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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 page directory is to show by examples 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 whose functioning designed to
function in a way that 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
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 a way service is equivalent to using a copy of released
software.  In particular, a service can be had.</p> 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>

<p>As of January, 2017, March 2025, the files pages in this directory list around 260 600
instances of malicious functionalities, functionalities (with more than 750 references to
back them up), but there are surely thousands more we don't know about.</p>

<div class="toc">
<div class="companies">
<ul>
  <li><strong>Company

<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
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 or type of product</strong></li>
  <li><a href="/proprietary/malware-apple.html">Apple Malware</a></li>
  <li><a href="/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html">Microsoft Malware</a></li>
  <li><a href="/proprietary/malware-adobe.html">Adobe Malware</a></li>
  <li><a href="/proprietary/malware-mobiles.html">Malware in mobile devices</a></li>
  <li><a href="/proprietary/malware-kindle-swindle.html">Malware in make other changes,
subscribe to the Amazon
      Swindle</a></li>
  <li><a href="/proprietary/malware-games.html">Malware in games</a></li> <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/malware-appliances.html">Malware in appliances</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

<div class="malfunctions">
<ul>
<li><strong>Type of malware</strong></li> href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html">Addictions</a></li>
    <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html">Back doors</a></li> doors</a> (<a href="#f1">1</a>)</li>
    <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-censorship.html">Censorship</a></li>
    <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-coercion.html">Coercion</a></li>
    <li><a 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-interference.html">Interference</a></li> href="/proprietary/proprietary-subscriptions.html">Subscriptions</a></li>
    <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html">Surveillance</a></li>
    <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-subscriptions.html">Subscriptions</a></li> href="/proprietary/proprietary-tethers.html">Tethers</a> (<a href="#f4">4</a>)</li>
    <li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-tethers.html">Tethers</a> to
servers</li> 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 href="/proprietary/malware-edtech.html">EdTech</a></li>
    <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/proprietary-drm.html">Digital 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 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</a> management, or “DRM” means
     “DRM”:</em>  functionalities designed to restrict
     what users can do with the data in their computers.</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-jails.html">Jails</a>—systems

    <li id="f3"><em>Jail:</em>  system that impose imposes censorship on
     application programs.</li>
<li><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-tyrants.html">Tyrants</a>—systems

    <li id="f4"><em>Tether:</em>  functionality that requires
     permanent (or very frequent) connection to a server.</li>

    <li id="f5"><em>Tyrant:</em>  system that reject rejects any operating
     system not “authorized” by the manufacturer.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
   </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> 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">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.html. -->
  <li id="M202408140">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2024-08</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/zero-click-windows-tcp-ip-rce-impacts-all-systems-with-ipv6-enabled-patch-now/">
    A critical vulnerability in Windows systems
    that support IPv6</a> was discovered in 2024, <a
    href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38063">
    16 years after the first affected system</a> was released. Unless
    the relevant patch is applied, an attacker can remotely execute
    arbitrary code on these systems. Microsoft considers exploits
    “likely.”</p>

    <p>The same sort of vulnerability in a free/libre operating system
    would probably be discovered sooner, since many more people would be
    able to look at the source code.</p>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.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 in 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 Android
    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 proprietary.html. -->
  <li id="M202312040">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-12</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p>Bungie's Destiny 2 is plagued with two major flaws:</p>

    <ul>
      <li>Like all proprietary tethered games, <a
      href="https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/articles/is-destiny-2-down-how-to-check-server-maintenance-and-downtime">
      it can't be played when the company's servers are offline</a>.</li>

      <li>Ever since Bungie chose BattlEye as an anti-cheat program,
      Destiny 2 has been <a href="https://areweanticheatyet.com/">
      incompatible with GNU/Linux</a> <small>[this page can't be viewed
      without JavaScript]</small>. Bungie forces Steam Deck users
      to <a href="https://www.pcguide.com/steam-deck/play-destiny-2/">
      replace SteamOS with Windows, or play from Edge browser</a>.
      This doesn't have to be so, as several other games that use BattlEye
      do support GNU/Linux systems. Rather than doing the necessary
      adjustments, Bungie forces users to run nonfree software in order to
      keep an absolute control over them.</li>
    </ul>
  </li>

<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in proprietary.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 proprietary.html. -->
  <li id="M202502280">
    <!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-02</small>'
    --><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
    <p><a
    href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/on-may-5-microsofts-skype-will-shut-down-for-good/">
    Microsoft is shutting down Skype</a> on May 5th, 2025. As with other
    tethered proprietary programs, users have to rely on servers that are
    controlled by the developer. When these servers shut down, the service
    disappears. Instead of migrating to the service that Microsoft suggests
    as a replacement, Skype users should regain control of their
    communications by switching to one that is based on free software.
    <a href="https://jitsi.org/jitsi-meet/">Jitsi Meet</a>, for example, is
    appropriate for small video meetings. Anyone can set up a Jitsi server
    and let other people use it, and indeed many of these are available
    around the world.</p>
  </li>
</ul>
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