/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>
<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">
<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>
(削除) <p>In this section, we also list <a
href="/proprietary/malware-mobiles.html#phone-communications">one
other malicious characteristic of mobile phones, location tracking</a>
which is caused by the underlying radio system rather than by the
specific software in them.</p> (削除ここまで)
<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>
<hr class="thin" /> (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> (追記ここまで)
</div>
<p>As of (削除) December, 2021, (削除ここまで) (追記) February 2026, (追記ここまで) the pages in this directory list around (削除) 550 (削除ここまで) (追記) 650 (追記ここまで)
instances of malicious functionalities (with more than (削除) 630 (削除ここまで) (追記) 790 (追記ここまで) references to
back them up), but there are surely thousands more we don't know about.</p>
(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> (追記ここまで)
<p>If you want to be notified when we add new items or 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">
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html">Addictions</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html">Back doors</a> (<a href="#f1">1</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-censorship.html">Censorship</a></li>
<li><a (追記) href="/proprietary/proprietary-coercion.html">Coercion</a></li>
<li><a (追記ここまで) href="/proprietary/proprietary-coverups.html">Coverups</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-deception.html">Deception</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-drm.html">DRM</a> (<a href="#f2">2</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-fraud.html">Fraud</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-incompatibility.html">Incompatibility</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-insecurity.html">Insecurity</a></li>
<li><a 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>
</ul>
</td>
<td>
<ul>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-appliances.html">Appliances</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-cars.html">Cars</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-in-online-conferencing.html">Conferencing</a></li>
<li><a (削除) href="/proprietary/malware-edtech.html">Ed Tech</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 href="/proprietary/malware-games.html">Games</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-mobiles.html">Mobiles</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-webpages.html">Webpages</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-adobe.html">Adobe</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-amazon.html">Amazon</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-apple.html">Apple</a></li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/malware-google.html">Google</a></li>
<li><a (追記) href="/proprietary/malware-hp.html">HP</a></li>
<li><a (追記ここまで) 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 restrictions management, or
“DRM”:</em> functionalities designed to restrict
what users can do with the data in their computers.</li>
<li id="f3"><em>Jail:</em> system that imposes censorship on
application programs.</li>
<li (削除) id="f4"><em>Tether:</em> functionality (削除ここまで) (追記) id="f4"><em>Tethers:</em> features (追記ここまで) that (削除) requires
permanent (or very frequent) connection to (削除ここまで) (追記) can function only
through communication with a restricted set of servers through (追記ここまで)
a (削除) server.</li> (削除ここまで) (追記) protocol that you could not make your own server speak.</li> (追記ここまで)
<li id="f5"><em>Tyrant:</em> system that rejects any operating
system not “authorized” by the manufacturer.</li>
</ol>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<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) software</a>. Since free software is controlled
by its users, they have a pretty good defense against malicious
software functionality.</p>
<h3 id="latest">Latest additions</h3>
<ul class="blurbs">
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li (削除) id="M202111201"> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="M202604090"> (追記ここまで)
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small (削除) class="date-tag">2021-11</small>' (削除ここまで) (追記) class="date-tag">2026-04</small>' (追記ここまで)
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
(削除) <p>NordicTrack, a company that sells
exercise machines with ability to show videos (削除ここまで)
(追記) <p>Amazon is (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/11/locked-out-of-god-mode-runners-are-hacking-their-treadmills/">limits
what people can watch, and recently disabled a feature</a> that was
originally functional. This happened through automatic update and
probably involved a universal back door.</p> (削除ここまで)
(追記) 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> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li (削除) id="M202111200"> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="M202603240"> (追記ここまで)
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small (削除) class="date-tag">2021-11</small>' (削除ここまで) (追記) class="date-tag">2026-03</small>' (追記ここまで)
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
(削除) <p>Hundreds (削除ここまで)
(追記) <p>Some models (追記ここまで) of (削除) Tesla drivers (削除ここまで) (追記) Vizio “smart” TVs will (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/nov/20/tesla-app-outage-elon-musk-apologises">were
locked out (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/">
have some (追記ここまで) of their (削除) cars as (削除ここまで) (追記) functionalities locked</a> behind (追記ここまで) a (削除) result of Tesla's app suffering from an
outage</a>, which happened because the app is tethered to company's
servers.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) Walmart
account login.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li (削除) id="M202111110"> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="M202510230"> (追記ここまで)
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small (削除) class="date-tag">2021-11</small>' (削除ここまで) (追記) class="date-tag">2025-10</small>' (追記ここまで)
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
(削除) <p>Some researchers at Google (削除ここまで)
(追記) <p>Shake Shack requires users of its mobile app to (追記ここまで) <a (削除) href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93bw8y/google-caught-hackers-using-a-mac-zero-day-against-hong-kong-users">found
a zero-day vulnerability on MacOS,
which crackers used (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.levernews.com/shakeshackled/"> sign away their</a>
right (追記ここまで) to (削除) target people visiting the websites</a> of
a media outlet and a pro-democracy labor and political group in Hong
Kong.</p>
<p><small>Please note that (削除ここまで) (追記) sue (追記ここまで) the (削除) article wrongly refers
to crackers as “<a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker">hackers</a>”.</small></p> (削除ここまで) (追記) company if they order their meals from their
phones.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li (削除) id="M202110250"> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="M202602110"> (追記ここまで)
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small (削除) class="date-tag">2021-10</small>' (削除ここまで) (追記) class="date-tag">2026-02</small>' (追記ここまで)
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
(削除) <p>Ed Tech companies use their surveillance power (削除ここまで)
(追記) <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> (追記ここまで) to
(削除) manipulate students, and direct them into tracks towards various
levels of knowledge, power and prestige. The article argues that <a
href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2021/10/25/algorithmic-injustice-in-education-why-tech-companies-should-require-a-license-to-operate-in-childrens-education/">these
companies should obtain licenses (削除ここまで) (追記) use so-called “<a
href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#ArtificialIntelligence">Artificial
Intelligence</a>” (追記ここまで) to (削除) operate</a>. That wouldn't hurt,
but it doesn't address the root of the problem. All data acquired (削除ここまで) (追記) impersonate human users (追記ここまで) in (削除) a school about any student, teacher, (削除ここまで) (追記) social
media platforms, for example people who are inactive (追記ここまで) or (削除) employee must not leave
the school, and must be kept in computers (削除ここまで) (追記) dead. To cover
itself from predictable controversies, Meta declared (追記ここまで) that (削除) belong (削除ここまで) (追記) it does not
intend (追記ここまで) to (追記) use (追記ここまで) the (削除) school
and run free (as (削除ここまで) (追記) technology (追記ここまで) in (削除) freedom) software. That way, (削除ここまで) the (削除) school district
and/or parents can control what is done with (削除ここまで) (追記) context of (追記ここまで) those (削除) data.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) examples. How
long before the “invention” is used to impersonate active,
living people?</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. --> (追記ここまで)
<li (削除) id="M202111090"> (削除ここまで) (追記) id="M202507160"> (追記ここまで)
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small (削除) class="date-tag">2021-11</small>' (削除ここまで) (追記) class="date-tag">2025-07</small>' (追記ここまで)
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
(削除) <p>A building in LA, with (削除ここまで)
(追記) <p>HP has recently started pushing (追記ここまで) a (削除) supermarket in it, (削除ここまで) <a
(削除) href="https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-09/column-trader-joes-parking-app">demands
customers load (削除ここまで)
(追記) 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 (追記ここまで) a (削除) particular app (削除ここまで) (追記) Windows universal back door via
Windows Update. The software, which is designed (追記ここまで) to (削除) pay for parking (削除ここまで) (追記) serve
personalized pop-up advertisements on the user's screen,
runs (追記ここまで) in the (削除) parking
lot</a>, (削除ここまで) (追記) background to collect device (追記ここまで) and (削除) accept pervasive surveillance. They also have the
option (削除ここまで) (追記) 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 (追記ここまで) of (削除) entering their license plate numbers (削除ここまで)
(追記) 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> (追記ここまで) in (削除) a kiosk. That is
an injustice, too.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) their
computers.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
</ul>
<p class="button right-align">
<a href="/proprietary/all.html">More items…</a></p>
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<p class="unprintable">Updated:
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