</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202004130">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>The <a href="https://play.google.com/about/play-terms/">
Google Play Terms of Service</a> insist that (追記ここまで) the (削除) data (削除ここまで) (追記) user of Android accept
the presence of universal back doors (追記ここまで) in (削除) their computers.</li>
<!--<li><a href="#jails">Jails</a>—systems (削除ここまで) (追記) apps released by Google.</p>
<p>This does not tell us whether any of Google's apps currently
contains a universal back door, but (追記ここまで) that (削除) impose censorship on application programs.</li>-->
<li><a href="#tyrants">Tyrants</a>—systems (削除ここまで) (追記) is a secondary question.
In moral terms, demanding (追記ここまで) that (削除) reject any operating system not “authorized” by (削除ここまで) (追記) people accept in advance certain bad
treatment is equivalent to actually doing it. Whatever condemnation (追記ここまで)
the
(削除) manufacturer.</li>
<!--<li><a href="#deception">Deception</a></li>-->
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="back-doors">Google Back Doors</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>ChromeOS (削除ここまで) (追記) latter deserves, the former deserves the same.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201908220">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>ChromeBooks are programmed for obsolescence:
ChromeOS (追記ここまで) has a universal back (削除) door. At least, Google says
it does—in (削除ここまで) (追記) door that is used for updates and (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="https://www.google.com/intl/en/chromebook/termsofservice.html">
section 4 of (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.theregister.com/2019/08/22/buying_a_chromebook_dont_forget_to_check_when_it_expires/">
ceases to operate at a predefined date</a>. From then on, there
appears to be no support whatsoever for the computer.</p>
<p>In other words, when you stop getting screwed by (追記ここまで) the (削除) EULA</a>.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) back door,
you start getting screwed by the obsolescence.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201809140">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Android has a <a
href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/14/17861150/google-battery-saver-android-9-pie-remote-settings-change">
back door for remotely changing “user” settings</a>.</p>
<p>The article suggests it might be a universal back door, but this
isn't clear.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li> (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201103070">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2011-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" --> (追記ここまで)
<p>In Android, <a
(削除) href="http://www.computerworld.com/article/2506557/security0/google-throws--kill-switch--on-android-phones.html"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/2506557/google-throws--kill-switch--on-android-phones.html"> (追記ここまで)
Google has a back door to remotely delete (削除) apps.</a> (削除ここまで) (追記) apps</a>. (追記ここまで) (It (削除) is (削除ここまで) (追記) was (追記ここまで) in a
program called (削除) GTalkService).</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) GTalkService, which seems since then to have been
merged into Google Play.)</p> (追記ここまで)
<p>Google can also <a
href="https://jon.oberheide.org/blog/2010/06/25/remote-kill-and-install-on-google-android/">
forcibly and remotely install apps</a> through (削除) GTalkService (which
seems, since that article, to have been merged into Google Play). (削除ここまで) (追記) GTalkService. (追記ここまで) This is
not equivalent to a universal back door, but permits various dirty
tricks.</p>
<p>Although Google's <em>exercise</em> of this power has not been
malicious so far, the point is that nobody should have such power,
which could also be used maliciously. You might well decide to
let a security service remotely <em>deactivate</em> programs that
it considers malicious. But there is no excuse for allowing it to
<em>delete</em> the programs, and you should have the right to decide
who (if anyone) to trust in this (削除) way.</p></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) way.</p>
</li> (追記ここまで)
</ul>
<h3 (削除) id="censorship">Google Censorship</h3>
<ul>
<li> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="censorship">Censorship</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202510030">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Bowing down to the US government, Apple and Google <a
href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/03/nx-s1-5561999/apple-google-iceblock-app-removal">
removed</a> from their stores <a
href="https://www.androidauthority.com/ice-alert-app-red-dot-pulled-play-store-3603936/">
several applications</a> used for reporting ICE raids. Google
even tried to justify it by calling ICE thugs a “vulnerable
group,” despite them being the ones who carry the weapons.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201703160">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google <a
href="https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2017/0316/Google-Family-Link-gives-parents-a-way-to-monitor-preteens-accounts">
offers censorship software</a>, ostensibly for parents to put into
their children's computers.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201701180">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" --> (追記ここまで)
<p>On Windows and MacOS, Chrome <a
href="https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/developers/extensions-deployment-faq">
disables extensions</a> that are not hosted in the Chrome Web
Store.</p>
<p>For example, an extension was <a
(削除) href="https://consumerist.com/2017/01/18/why-is-google-blocking-this-ad-blocker-on-chrome/"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170120094917/https://consumerist.com/2017/01/18/why-is-google-blocking-this-ad-blocker-on-chrome/"> (追記ここまで)
banned from the Chrome Web Store, and permanently disabled</a> on
more than 40,000 (削除) computers.</p></li>
<li> (削除ここまで) (追記) computers.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201602030">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" --> (追記ここまで)
<p><a (削除) href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/03/google-pulls-ad-blocking-app-for-samsung-phones"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/03/google-pulls-ad-blocking-app-for-samsung-phones"> (追記ここまで)
Google censored installation of Samsung's ad-blocker</a> on Android
phones, saying that blocking ads is “interference” with
the sites that advertise (and surveil users through ads).</p>
<p>The ad-blocker is proprietary software, just like the program
(Google Play) that Google used to deny access to install it. Using
a nonfree program gives the owner power over you, and Google has
exercised that power.</p>
<p>Google's censorship, unlike that of Apple, is not total: Android
allows users to install apps in other ways. You can install free
programs from (削除) f-droid.org.</p></li>
<li> (削除ここまで) (追記) f-droid.org.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="drm">DRM</h3>
<p>Digital restrictions management, or “DRM,” refers to
functionalities designed to restrict what users can do with the data
in their computers.</p>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201705150">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" --> (追記ここまで)
<p>Google (追記) now allows Android
apps to detect whether a device has been rooted, (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2017/0316/Google-Family-Link-gives-parents-a-way-to-monitor-preteens-accounts">
offers censorship software</a>, ostensibly for parents (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/13/netflix-confirms-blocking-rootedunlocked-devices-app-still-working-now/">and
refuse (追記ここまで) to (削除) put into
their children's computers.</p></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) install if so</a>. The Netflix app uses this ability to
enforce DRM by refusing to install on rooted Android devices.</p>
<p>Update: Google <i>intentionally</i> changed Android so that apps <a
href="https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-use-of-google-drm-means-rooted-android-devices-are-banned-170515/">can
detect rooted devices and refuse to run on them</a>. The Netflix app
is proprietary malware, and one shouldn't use it. However, that does
not make what Google has done any less wrong.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201701300">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Chrome <a
href="https://boingboing.net/2017/01/30/google-quietly-makes-optiona.html">implements
DRM</a>. So does Chromium, through nonfree software that is effectively
part of it.</p>
<p><a
href="https://issues.chromium.org/issues/40504000">More
information</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201102250">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2011-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Android <a
href="https://developer.android.com/reference/android/drm/package-summary.html">
contains facilities specifically to support DRM</a>.</p>
</li> (追記ここまで)
</ul>
<h3 (削除) id="insecurity">Google Insecurity</h3> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="insecurity">Insecurity</h3> (追記ここまで)
<p>These bugs are/were not intentional, so unlike the rest of the file
they do not count as malware. We mention them to refute the
supposition that prestigious proprietary software doesn't have grave
bugs.</p>
(削除) <ul>
<li><p><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/privacy-scandal-nsa-can-spy-on-smart-phone-data-a-920971.html"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) <ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202508060">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Academic researchers have published an <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/google/2025/08/researchers-use-calendar-events-to-hack-gemini-control-smart-home-gadgets/">
attack</a> that led Google's supposed “intelligence” [*]
to obey malicious commands to manipulate devices in the user's
home.</p>
<p>Giving Google control of your devices, or control of your own
computing that you do on their servers, inevitably makes you vulnerable
to Google.</p>
<p>This announcement shows that the vulnerability includes third-party
crackers [**] too.</p>
<p>The article says that the crack discoverers worked with Google
to “mitigate“ the danger. What, concretely, does
“mitigate“ mean here? Probably in this case it is a weasel
word to suggest fixing a problem without claiming to have fixed it.</p>
<p>[*] <small>Let's not call these systems “artificial
intelligence.” Intelligence is something <a
href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#ArtificialIntelligence">they
do not have</a>.</small></p>
<p>[**] <small>Please note that the article
wrongly refers to crackers as “<a
href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker">hackers</a>.”</small></p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202506030">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-06</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Researchers discovered that the Meta Pixel and Yandex
Metrica trackers, which are embedded in many websites, have been <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/06/meta-and-yandex-are-de-anonymizing-android-users-web-browsing-identifiers/">
spying on behalf of the native Meta and Yandex Android apps</a>
respectively, by taking advantage of security flaws in the Android
API. When the user of an Android device accessed these pages
with a browser such as Chrome, the trackers made all browsing
data available to the native apps running in the background. The
data could then be correlated to the user account or the Android
<a href="/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201812290">
Advertising ID</a>, i.e. de-anonymized.</p>
<p>Although Meta and Yandex have discontinued this type of spying, they
may resume it in the future, possibly with other methods, and we don't
know which other companies might follow their example. A foolproof
way to avoid this sort of tracking is to refrain from installing
any proprietary apps on a “smart”phone, especially if
the app has a way of identifying users. To avoid proprietary apps,
we recommend using the <a href="https://f-droid.org/">F-Droid</a>
store instead of Google Play.</p>
<p>Since most trackers, including the Meta Pixel and Yandex Metrica,
are nonfree JavaScript programs, it is also good practice to prevent
nonfree JavaScript from running in the browser, with an add-on such
as GNU LibreJS.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202107180">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/18/what-is-pegasus-spyware-and-how-does-it-hack-phones">
The pegasus spyware used vulnerabilities on proprietary smartphone
operating systems</a> to impose surveillance on people. It can record
people's calls, copy their messages, and secretly film them, using a
security vulnerability. There's also <a
href="https://info.lookout.com/rs/051-ESQ-475/images/lookout-pegasus-technical-analysis.pdf">
a technical analysis of this spyware</a> available in PDF format.</p>
<p>A free operating system would've let people to fix the bugs for
themselves but now infected people will be compelled to wait for corporations to
fix the problems.</p>
<p><small>Please note that the article
wrongly refers to crackers as “<a
href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker">hackers</a>”.</small></p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202008110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>TikTok <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20241010234941/https://boingboing.net/2020/08/11/tiktok-exploited-android-secur.html">
exploited an Android vulnerability</a> to obtain user MAC
addresses.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201907080">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Many Android apps can track
users' movements even when the user says <a
href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/8/20686514/android-covert-channel-permissions-data-collection-imei-ssid-location">
not to allow them access to locations</a>.</p>
<p>This involves an apparently unintentional weakness in Android,
exploited intentionally by malicious apps.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201801260">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google's ad platform enabled advertisers to <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/now-even-youtube-serves-ads-with-cpu-draining-cryptocurrency-miners/">
run cryptocurrency miner code on the computers of YouTube users through
proprietary JavaScript</a>. Some people noticed this, and the outrage
made Google remove the miners, but the number of affected users was
probably very high.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201311120">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180816030205/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/privacy-scandal-nsa-can-spy-on-smart-phone-data-a-920971.html"> (追記ここまで)
The NSA can tap data in smart phones, including iPhones,
Android, and BlackBerry</a>. While there is not much
detail here, it seems that this does not operate via
the universal back door that we know nearly all portable
phones have. It may involve exploiting various bugs. There are <a (削除) href="http://www.osnews.com/story/27416/The_second_operating_system_hiding_in_every_mobile_phone"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.osnews.com/story/27416/the-second-operating-system-hiding-in-every-mobile-phone/"> (追記ここまで)
lots of bugs in the phones' radio (削除) software</a>.</p></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) software</a>.</p>
</li> (追記ここまで)
</ul>
<h3 (削除) id="sabotage">Google Sabotage</h3> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="interference">Interference</h3>
<p>This section gives examples of Google software harassing or annoying
the user, or causing trouble for the user. These actions are like
sabotage but the word “sabotage” is too strong for them.</p>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202106190">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-06</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a
href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/even-creepier-covid-tracking-google-silently-pushed-app-to-users-phones/">Google
automatically installed an app on many proprietary Android phones</a>. The app
might or might not do malicious things but the power Google has over proprietary
Android phones is dangerous.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201907220">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>In 2019, <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260303174311/https://chromestory.com/2019/07/disable-pull-to-refresh-on-chrome-for-android/">
Google revoked users' ability to turn
off the “pull-to-refresh”
gesture in Chrome for Android</a>. Despite <a
href="https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/8152831"> thousands
of protests by frustrated users</a>, Google has not reverted its
decision. Proprietary software developers are known for ignoring users'
requests in favor of their own gain and convenience. Only free software
gives users control over their own computing.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201901230">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google is modifying Chromium so that <a
href="https://tech.slashdot.org/story/19/01/23/0048202/google-proposes-changes-to-chromium-browser-that-will-break-content-blocking-extensions-including-various-ad-blockers">
extensions won't be able to alter or block whatever the page
contains</a>. Users could conceivably reverse the change in a fork
of Chromium, but surely Chrome (nonfree) will have the same change,
and users can't fix it there.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="manipulation">Manipulation</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202501290">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google is <a
href="https://slate.com/technology/2025/01/google-gemini-ai-workspace-default-opt-in.html">
forcing its bullshit generator, Gemini, on many users of Gmail</a>
without asking them, and not even offering the users a way to
deactivate it.</p>
<p>Workplace IT managers, whose employees are forced to use Gmail,
can get it turned off after a laborious procedure, followed by
waiting—the darkest of dark patterns.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="sabotage">Sabotage</h3> (追記ここまで)
<p>The wrongs in this section are not precisely malware, since they do
not involve making the program that runs in a way that hurts the user.
But they are a lot like malware, since they are technical Google
actions that harm (削除) to (削除ここまで) the users of specific Google software.</p>
(削除) <ul>
<li>
<p>Revolv (削除ここまで)
(追記) <ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202508270">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google has announced the inclusion of a <a
href="https://itsfoss.com/news/new-android-sideloading-rules/">
“security” measure</a> in Android “smartphones,”
which will require any software installed in certified Android devices
to come from a developer who has gone through Google's new developer
verification program.</p>
<p>The problem here (追記ここまで) is (追記) not that there's a system that provides trust
on the origin of the software. A system like that might be useful,
but the end user should still be able to select which organization
provides that service, or maybe set up such (追記ここまで) an (削除) IoT device (削除ここまで) (追記) organization or renounce
the service altogether.</p>
<p>Making this verification exclusive to Google makes us question (追記ここまで) which
(追記) is the threat here. Is it a user installing malware inadvertently? Or
is it the user installing software that makes Google lose money?</p>
<p>This will also kill projects such as <a
href="https://f-droid.org/en/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html">
F-Droid</a> that promote privacy and freedom by distributing free
(as in freedom) apps.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202011060">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>A new app published by Google <a
href="https://www.xda-developers.com/google-device-lock-controller-banks-payments/">lets
banks and creditors deactivate people's Android devices</a> if they
fail to make payments. If someone's device gets deactivated, it will
be limited to basic functionality, such as emergency calling and
access to settings.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201604050">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Revolv is a device that (追記ここまで) managed “smart home”
operations: switching (削除) the (削除ここまで) lights, operate motion sensors, regulating
temperature, etc. (追記) Its proprietary software depends on a remote server
to do these tasks. (追記ここまで) On May 15th, 2016, (削除) Google said (削除ここまで) (追記) Google/Alphabet <a
href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/nest-reminds-customers-ownership-isnt-what-it-used-be">intentionally
broke (追記ここまで) it (削除) would shut (削除ここまで) (追記) by shutting (追記ここまで) down the
(削除) service linked to the device, making (削除ここまで) (追記) server</a>.</p>
<p>If (追記ここまで) it (削除) unusable.</p>
<p>Although you may own the device, its functioning depended on (削除ここまで) (追記) were free software, users would have (追記ここまで) the (削除) server
that never belonged (削除ここまで) (追記) ability (追記ここまで) to (削除) you. So you never really had control (削除ここまで) (追記) make it
work again, differently, and then have a freedom-respecting home
instead (追記ここまで) of (削除) it. This
unjust design is called
<a href="/philosophy/network-services-arent-free-or-nonfree.html">
Service as (削除ここまで) a (削除) Software Substitute (SaaSS)</a>. That is what gave the
company the power to convert it (削除ここまで) (追記) “smart” home. Don't let proprietary software
control your devices and turn them (追記ここまで) into (削除) a (削除ここまで) 300ドル out-of-warranty (削除) brick, for
your “dumb home”.</p> (削除ここまで)
(追記) bricks. Insist on self-contained computers that run free software!</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Google (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201511244">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google (追記ここまで) has long had <a
(削除) href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/24/google-can-unlock-android-devices-remotely-if-phone-unencrypted">a (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/24/google-can-unlock-android-devices-remotely-if-phone-unencrypted">a (追記ここまで)
back door to remotely unlock an Android device</a>, unless its disk
is encrypted (possible since Android 5.0 Lollipop, but still not
quite the (削除) default).</p></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) default).</p>
</li> (追記ここまで)
</ul>
<h3 (削除) id="surveillance">Google Surveillance</h3>
<ul>
<li><p>Tracking (削除ここまで) (追記) id="subscriptions">Subscriptions</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202309050">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Nest snooper/surveillance cameras are always
tethered to Google servers, record videos 24/7, and are
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/google-nest-cameras-get-a-25-33-subscription-price-hike/">
subscription-based, which is an injustice to people who
use them</a>. The article discusses the rise in prices for
“plans” you can buy from Google, which include storing
videos in the “cloud”—another word for someone
else's computer.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="surveillance">Surveillance</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202512100">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google has rolled out a new (追記ここまで) software (追記) app
which <a
href="https://www.insidehalton.com/news/google-archiving-feature-employees/article_3bdced70-23dd-5ea8-9305-a936fceda7dc.html">
allows employers to log all messages</a> sent through the <a
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Communication_Services"> Rich
Communication Services</a> (a newer replacement for SMS messages) on
company-owned phones provided to employees, amplifying the surveillance
workers are subjected to.</p>
<p>“Bossware” as it's called, <a
href="https://developer.android.com/work/dpc/rcs-messages-archival">
explicitly requires nullifying user agency</a> in favor of a
third-party (the boss), and therefore requires proprietary
software.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202411040">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2024-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>The Pixel 9 “smart”phone <a
href="https://cybernews.com/security/google-pixel-9-phone-beams-data-and-awaits-commands/">
frequently updates Google servers with its location and current
configuration</a> along with personally identifiable data, raising
concerns about user privacy. Moreover, it communicates
with services that are not (追記ここまで) in (削除) popular (削除ここまで) (追記) use, and periodically attempts to
download experimental, possibly insecure software. The system does
not inform the user that it is doing all this.</p>
<p>There is hope, however: it is possible to <a
href="https://doc.e.foundation/devices"> replace the original (追記ここまで) Android (削除) apps (削除ここまで)
(追記) operating system with a deGoogled version</a> in Pixel phones up to
8a, and in phones from many other brands. No doubt that the Pixel 9
will be supported soon.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202109210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google's proprietary Chrome web browser <a
href="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/new-chrome-feature-can-tell-sites-and-webapps-when-youre-idle/">
added a surveillance API (idle detection API)</a> which lets
websites ask Chrome to report when a user with a web page open (追記ここまで) is (削除) pervasive (削除ここまで)
(追記) idle.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202102160">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google <a
href="https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/disha-ravi-arrest-puts-privacy-of-all-google-india-users-in-doubt-1769772-2021年02月16日">handed
over personal data of Indian protesters (追記ここまで) and
(削除) sometimes very clever. Some trackers can (削除ここまで) (追記) activists to Indian
police</a> which led to their arrest. The cops requested the IP
address and the location where a document was created and with that
information, they identified protesters and activists.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202008030">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Nest (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="https://theintercept.com/2017/11/24/staggering-variety-of-clandestine-trackers-found-in-popular-android-apps/">
follow (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://blog.google/products/google-nest/partnership-adt-smarter-home-security/">
is taking over ADT</a>. Google sent out (追記ここまで) a (追記) software
update to its speaker devices using their back door <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240123114737/https://www.protocol.com/google-smart-speaker-alarm-adt"> that
listens for things like smoke alarms</a> and then notifies your phone
that an alarm is happening. This means the devices now listen for more
than just their wake words. Google says the software update was sent
out prematurely and on accident and Google was planning on disclosing
this new feature and offering it to customers who pay for it.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202004301">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Proprietary programs Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx <a
href="https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/video-conferencing-services/videoconferencing-privacy-issues-google-microsoft-webex-a7383469308/">are
collecting (追記ここまで) user's (追記) personal and identifiable data</a> including how long
a call lasts, who's participating in the call, and the IP addresses
of everyone taking part. From experience, this can even harm users
physically if those companies hand over data to governments.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202004131">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google, Apple, and Microsoft (and probably some other companies)
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230603050115/https://www.lifewire.com/wifi-positioning-system-1683343">are
collecting people's access points and GPS coordinates (which can
identify people's precise location) even if their GPS is turned
off</a>, without the person's consent, using proprietary software
implemented in person's smartphone. Though merely asking for permission
would not necessarily legitimize this.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201907210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google “Assistant” records users' conversations <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/07/google-defends-listening-to-ok-google-queries-after-voice-recordings-leak/">even
when it is not supposed to listen</a>. Thus, when one of Google's
subcontractors discloses a thousand confidential voice recordings,
users were easily identified from these recordings.</p>
<p>Since Google “Assistant” uses proprietary software, there is no
way to see or control what it records or sends.</p>
<p>Rather than trying to better control the use of recordings, Google
should not record or listen to the person's voice. It should only
get commands that the user wants to send to some Google service.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201906220">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-06</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Chrome is an <a
href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/06/21/google-chrome-has-become-surveillance-software-its-time-to-switch/">
instrument of surveillance</a>. It lets thousands of trackers invade
users' computers and report the sites they visit to advertising and
data companies, first of all to Google. Moreover, if users have a
Gmail account, Chrome automatically logs them in to the browser for
more convenient profiling. On Android, Chrome also reports their
location to Google.</p>
<p>The best way to escape surveillance is to switch to <a
href="/software/icecat/">IceCat</a>, a modified version of Firefox
with several changes to protect users' privacy.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201904130">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google tracks the (追記ここまで) movements (削除) around (削除ここまで) (追記) of Android phones and iPhones
running Google apps, and sometimes <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20251223100349/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/13/us/google-location-tracking-police.html">
saves the data for years</a>.</p>
<p>Nonfree software in the phone has to be responsible for sending
the location data to Google.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201902040">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google invites people to <a
href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/02/04/google-screenwise-unwise-trade-all-your-privacy-cash?cd-origin=rss">
let Google monitor their phone use, and all internet use in their
homes, for an extravagant payment of 20ドル</a>.</p>
<p>This is not (追記ここまで) a (削除) physical store (削除ここまで) (追記) malicious functionality of a program with some other
purpose; this is the software's sole purpose, and Google says so. But
Google says it in a way that encourages most people to ignore the
details. That, we believe, makes it fitting to list here.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201811230">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>An Android phone was observed to track location even while
in airplane mode. It didn't send the location data while in
airplane mode. Instead, <a
href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/7811918/google-is-tracking-you-even-with-airplane-mode-turned-on/">
it saved up the data, and sent them all later</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201809121">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Tiny Lab Productions, along with online ad businesses run
by Google, Twitter and three other companies are facing a lawsuit <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20251220144239/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/09/12/technology/kids-apps-data-privacy-google-twitter.html">for
violating people's privacy by collecting their data from mobile games
and handing over these data to other companies/advertisers</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201808131">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a
href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/13/17684660/google-turn-off-location-history-data">Google
will track people even if people turn off location history</a>, using
Google Maps, weather updates, and browser searches. Google basically
uses any app activity to track people.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201808130">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Since the beginning of 2017, <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250329181224/https://qz.com/1131515/google-collects-android-users-locations-even-when-location-services-are-disabled">Android
phones have been collecting the addresses of nearby cellular
towers</a>, even when location services are disabled, and sending
that data back to Google.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201808030">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Some Google apps on Android <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/13/google-location-tracking-android-iphone-mobile">
record the user's location even when users disable “location
tracking”</a>.</p>
<p>There are other ways to turn off the other kinds of location
tracking, but most users will be tricked (追記ここまで) by (削除) noticing WiFi
networks</a>.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) the misleading control.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Android (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201711210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Android (追記ここまで) tracks location for Google <a
(削除) href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20171121/09030238658/investigation-finds-google-collected-location-data-even-with-location-services-turned-off.shtml"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.techdirt.com/2017/11/21/investigation-finds-google-collected-location-data-even-with-location-services-turned-off/"> (追記ここまで)
even when “location services” are turned off, even when
the phone has no SIM (削除) card</a>.</p></li>
<li><p>Google Chrome contains a key logger that (削除ここまで) (追記) card</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201704131">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Low-priced Chromebooks for schools are (追記ここまで) <a (削除) href="http://www.favbrowser.com/google-chrome-spyware-confirmed/">
sends (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.eff.org/wp/school-issued-devices-and-student-privacy">
collecting far more data on students than is necessary, and store
it indefinitely</a>. Parents and students complain about the lack
of transparency on the part of both the educational services and the
schools, the difficulty of opting out of these services, and the lack
of proper privacy policies, among other things.</p>
<p>But complaining is not sufficient. Parents, students and teachers
should realize that the software (追記ここまで) Google (削除) every URL typed in</a>, one key (削除ここまで) (追記) uses to spy on students is
nonfree, so they can't verify what it really does. The only remedy is
to persuade school officials to <a href="/education/edu-schools.html">
exclusively use free software</a> for both education and school
administration. If the school is run locally, parents and teachers
can mandate their representatives (追記ここまで) at (追記) the School Board to refuse the
budget unless the school initiates (追記ここまで) a (削除) time.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) switch to free software. If
education is run nation-wide, they need to persuade legislators
(e.g., through free software organizations, political parties,
etc.) to migrate the public schools to free software.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Google (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201609210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google's new voice messaging app <a
href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/21/12994362/allo-privacy-message-logs-google">logs
all conversations</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201609140">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Play (a component of Android) <a
href="https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/235594-yes-google-play-is-tracking-you-and-thats-just-the-tip-of-a-very-large-iceberg">
tracks the users' movements without their permission</a>.</p>
<p>Even if you disable Google Maps and location tracking, you must
disable Google Play itself to completely stop the tracking. This is
yet another example of nonfree software pretending to obey the user,
when it's actually doing something else. Such a thing would be almost
unthinkable with free software.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201507280">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Chrome makes it easy for an extension to do <a
href="https://labs.detectify.com/2015/07/28/how-i-disabled-your-chrome-security-extensions/">total
snooping on the user's browsing</a>, and many of them do so.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201506180">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-06</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google (追記ここまで) Chrome includes a module that <a (削除) href="https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2015/06/google-chrome-listening-in-to-your-room-shows-the-importance-of-privacy-defense-in-depth/"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/google-chrome-listening-in-to-your-room-shows-the-importance-of-privacy-defense-in-depth/"> (追記ここまで)
activates microphones and transmits audio to its servers</a>.</p>
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Spyware is present (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit (追記ここまで) in (削除) some Android devices when they are sold.
Some Motorola phones modify Android to
<a href="http://www.beneaththewaves.net/Projects/Motorola_Is_Listening.html"> (削除ここまで) (追記) malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201407170">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2014-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p id="nest-thermometers">Nest thermometers (追記ここまで) send (削除) personal (削除ここまで) (追記) <a
href="https://bgr.com/general/google-nest-jailbreak-hack/">a lot of (追記ここまで)
data (削除) to Motorola</a>.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) about the user</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201308040">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Chrome <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151018132125/http://www.brad-x.com/2013/08/04/google-chrome-is-spyware/">
spies on browser history, affiliations</a>, and other installed
software.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Spyware (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201308010">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Spyware (追記ここまで) in Android phones (and Windows? laptops): The Wall Street
Journal (in an article blocked from us by a paywall) reports that <a (削除) href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/1/4580718/fbi-can-remotely-activate-android-and-laptop-microphones-reports-wsj"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/1/4580718/fbi-can-remotely-activate-android-and-laptop-microphones-reports-wsj"> (追記ここまで)
the FBI can remotely activate the GPS and microphone in Android phones
and (削除) laptops</a>.
(I suspect this means (削除ここまで) (追記) laptops</a> (presumably (追記ここまで) Windows (削除) laptops.) (削除ここまで) (追記) laptops). (追記ここまで) Here is <a (削除) href="http://cryptome.org/2013/08/fbi-hackers.htm">more (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://cryptome.org/2013/08/fbi-hackers.htm">more (追記ここまで) info</a>.</p>
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Google's new voice messaging app (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201307280">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Spyware is present in some Android devices when they are
sold. Some Motorola phones, made when this company was owned
by Google, use a modified version of Android that <a
href="http://www.beneaththewaves.net/Projects/Motorola_Is_Listening.html">
sends personal data to Motorola</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201307250">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>A Motorola phone (追記ここまで) <a (削除) href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/21/12994362/allo-privacy-message-logs-google">logs (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170629175629/http://www.itproportal.com/2013/07/25/motorolas-new-x8-arm-chip-underpinning-the-always-on-future-of-android/">
listens for voice (追記ここまで) all (削除) conversations</a>.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) the time</a>.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li (削除) id="nest-thermometers">
<p>Nest thermometers
send (削除ここまで) (追記) id="M201302150">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2013-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google Play intentionally sends app developers (追記ここまで) <a (削除) href="http://bgr.com/2014/07/17/google-nest-jailbreak-hack">a
lot (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://gadgets360.com/apps/news/google-play-store-policy-raises-privacy-concerns-331116">
the personal details (追記ここまで) of (削除) data about (削除ここまで) (追記) users that install (追記ここまで) the (削除) user</a>.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) app</a>.</p>
<p>Merely asking the “consent” of users is not enough to
legitimize actions like this. At this point, most users have stopped
reading the “Terms and Conditions” that spell out what
they are “consenting” to. Google should clearly and
honestly identify the information it collects on users, instead of
hiding it in an obscurely worded EULA.</p>
<p>However, to truly protect people's privacy, we must prevent Google
and other companies from getting this personal information in the
first place!</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Many (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M201208210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2012-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Many (追記ここまで) web sites report all their visitors
to Google by using the Google Analytics service, which <a (削除) href="http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/434164/google_analytics_breaks_norwegian_privacy_laws_local_agency_said/"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/460787/google_analytics_breaks_norwegian_privacy_laws_local_agency_said.html"> (追記ここまで)
tells Google the IP address and the page that was (削除) visited.</a></p> (削除ここまで) (追記) visited</a>.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Google (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M200809060">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2008-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Google (追記ここまで) Chrome (削除) makes it easy for an extension to do (削除ここまで) (追記) contains a key logger that (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="https://labs.detectify.com/2015/07/28/how-i-disabled-your-chrome-security-extensions/">total
snooping on the user's browsing</a>, and many of them do so.</p> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190126075111/http://www.favbrowser.com/google-chrome-spyware-confirmed/">
sends Google every URL typed in</a>, one key at a time.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
</ul>
<h3 (削除) id="drm">Google DRM</h3>
<ul>
<li id="netflix-app-geolocation-drm"><p>The Netflix Android app <a
href="http://torrentfreak.com/netflix-cracks-down-on-vpn-and-proxy-pirates-150103/">
forces the use of Google DNS</a>. This is one of the methods (削除ここまで) (追記) id="tyrants">Tyrants</h3>
<p>Tyrants are systems (追記ここまで) that (削除) Netflix
uses to enforce the geolocation restrictions dictated (削除ここまで) (追記) reject any operating system not
“authorized” (追記ここまで) by the (削除) movie
studios.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Google now allows (削除ここまで) (追記) manufacturer.</p>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-google.html. -->
<li id="M202303080">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Motorola ships (追記ここまで) Android (削除) apps to detect whether (削除ここまで) (追記) phones
with a locked bootloader, offering (追記ここまで) a (削除) device has been
rooted, (削除ここまで) <a (削除) href="http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/13/netflix-confirms-blocking-rootedunlocked-devices-app-still-working-now/">and refuse (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://en-us.support.motorola.com/app/standalone/bootloader/unlock-your-device-a/">
method (追記ここまで) to (削除) install
if so</a>.</p>
<p>Update: Google <i>intentionally</i> changed Android so that apps
<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-use-of-google-drm-means-rooted-android-devices-are-banned-170515/">can detect rooted devices (削除ここまで) (追記) unlock</a> the devices. The method involves creating an
account, which requires running nonfree JavaScript (追記ここまで) and (削除) refuse (削除ここまで) (追記) disclosing
personal data as well as identifying at least your phone's model.</p>
<p>This puts users in danger of privacy breaches in exchange for
permission (追記ここまで) to
(削除) run on them</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Chrome <a href="http://boingboing.net/2017/01/30/google-quietly-makes-optiona.html">implements
DRM</a>. So does Chromium, through nonfree (削除ここまで) (追記) modify the (追記ここまで) software that (削除) is
effectively part of it.</p>
<p><a href="https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=686430">More information</a>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Android <a href="https://developer.android.com/reference/android/drm/package-summary.html">contains
facilities specifically (削除ここまで) (追記) runs in a device they own. Users
should be free (追記ここまで) to (削除) support DRM.</a></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="tyrants">Google Tyrants</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p><a href="http://blog.azimuthsecurity.com/2013/04/unlocking-motorola-bootloader.html">
Some Android phones made (削除ここまで) (追記) modify this and all software as they wish, without
interference from the manufacturer or developer.</p>
<p>Back in 2013 (when the company
was owned (追記ここまで) by (削除) Google are tyrants</a> (though (削除ここまで) (追記) Google) (追記ここまで) someone found a way to
(削除) crack (削除ここまで) (追記) <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250422121516/http://blog.azimuthsecurity.com/2013/04/unlocking-motorola-bootloader.html">
crack</a> (追記ここまで) the (削除) restriction). Fortunately, most (削除ここまで) (追記) bootloader
restrictions. (追記ここまで) Android (削除) devices are not tyrants.
</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) developers also provide a <a
href="https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture/bootloader/locking_unlocking">
lock/unlock</a> method.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
</ul>
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