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<h2>Proprietary Interference</h2>

<div class="infobox">
<hr class="full-width" />
<p>Nonfree (proprietary) software is very often malware (designed to
mistreat the user). Nonfree software is controlled by its developers,
which puts them in a position of power over the users; <a
href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">that is the
basic injustice</a>. The developers and manufacturers often exercise
that power to the detriment of the users they ought to serve.</p>

<p>

<p>This typically takes the form of malicious functionalities.</p>
<hr class="full-width" />
</div>

<div class="article">
<p>One kind of malicious functionality mediates developer's interference
into the use of the software. This page describes how various proprietary
programs mess up harass or annoy the
user's system. They user, or cause trouble for the user.  These
actions are like sabotage, <a
href="/proprietary/proprietary-sabotage#about-page">sabotage</a>, but they the
word “sabotage” is too strong for them.
</p>

<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 the URL of a trustworthy reference or two
to serve as specific substantiation.</p>
</div>

<div class="column-limit" id="proprietary-interference"></div>

<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202502230">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-02</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://proton.me/blog/outlook-is-microsofts-new-data-collection-service">
    Outlook has become a “data collection and ad delivery
    service”</a>. Since Outlook is now integrated with
    Microsoft “cloud” services, and doesn't support
    end-to-end encryption, the company has full access to users'
    emails, contacts, and calendar events. Microsoft may also <a
    href="https://www.cyberkendra.com/2023/11/new-outlook-update-raises-privacy.html">
    retrieve credentials associated with any third-party services</a>
    that are synchronized with Outlook. This trove of personal data
    enables Microsoft, as well as its commercial partners, to flood
    users with targeted ads, and possibly to train “artificial
    intelligences.” Even worse, this data is available to any
    government that can force Microsoft to hand it over.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not grave enough edit in proprietary-interference.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>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202407300">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2024-07</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>In its default configuration, Windows 11 now <a
    href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-now-turns-on-onedrive-folder-backup-without-your-permission/">
    uploads users' files and personal information to Microsoft's
    “cloud”</a> without asking permission to do so. This is
    presented as a convenient backup method, but if the allotted storage
    capacity is exceeded, the user will need to qualify buy more space, increasing
    Microsoft's profit.</p>

    <p>However, this small profit is probably not the company's major
    reason for making cloud storage the word “sabotage”. Nonetheless, they are nasty default. Here is an excerpt
    from the <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/servicesagreement">
    Microsoft Services agreement</a> (Section 2b):</p>

    <blockquote><p><i>To the extent necessary to provide the Services to
    you and
wrong.
</p>

<ul>
<li>In others, to protect you and the Services, and to improve
    Microsoft products and services, you grant to Microsoft a worldwide
    and royalty-free intellectual property license to use Your Content,
    for example, to make copies of, retain, transmit, reformat,
    display, and distribute via communication tools Your Content on the
    Services.</i></p></blockquote>

    <p>We strongly suspect that the backed-up material is used to feed
    Microsoft's greedy “AI.” In addition, it is most likely
    analysed to better profile users in order to increase Windows 10's flood them with targeted
    ads, thereby generating more profit.</p>

    <p>Users, on the other hand, are at the mercy of any
    entity that demands their data, let alone of any cracker
    that breaks into Microsoft's servers. They <em>must</em>
    escape from this sick environment, and install base, Microsoft a sane <a
href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/08/windows-10-microsoft-blatantly-disregards-user-choice-and-privacy-deep-dive">
blatantly disregards user choice and privacy</a>.
    href="https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html"> free/libre
    system</a>.</p>
  </li>

<li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202404260">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2024-04</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft has started to <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/04/microsoft-windows-10-full-screen-upgrade-notification-pop-up-reminder">
nagging
    href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/who-wants-ads-in-their-windows-11-start-menu-heres-how-to-turn-them-off/">
    show ads in the “Recommended” section of the
    Windows 11 Start menu</a>. Previously, this section only included
    recently used documents and images. Now it also contains the icons
    of apps Microsoft wants to advertise, in the hope that the user will
    click on one of them, and buy the app. So far, the user can disable
    the ads, but this doesn't make them more legitimate.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202403150">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2024-03</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/15/24101887/microsoft-bing-popups-windows-11-google-chrome">
    Microsoft is using malware tactics to get users obnoxiously to switch to
    their web browser</a>, Microsoft Edge, and repeatedly their search engine, Microsoft
    Bing. When users launch the Google Chrome browser Microsoft injects
    a pop up advertisement in the corner of the screen advising users to
    switch to Bing. Microsoft also imported users Chrome browsing data
    without their knowledge or consent.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202311101">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-11</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft has been annoying people who wanted to
    close the proprietary program OneDrive on their computers, <a
    href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23952878/microsoft-onedrive-windows-close-app-notification">
    forcing them to give the reason why they were closing it</a>. This
    prompt was removed after public pressure.</p>

    <p>This is a reminder that angry users still have the power to make
    developers of proprietary software remove small annoyances. Don't
    count on public outcry to make them remove more profitable malware,
    though. Run away from proprietary software!</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202311090">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-11</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231011121908/https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-remove-ads-on-samsung/">Samsung's
    Push Service proprietary app</a> sends notifications to the user's
    phone about “updates” in Samsung apps, including the
    Gaming Hub, but these updates only sometimes have to do with
    a new version of the apps. Many times, the notifications from
    Gaming Hub are simply ads for games that they think the user should
    install Windows 10</a>.</p> based on the data collected from the user. Most importantly, <a
    href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240305093416/https://getfastanswer.com/3486/how-to-remove-samsung-push-service-on-a-smartphone">it
    cannot be permanently disabled.</a></p>
  </li>

<li><p>Microsoft

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202311070">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-11</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Chamberlain Group <a href="http://news.softpedia.com/news/windows-10-upgrade-reportedly-starting-automatically-on-windows-7-pcs-501651.shtml">is
      tricking users</a>
    href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/chamberlain-blocks-smart-garage-door-opener-from-working-with-smart-homes/">blocks
    users from using third-party software</a> with its garage
    openers. This is an intentional attack on using free software. The
    official garage opener proprietary mobile app is now also <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160522062607/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/17/microsoft_windows_10_upgrade_gwx_vs_humanity/">
into
    href="https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/09/lead-me-not-into-temptation/#chamberlain">infested
    with ads, including up-selling its other services and devices.</a></p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202302140">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-02</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft is <a
    href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/feb/14/microsoft-to-phase-out-internet-explorer-with-new-edge-browser">
    remotely disabling Internet Explorer, forcibly redirecting users to
    Microsoft Edge</a>.</p>

    <p>Imposing such change is malicious, and the fact that the redirection
    is from one unjust program (IE) to another unjust program (Edge)
    does not excuse it.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202211300">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2022-11</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a href="https://www.techarp.com/mobile/apple-china-limit-airdrop/">
    Obeying a demand by the Chinese government, Apple restricted the
    use of AirDrop in China</a>. It imposed a ten-minute time limit
    during which users can receive files from non contacts. This makes
    it nearly impossible to use AirDrop for its intended purpose, which
    is to exchange files with strangers between iMonsters in physical
    proximity. This happened after it became known that dissenters
    were using the app to distribute digital anti-government fliers
    anonymously.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202201050">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2022-01</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>The Norton 360 antivirus <a
    href="https://www.howtogeek.com/777952/norton-360-antivirus-now-mines-cryptocurrency/">updated
    its program to install a cryptocurrency miner on users' computers</a>
    without people's permission. The miner is not turned on by default but
    there is no way to completely uninstall the crypto mining software,
    which has upset some users.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202110070">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-10</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/10/facebook-unfollow-everything-cease-desist.html">Facebook's
    nonfree client forces its useds to look at the newsfeed</a>. A used
    of Facebook developed a browser add-on to make it easier to unfollow
    everyone and thus make the newsfeed empty.  Many of the people used
    by Facebook loved this, because they regard the newsfeed as a burden
    that Facebook imposes on them.</p>

    <p>If the client software for Facebook were free, useds could probably
    make the newsfeed disappear by modifying the client not to display
    it.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202108180">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-08</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft is making it harder and harder to <a
    href="https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes">replace
    default apps in its Windows</a> operating system and is pressuring
    users to use its proprietary programs instead. We believe the
    best approach to this would be replacing Windows 7 with Windows 10</a>.</p></li>

<li><p>Microsoft a free
    (as in freedom) operating system like GNU. We also maintain a <a
    href="/distros/free-distros.html">list of fully free distributions
    of GNU</a>.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.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 made companies' over proprietary
    Android phones is dangerous.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202105300">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-05</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/30/gadgets-have-stopped-working-together-interoperability-apple">Apple
    is systematically undermining interoperability</a>. At the hardware
    level, it does this via nonstandard plugs, buses and networks. At
    the software level, it does this by not letting the user have any
    data except within one app.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202105130">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-05</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://gizmodo.com/get-ready-for-in-car-ads-1846888390">Ford
    is planning to force ads on drivers in cars</a>, with the ability for
    the owner to pay extra to turn them off. The system probably imposes
    surveillance on drivers too.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202104060">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-04</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>The <a
    href="https://www.wired.com/story/weddings-social-media-apps-photos-memories-miscarriage-problem/">WeddingWire
    app saves people's wedding photos forever and hands over data
    to others</a>, giving users no control over their personal 
    information/data. The app also sometimes shows old photos and
    memories to users, without giving them any control over this
    either.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202102180">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2021-02</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft is <a
    href="https://uk.pcmag.com/operating-systems/131798/microsoft-starts-automatically-removing-flash-from-windows">forcibly
    removing the Flash player from computers running Windows machines managed 10</a>, using
    <a href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#windows-update">a
    universal backdoor in Windows</a>.</p>

    <p>The fact that Flash has been <a
    href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#M202012020">disabled
    by Adobe</a> is no excuse for this abuse of power. The nature of
    proprietary software, such as Microsoft Windows, gives the
company's
sysadmins developers
    power to impose their decisions on users. Free software on the other
    hand empowers users to make their own decisions.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202010180">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-10</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft is <a
    href="https://www.slashgear.com/windows-10-users-are-grumpy-over-forced-updates-and-unwanted-apps-18643135/">forcing
    Windows users</a> to <a href="http://www.infoworld.com/article/3042397/microsoft-windows/admins-beware-domain-attached-pcs-are-sprouting-get-windows-10-ads.html">harangue
    href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/manage-updates-in-windows-643e9ea7-3cf6-7da6-a25c-95d4f7f099fe">install
    upgrades it pushes</a> using <a
    href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#windows-update">its
    universal back doors</a>. These upgrades can do various harms to
    users such as restricting computers from some functions and/or forcing
    users to complain defenselessly do whatever Microsoft tells them to do.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202005250">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-05</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Tesla's cars have a <a
    href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#M201709090.1">
    universal remote back door</a>.  Tesla used it to <a
    href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-autopilot-disabled-remotely-used-car-update">
    disable the sysadmins about autopilot features</a> on people's cars to make them pay
    extra for re-enabling the features.</p>

    <p>This kind of malfeature is only possible with proprietary
    software—free software is controlled by its users who wouldn't
    let do such things to them.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not “upgrading” edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M202004150">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-04</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Riot Games' new anti-cheat is malware; <a
    href="https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/309320-riot-games-new-anti-cheat-system-runs-at-system-boot-uses-kernel-driver">runs
    on system boot at kernel level</a> on Windows. It is insecure software
    that increases the attack surface of the operating system.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201908150">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-08</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Apple is putting DRM on iPhone
    batteries, and the system proprietary software <a
    href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/59nz3k/apple-is-locking-batteries-to-specific-iphones-a-nightmare-for-diy-repair">turns
    off certain features when batteries are replaced other than by
    Apple.</a></p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.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://chromestory.com/2019/07/disable-pull-to-refresh-on-chrome-for-android/">
    Google revoked users' ability to Windows
10</a>.</p></li>

<li><p>Apple forced millions 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 iThings 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 proprietary-interference.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>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201901110">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-01</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Samsung phones come preloaded with <a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7256669?tstart=0">download
    href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-08/samsung-phone-users-get-a-shock-they-can-t-delete-facebook">
    a version of the Facebook app that can't be deleted</a>. <a
    href="https://www.infopackets.com/news/10484/truth-behind-undeletable-facebook-app">
    Facebook claims this is a stub</a> which doesn't do anything, but we
    have to take their word for it, and there is the permanent risk that
    the app will be activated by an automatic update.</p>

    <p>Preloading crapware along with a nonfree operating system upgrade
without asking is common
    practice, but by making the users.</a> Apple did crapware undeletable, Facebook and Samsung (<a
    class="not-a-duplicate"
    href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-08/samsung-phone-users-get-a-shock-they-can-t-delete-facebook">among others</a>)
    are going one step further in their hijacking of users' devices.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not forcibly edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201809120">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-09</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>One version of Windows 10 <a
    href="https://www.ghacks.net/2018/09/12/microsoft-intercepting-firefox-chrome-installation-on-windows-10/">
    harangues users if they try to install Firefox (or Chrome)</a>.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201807310">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-07</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>A nonfree video game, available through the upgrade
but nonfree Steam client, <a
    href="https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/274552-great-now-games-are-hijacking-systems-with-cryptocurrency-miners">
    included a “miner”</a>, i.e. an executable that hijacks
    the downloading alone caused lots CPU in users' computers to mine a cryptocurrency.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201805080">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-05</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>A cracker used an exploit in outdated software to <a
    href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/400-websites-secretly-served-cryptocurrency-miners-to-visitors">
    inject a “miner” in web pages</a> served to visitors. This
    type of trouble.</p></li>

<li><p>Adobe malware hijacks the computer's processor to mine a
    cryptocurrency.</p>

    <p><small>(Note that the article refers to the infected software
    as “content management system”. A better term would be
    “<a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Content">website
    revision system</a>”.)</small></p>

    <p>Since the miner was a nonfree JavaScript program,
    visitors wouldn't have been affected if they had used <a
    href="/software/librejs/index.html">LibreJS</a>. Some
    browser extensions that <a
    href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/how-to-stop-sites-from-using-your-cpu-to-mine-coins/">
    specifically block JavaScript miners</a> are also available.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201804180">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-04</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Pearson's proprietary educational software may halt all other work <a
    href="https://gizmodo.com/pearson-embedded-a-social-psychological-experiment-in-s-1825367784">
    did an experiment on real students</a>, treating students differently
    to observe the results.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201803190">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-03</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft is planning to make Windows <a
    href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/19/windows-10-microsoft-force-people-edge-browser-windows-mail-chrome-firefox">
    impose use of its browser, Edge, in certain circumstances</a>.</p>

    <p>The reason Microsoft can force things on users is that Windows
    is nonfree.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201712060">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-12</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Learn how <a
    href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170319013045/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-farrell/the-fascinating-psycholog_b_6076502.html">
    gratis-to-play-and-not-win-much games manipulate their useds
    psychologically</a>.</p>

    <p>These manipulative behaviors are malicious functionalities, and freeze they
    are possible because the game is proprietary. If it were free, people
    could publish a computer non-manipulative version and play that instead.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201703170">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-03</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Windows displays <a
href="http://shallowsky.com/blog/gimp/non-free-software-surprises.html">
to perform
    href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/17/14956540/microsoft-windows-10-ads-taskbar-file-explorer">
    intrusive ads for Microsoft products and its partners'
    products</a>.</p>

    <p>The article's author starts from the premise that Microsoft has
    a license check</a>, at right to control what Windows does to users, as long as it doesn't
    go “too far”. We disagree.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201701110">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-01</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>An upgrade package for Acrobat Reader <a
    href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/adobe-acrobat-reader-dc-update-installs-chrome-browser-extension/">silently
    alters Chrome</a>.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201612140">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-12</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>The Microsoft Telemetry Compatibility service <a
    href="https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/microsoft-telemetry-compatibility/cefa7c8e-49c9-4965-aef6-2d5f01bb38f2">
    drastically reduces the performances of machines running
    Windows 10</a>, and can't be disabled easily.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201608170">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-08</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p> After <a href="/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html#windows10-forcing">forcing the download of Windows 10</a>
    on computers that were running Windows 7 and 8, Microsoft <a
    href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/3012278/microsoft-sets-stage-for-massive-windows-10-upgrade-strategy.html">
    repeatedly switched on a random time every 30 days.</p></li>

<li><p>Microsoft flag that urged users to
    “upgrade” to Windows 10</a> when they had turned
    it off, in the hope that some day they would fail to say no.
    To do this, Microsoft used <a
    href="https://www.theregister.com/2016/03/17/microsoft_windows_10_upgrade_gwx_vs_humanity/">
    malware techniques</a>.</p>

    <p>A detailed <a
    href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/08/windows-10-microsoft-blatantly-disregards-user-choice-and-privacy-deep-dive">
    analysis of Microsoft's scheme</a> is available on the Electronic
    Frontier Foundation's website.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201603090">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-03</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft has made companies'
    Windows machines managed by the company's sysadmins <a
    href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/3042397/admins-beware-domain-attached-pcs-are-sprouting-get-windows-10-ads.html">harangue
    users to complain to the sysadmins about not “upgrading”
    to Windows 10</a>.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201602110">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-02</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>A pacemaker running proprietary code <a
    href="https://www.wired.com/2016/02/i-want-to-know-what-code-is-running-inside-my-body/">was
    misconfigured and could have killed the implanted person</a>. In order
    to find out what was wrong and get it fixed, the person needed to break
    into the remote device that sets parameters in the pacemaker (possibly
    infringing upon manufacturer's rights under the DMCA). If this system
    had run free software, it could have been fixed much sooner.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201601160">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-01</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Microsoft has <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/16/10780876/microsoft-windows-support-policy-new-processors-skylake">desupported
    href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/1/16/10780876/microsoft-windows-support-policy-new-processors-skylake">desupported
    all future Intel CPUs for Windows 7 and 8</a>. Those
    machines will be stuck with the nastier Windows 10.  <a href="http://gizmodo.com/only-the-latest-version-of-windows-will-run-on-some-fut-1753545825">
    href="https://gizmodo.com/only-the-latest-version-of-windows-will-run-on-some-fut-1753545825">
    AMD and Qualcomm CPUs, too</a>.
</p> too</a>.</p>

    <p>Of course, Windows 7 and 8 are unethical too, because they are
    proprietary software.  But this example of Microsoft's wielding its
    power demonstrates the power it holds.
</p> holds.</p>

    <p>Free software developers also stop maintaining old versions of
    their programs, but this is not unfair to users because the users of
    free software have control over it.  If it is important enough to you,
    you and other users can hire someone to support the old version on
    your future platforms.
</p></li>

<li><p>Oracle platforms.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201510220">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-10</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Adobe nonfree software may halt
    all other work and freeze a computer <a
    href="https://shallowsky.com/blog/gimp/non-free-software-surprises.html">
    to perform a license check</a>, at a random time every 30 days.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary-interference.html. -->
  <li id="M201506260">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-06</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Oracle made a deal with Yahoo; Oracle's nonfree Java plug-in will <a href="http://searchengineland.com/yahoo-signs-deal-with-oracle-to-attract-new-users-via-java-installs-224097">
    href="https://searchengineland.com/yahoo-signs-deal-with-oracle-to-attract-new-users-via-java-installs-224097">
    change the user's initial web page, and default search engine, to
    Yahoo</a> unless the user intervenes to stop it.</p></li>

<li><p>
Microsoft is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/11/microsoft-downloading-windows-1">
repeatedly nagging many users to install Windows 10</a>.
</p></li>

<li><p>
Microsoft was for months <a
href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/02/microsoft-downloading-windows-10-automatic-update">
tricking users into “upgrading” to Windows 10</a>, if they
fail to notice and say no.
</p></li> it.</p>
  </li>
</ul>

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