/proprietary/proprietary.html-diff
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<title>Proprietary Software
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
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<h2>Proprietary Software Is Often Malware</h2>
(追記) <div id="skiplinks">
<p class="button"><a href="#TOC">Table of contents</a></p>
<p class="button"><a href="#latest">Latest additions</a></p>
</div>
<div style="clear: both"></div>
<div id="about-section"> (追記ここまで)
<p>Proprietary software, also called nonfree software,
means software that doesn't
<a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">respect users' freedom and
community</a>. A proprietary program puts its developer or owner
<a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
in a position of power over its users.</a>
This power is in itself an injustice.</p>
<p>The point of this (削除) page (削除ここまで) (追記) directory (追記ここまで) is (追記) to show by examples (追記ここまで) that the initial
injustice of proprietary software often leads to further injustices:
malicious functionalities.</p>
<p>Power corrupts; the proprietary program's developer is tempted to
design the program to mistreat its users. (Software (削除) whose functioning (削除ここまで) (追記) designed to
function in a way that (追記ここまで) mistreats the user is called <em>malware</em>.)
Of course, the developer usually does not do this out of malice, but
rather to profit more at the users' expense. That does not make it
any less nasty or more legitimate.</p>
<p>Yielding to that temptation has become ever more frequent; nowadays
it is standard practice. Modern proprietary software is typically
(追記) an opportunity to be tricked, harmed, bullied or swindled.</p>
<p>Online services are not released software, but in regard to all the
bad aspects, using (追記ここまで) a (削除) way (削除ここまで) (追記) service is equivalent (追記ここまで) to (追記) using a copy of released
software. In particular, a service can (追記ここまで) be (削除) had.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) designed to mistreat the
user, and many services do that. However, we do not list instances of
malicious dis-services here, for two reasons. First, a service
(whether malicious or not) is not a program that one could install a
copy of, and there is no way at all for users to change it. Second,
it is so obvious that a service can mistreat users if the owner wishes
that we hardly need to prove it.</p>
<p>However, most online services require the user to run a nonfree
app. The app <em>is</em> released software, so we do list malicious
functionalities of these apps. Mistreatment by the service itself is
imposed by use of the app, so sometimes we mention those mistreatments
too—but we try to state explicitly what is done by the app and
what is done by the dis-service.</p>
<p>When a web site provides access to a service, it very likely sends
nonfree JavaScript software to execute in the user's browser. Such
JavaScript code is released software, and it's morally equivalent to
other nonfree apps. If it does malicious things, we want to mention
them here.</p>
<p>When talking about mobile phones, we do
list <a href="/proprietary/malware-mobiles.html#phone-communications">one
other malicious characteristic, location tracking</a> which is caused
by the underlying radio system rather than by the specific software in
them.</p>
</div> (追記ここまで)
<p>As of (削除) April, 2017, (削除ここまで) (追記) February 2026, (追記ここまで) the (削除) files (削除ここまで) (追記) pages (追記ここまで) in this directory list around (削除) 300 (削除ここまで) (追記) 650 (追記ここまで)
instances of malicious (削除) functionalities, (削除ここまで) (追記) functionalities (with more than 790 references to
back them up), (追記ここまで) but there are surely thousands more we don't know about.</p>
(削除) <div class="toc">
<div class="companies">
<h3>Company (削除ここまで)
(追記) <p>Ideally we would list every instance. If you come across an
instance which we do not list, please write to webmasters@gnu.org to
tell us about it. Please include a reference to a reputable article—preferably
in English—that describes the malicious behavior clearly; we won't
list an item without documentation to point to.</p>
<p>If you want to be notified when we add new items (追記ここまで) or (削除) type of product</h3>
<ul> (削除ここまで) (追記) make other changes,
subscribe to the <a
href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/www-malware-commits">mailing list
<www-malware-commits@gnu.org></a>.</p>
<table id="TOC">
<tr>
<th>Injustices or techniques</th>
<th>Products or companies</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul class="columns"> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-apple.html">Apple Malware</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html">Addictions</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html">Microsoft Malware</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html">Back doors</a> (<a href="#f1">1</a>)</li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-google.html">Google Malware</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-censorship.html">Censorship</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-adobe.html">Adobe Malware</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-coercion.html">Coercion</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-amazon.html">Amazon Malware</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-coverups.html">Coverups</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-webpages.html">Malware in webpages</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-deception.html">Deception</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-phones.html">Malware in phones</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-drm.html">DRM</a> (<a href="#f2">2</a>)</li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-mobiles.html">Malware in mobile devices</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-fraud.html">Fraud</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-games.html">Malware in games</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-incompatibility.html">Incompatibility</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-appliances.html">Malware in appliances</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-insecurity.html">Insecurity</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-cars.html">Malware in cars</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-interference.html">Interference</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-jails.html">Jails</a> (<a href="#f3">3</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-manipulation.html">Manipulation</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-obsolescence.html">Obsolescence</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-sabotage.html">Sabotage</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-subscriptions.html">Subscriptions</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html">Surveillance</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-tethers.html">Tethers</a> (<a href="#f4">4</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-tyrants.html">Tyrants</a> (<a href="#f5">5</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/potential-malware.html">In the pipe</a></li> (追記ここまで)
</ul>
(削除) </div>
<div class="malfunctions">
<h3>Type of malware</h3> (削除ここまで)
(追記) </td>
<td> (追記ここまで)
<ul>
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html">Back doors</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-appliances.html">Appliances</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-censorship.html">Censorship</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-cars.html">Cars</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-coverups.html">Coverups</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-in-online-conferencing.html">Conferencing</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-deception.html">Deception</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-edtech.html">EdTech</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-insecurity.html">Insecurity</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-games.html">Games</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-sabotage.html">Sabotage</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-mobiles.html">Mobiles</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-interference.html">Interference</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-webpages.html">Webpages</a></li>
</ul>
<ul> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html">Surveillance</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-adobe.html">Adobe</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-subscriptions.html">Subscriptions</a></li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-amazon.html">Amazon</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-tethers.html">Tethers</a> to
servers</li> (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-apple.html">Apple</a></li> (追記ここまで)
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/proprietary-drm.html">Digital (削除ここまで) (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-google.html">Google</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-hp.html">HP</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html">Microsoft</a></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<ol>
<li id="f1"><em>Back door:</em> any feature of a program
that enables someone who is not supposed to be in control of the
computer where it is installed to send it commands.</li>
<li id="f2"><em>Digital (追記ここまで) restrictions
(削除) management</a> (削除ここまで) (追記) management, (追記ここまで) or (削除) “DRM” means (削除ここまで)
(追記) “DRM”:</em> (追記ここまで) functionalities designed to restrict
what users can do with the data in their computers.</li>
(削除) <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-jails.html">Jails</a>—systems (削除ここまで)
(追記) <li id="f3"><em>Jail:</em> system (追記ここまで) that (削除) impose (削除ここまで) (追記) imposes (追記ここまで) censorship on
application programs.</li>
(削除) <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-tyrants.html">Tyrants</a>—systems (削除ここまで)
(追記) <li id="f4"><em>Tethers:</em> features (追記ここまで) that (削除) reject (削除ここまで) (追記) can function only
through communication with a restricted set of servers through
a protocol that you could not make your own server speak.</li>
<li id="f5"><em>Tyrant:</em> system that rejects (追記ここまで) any operating
system not “authorized” by the manufacturer.</li>
(削除) <li><a href="/proprietary/potential-malware.html">Potential Malware</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div> (削除ここまで)
(追記) </ol>
</td>
</tr>
</table> (追記ここまで)
<p>Users of proprietary software are defenseless against these forms
of mistreatment. The way to avoid them is by insisting on
<a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">free
(freedom-respecting) (削除) software.</a> (削除ここまで) (追記) software</a>. (追記ここまで) Since free software is controlled
by its users, they have a pretty good defense against malicious
software functionality.</p>
(追記) <h3 id="latest">Latest additions</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. -->
<li id="M202604090">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2026-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Amazon is <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/09/amazon-upsets-book-lovers-by-ending-support-for-old-kindles">
disconnecting the early models of the Swindle</a> from the Amazon
DRM-afflicted book store.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. -->
<li id="M202603240">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2026-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Some models of Vizio “smart” TVs will <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/">
have some of their functionalities locked</a> behind a Walmart
account login.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. -->
<li id="M202510230">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Shake Shack requires users of its mobile app to <a
href="https://www.levernews.com/shakeshackled/"> sign away their</a>
right to sue the company if they order their meals from their
phones.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. -->
<li id="M202602110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2026-02</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a
href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-granted-patent-for-ai-llm-bot-dead-paused-accounts-2026-2">
Meta has been granted a patent</a> to use so-called “<a
href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#ArtificialIntelligence">Artificial
Intelligence</a>” to impersonate human users in social
media platforms, for example people who are inactive or dead. To cover
itself from predictable controversies, Meta declared that it does not
intend to use the technology in the context of those examples. How
long before the “invention” is used to impersonate active,
living people?</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. -->
<li id="M202507160">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>HP has recently started pushing a <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260222235610/https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Gaming-Desktops/Still-getting-annoying-intrusive-HP-pop-up-ads-on-my-desktop/td-p/9436964">
spyware program called HPMediaNetwork.exe</a> into users'
computers exploiting a Windows universal back door via
Windows Update. The software, which is designed to serve
personalized pop-up advertisements on the user's screen,
runs in the background to collect device and users' data that <a
href="https://www.adweek.com/commerce/hp-is-launching-an-ad-business-with-laptop-targeted-ads-and-a-streaming-service/">
HP sells to advertising companies</a>. The malfeature is
implemented at both hardware and software levels, and <a
href="https://www.hp.com/us-en/privacy/hp-advertising.html">opting
out does not block ads</a> entirely.</p>
<p>Users can avoid this and other kinds of
mistreatment by choosing hardware that comes with <a
href="/philosophy/free-hardware-designs.html"> free
specifications and designs</a>, and by installing only <a
href="/philosophy/free-sw.html"> free software</a> in their
computers.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="button right-align">
<a href="/proprietary/all.html">More items…</a></p>
</div> (追記ここまで)
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<p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to
<a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><gnu@gnu.org></a>.
There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
the FSF. Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>.</p>
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<p class="unprintable">Updated:
<!-- timestamp start -->
$Date: 2026年04月25日 11:41:42 $
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