msgid "Additions to the Malware Section - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><a> msgid "<a id=\"side-menu-button\" class=\"switch\" href=\"#navlinks\">" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'title' of: <div><a><img> msgid "Section contents" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'alt' of: <div><a><img> msgid " [Section contents] " msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div> msgid "</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p><a> msgid "<a href=\"/\">" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'title' of: <div><p><a><img> msgid "GNU Home" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "</a> / <a href=\"/proprietary/proprietary.html\">Malware</a> /" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><h2> msgid "Additions to the Malware Section" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "" "These are all the malware items that have been added to this directory since " "2018, in reverse chronological order. (In some cases, the latest reference " "was updated after the item was added.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><small> msgid "<small class='date-tag'>Added:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><small> msgid "— Latest reference:" msgstr "" #. #echo encoding='none' var='PUB' #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li> msgid "</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Ed Tech companies use their surveillance power to 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 to operate</a>. That wouldn't hurt, but it " "doesn't address the root of the problem. All data acquired in a school about " "any student, teacher, or employee must not leave the school, and must be " "kept in computers that belong to the school and run free (as in freedom) " "software. That way, the school district and/or parents can control what is " "done with those data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A building in LA, with a supermarket in it, <a " "href=\"https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-09/column-trader-joes-parking-app\">demands " "customers load a particular app to pay for parking in the parking lot</a>, " "and accept pervasive surveillance. They also have the option of entering " "their license plate numbers in a kiosk. That is an injustice, too." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple's new tactic to restrict users from repairing their own device and " "impose DRM on people is to <a " "href=\"https://www.ifixit.com/News/54829/apples-new-screen-repair-trap-could-change-the-repair-industry-forever\">completely " "disable its Face ID functionality</a> when you replace its screen." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 with 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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Spotify app <a " "href=\"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639920/000119312518063434/d494294df1.htm\">harvests " "users' data to personally identify and know people</a> through music, their " "mood, mindset, activities, and tastes. There are over 150 billion events " "logged daily on the program which contains users' data and personal " "information." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20211014123717/https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/13/theres-an-app-for-that/#gnash\">has " "licensed its Flash Player to China's Zhong Cheng Network</a> who is offering " "the program bundled with spyware and a back door that can remotely " "deactivate it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe is responsible for this since they gave Zhong Cheng Network permission " "to do this. This injustice involves “misuse” of the DMCA, but " "“proper,” intended use of the DMCA is a much bigger injustice. " "There is <a href=\"/philosophy/right-to-read.html\">a series of errors " "related to DMCA</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Canon's all-in-one printer, scanner, and fax machine <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/legal/canon-sued-for-disabling-scanner-when-printers-run-out-of-ink/\">will " "stop you from using any of its features if it's out of ink</a>! Since " "there's no need for ink to use scan or fax, Canon is sued by its customers " "for this malicious behavior. The proprietary software installed on Canon " "machines arbitrarily restricts users from using their device as they wish." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If the client software for Facebook were free, useds could probably make the " "newsfeed disappear by modifying the client not to display it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Xiaomi phones <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/22/lithuania-tells-citizens-to-throw-out-chinese-phones-over-censorship-concerns\">have " "a malfeature to bleep out phrases that express political views China does " "not like</a>. In phones sold in Europe, Xiaomi leaves this deactivated by " "default, but has a back door to activate the censorship." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is the natural result of having nonfree software in a device that can " "communicate with the company that made it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.elsalvador.com/eldiariodehoy/app-chivo-bitcoin-pone-en-riesgo-datos-personales-de-usuarios/852310/2021/\">El " "Salvador Dictatorship's Chivo wallet is spyware</a>, it's a proprietary " "program that breaks users' freedom and spies on people; demands personal " "data such as the national ID number and does face recognition, and it is bad " "security for its data. It also asks for almost every malware permission in " "people's smartphones." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article criticizes it for faults in “data protection”, " "though <a href=\"/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html\">“data " "protection” is the wrong approach to privacy anyway</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 is idle." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple has made it <a " "href=\"https://gizmodo.com/apple-and-google-pull-opposition-app-from-russian-store-1847695238\"> " "impossible to load Navalny's tactical voting app into an iPhone</a> in " "Russia." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It is impossible because (1) the iPhone refuses to load apps from anywhere " "other than Apple, and (2) Apple has obeyed a Russian censorship law. The " "first point is enforced by Apple's nonfree software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Various models of security cameras, DVRs, and baby monitors that run " "proprietary software <a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/kalay-iot-bug-video-feeds/\">are affected " "by a security vulnerability that could give attackers access to live " "feeds</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Recent Samsung TVs have a back door with which Samsung can <a " "href=\"https://www.pcmag.com/news/samsung-can-remotely-disable-any-of-its-tvs-worldwide\"> " "brick them remotely</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Russian communications watchdog <a " "href=\"https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/russian-watchdog-tells-google-apple-remove-navalny-app-report-2021-08-20/\"> " "tells Google and Apple to remove Navalny's app</a> from their stores." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Because Apple controls what a user can install, this is absolute " "censorship. By contrast, because Android does not do that, users can install " "apps even if Google does not offer them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>Please note that the article wrongly refers to crackers as “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">hackers</a>”.</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A newly found Microsoft Windows vulnerability <a " "href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/08/tech/microsoft-windows-10-printnightmare/\"> " "can allow crackers to remotely gain access to the operating system</a> and " "install programs, view and delete data, or even create new user accounts " "with full user rights." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The security research firm accidentally leaked instructions on how the flaw " "could be exploited but Windows users should still wait for Microsoft to fix " "the flaw, if they fix it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jul/05/advertisers-targeted-dream-incubation\"> " "Advertising companies are experimenting to manipulate people's minds</a>, " "and impose a new way of advertising by altering their dreams. This " "“targeted dream incubation” would trigger “refreshing " "dreams” of the product, according to the companies." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Peloton company which produces treadmills recently <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/peloton-tread-owners-now-forced-into-monthly-subscription-after-recall/\">locked " "people out of basic features of people's treadmills by a software " "update</a>. The company now asks people for a membership/subscription for " "what people already paid for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The software used in the treadmill is proprietary and probably includes back " "doors to force software updates. It teaches the lesson that if a product " "talks to external networks, you must expect it to take in new malware." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Please note that the company behind this product said they are working to " "reverse the changes so people will no longer need subscription to use the " "locked feature." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apparently public anger made the company back down. If we want that to be " "our safety, we need to build up the anger against malicious features (and " "the proprietary software that is their entry path) to the point that even " "the most powerful companies don't dare." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/17/nine-out-of-10-health-apps-harvest-user-data-global-study-shows\">Almost " "all proprietary health apps harvest users' data</a>, including sensitive " "health information, tracking identifiers, and cookies to track user " "activities. Some of these applications are tracking users across different " "platforms." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/03/tiktok-just-gave-itself-permission-to-collect-biometric-data-on-u-s-users-including-faceprints-and-voiceprints/\">TikTok " "apps collect biometric identifiers and biometric information from users' " "smartphones</a>. The company behind it does whatever it wants and collects " "whatever data it can." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google, Apple, and Microsoft (and probably some other companies) <a " "href=\"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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Since the beginning of 2017, <a " "href=\"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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/icloud-data-turned-over-to-chinese-government-conflicts-with-apples-privacy-first-focus/\">Apple " "is moving its Chinese customers' iCloud data to a datacenter controlled by " "the Chinese government</a>. Apple is already storing the encryption keys on " "these servers, obeying Chinese authority, making all Chinese user data " "available to the government." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A motorcycle company named Klim is selling airbag vests with different " "payment methods, one of them is through a <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/93yyyd/this-motorcycle-airbag-vest-will-stop-working-if-you-miss-a-payment\">proprietary " "subscription-based option that will block the vest from inflating if the " "payments don't go through</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "They say there is a 30-days grace period if you miss a payment but the grace " "period is no excuse to the insecurity." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://me2ba.org/me2ba-product-testing-spotlight-report-published-data-sharing-in-primary-secondary-school-mobile-apps-2/\">60% " "of school apps are sending student data to potentially high-risk third " "parties</a>, putting students and possibly all other school workers under " "surveillance. This is made possible by using unsafe and proprietary programs " "made by data-hungry corporations." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>Please note that whether students consent to this or not, doesn't " "justify the surveillance they're imposed to.</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The United States' government is reportedly considering <a " "href=\"https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/private-companies-may-spy-on/\">teaming " "up with private companies to monitor American citizens' private online " "activity and digital communications</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "What creates the opportunity to try this is the fact that these companies " "are already snooping on users' private activities. That in turn is due to " "people's use of nonfree software which snoops, and online dis-services which " "snoop." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A zero-day vulnerability in Zoom which <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/critical-zoom-vulnerability-triggers-remote-code-execution-without-user-input/\">can " "be used to launch remote code execution (RCE) attacks</a> has been disclosed " "by researchers. The researchers demonstrated a three-bug attack chain that " "caused an RCE on a target machine, all this without any form of user " "interaction." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google <a " "href=\"https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/disha-ravi-arrest-puts-privacy-of-all-google-india-users-in-doubt-1769772-2021-02-16\">handed " "over personal data of Indian protesters and 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BMW is trying to <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/2/21311332/bmw-in-car-purchase-heated-seats-software-over-the-air-updates\">lock " "certain features of its cars, and force people to pay to use part of the car " "they already bought</a>. This is done through forced update of the car " "software via a radio-operated back door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Amazon's monopoly and DRM is <a " "href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/03/10/amazon-library-ebook-monopoly/\">stopping " "public libraries from lending e-books and audiobooks</a>. Amazon became " "powerful in e-book world by <a " "href=\"/philosophy/why-call-it-the-swindle.html\">Swindle</a>, and is now " "misusing its power and violates people's rights using <a " "href=\"https://www.defectivebydesign.org\">Digital Restrictions " "Management</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article is written in a way that endorses DRM in general, which is " "unacceptable. <a href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-drm.html\">DRM is an " "injustice to people</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-09/hackers-expose-tesla-jails-in-breach-of-150-000-security-cams\">Over " "150 thousand security cameras that used Verkada company's proprietary " "software are cracked</a> by a major security breach. Crackers have had " "access to security archives of various gyms, hospitals, jails, schools, and " "police stations that have used Verkada's cameras." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a href=\"/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html\">It is injustice to " "the public</a> for gyms, stores, hospitals, jails, and schools to hand " "“security” footage to a company from which the government can " "collect it at any time, without even telling them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "TV manufacturers are turning to produce only “Smart” TV sets " "(which include spyware) that <a " "href=\"https://frame.work/blog/in-defense-of-dumb-tvs\">it's now very hard " "to find a TV that doesn't spy on you</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It appears that those manufacturers business model is not to produce TV and " "sell them for money, but to collect your personal data and (possibly) hand " "over them to others for benefit." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Tiny Lab Productions, along with online ad businesses run by Google, Twitter " "and three other companies are facing a lawsuit <a " "href=\"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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "At least 30 thousand organizations in the United States are newly “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">cracked</a>” via <a " "href=\"https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/03/at-least-30000-u-s-organizations-newly-hacked-via-holes-in-microsofts-email-software/\">holes " "in Microsoft's proprietary email software, named Microsoft 365</a>. It is " "unclear whether there are other holes and vulnerabilities in the program or " "not but history and experience tells us it wouldn't be the last disaster " "with proprietary programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Researchers at the security firm SentinelOne discovered a <a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/windows-defender-vulnerability-twelve-years/\">security " "flaw in proprietary program Microsoft Windows Defender that lurked " "undetected for 12 years</a>. If the program was free (as in freedom), more " "people would have had a chance to notice the problem, therefore, it could've " "been fixed a lot sooner." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Proprietary programs Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx <a " "href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/video-conferencing-services/videoconferencing-privacy-issues-google-microsoft-webex/\">are " "collecting user's 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The proprietary program Microsoft Teams' insecurity <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/04/27/your-whole-companys-microsoft-teams-data-couldve-been-stolen-with-an-evil-gif\">could " "have let a malicious GIF steal user data from Microsoft Teams accounts</a>, " "possibly across an entire company, and taken control of “an " "organization's entire roster of Teams accounts.”" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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=\"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 " "defenselessly do whatever Microsoft tells them to do." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The proprietary program Clubhouse is malware and a privacy " "disaster. Clubhouse <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/20/why-hot-new-social-app-clubhouse-spells-nothing-but-trouble\">collects " "people's personal data such as recordings of people's conversations</a>, " "and, as a secondary problem, does not encrypt them, which shows a bad " "security part of the issue." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A user's unique Clubhouse ID number and chatroom ID are transmitted in " "plaintext, and Agora (the company behind the app) would likely have access " "to users' raw audio, potentially providing access to the Chinese government." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Even with good security of data transmission, collecting personal data of " "people is wrong and a violation of people's privacy rights." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 10</a>, using <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#windows-update\">a universal " "backdoor in Windows</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 developers power to impose " "their decisions on users. Free software on the other hand empowers users to " "make their own decisions." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Prodigy maths game played in schools at no cost entices students to play " "it at home, where <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/19/maths-app-targeting-uk-schools-is-criticised-over-premium-model\"> " "the company tries to lure them into paying for a premium subscription</a> in " "exchange for mere cosmetic features that, at school, underline the " "socioeconomic gap between those who can afford it and those who can't." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The strategy of <a href=\"/education/edu-schools.html\">using schools as a " "fishing pool for customers</a> is a common practice traditionally adopted by " "nonfree software companies." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The HonorLock online exam proctoring program is a surveillance tool that <a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/students-are-pushing-back-against-proctoring-surveillance-apps\">tracks " "students and collects data</a> such as face, driving license, and network " "information, among others, in blatant violation of students' privacy." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Preventing students from cheating should not be an excuse for running " "malware/spyware on their computers, and it's good that students are " "protesting. But their petitions overlook a crucial issue, namely, the " "injustice of being forced to run nonfree software in order to get an " "education." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many cr…apps, developed by various companies for various " "organizations, do <a " "href=\"https://www.expressvpn.com/digital-security-lab/investigation-xoth\"> " "location tracking unknown to those companies and those organizations</a>. " "It's actually some widely used libraries that do the tracking." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "What's unusual here is that proprietary software developer A tricks " "proprietary software developers B1 … B50 into making platforms for A " "to mistreat the end user." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Samsung is forcing its smartphone users in Hong Kong (and Macau) <a " "href=\"https://blog.headuck.com/2020/10/12/samsung-phones-force-mainland-china-dns-service-upon-hong-kong-wifi-users/\">to " "use a public DNS in Mainland China</a>, using software update released in " "September 2020, which causes many unease and privacy concerns." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The authorities in Venice track the <a " "href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/venice-control-room-tourism/index.html\"> " "movements of all tourists</a> using their portable phones. The article says " "that <em>at present</em> the system is configured to report only aggregated " "information. But that could be changed. What will that system do 10 years " "from now? What will a similar system in another country do? Those are the " "questions this raises." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A cracker <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7apnn/your-cock-is-mine-now-hacker-locks-internet-connected-chastity-cage-demands-ransom\">took " "control of people's internet-connected chastity cages and demanded " "ransom</a>. The chastity cages are being controlled by a proprietary app " "(mobile program)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Please note that the article wrongly refers to crackers as \"<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">hackers</a>\".)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "As of 2021, WhatsApp (one of Facebook's subsidiaries) is <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlypage/2021/01/08/whatsapp-tells-users-share-your-data-with-facebook-or-well-deactivate-your-account/\">forcing " "its users to hand over sensitive personal data</a> to its parent " "company. This increases Facebook's power over users, and further jeopardizes " "people's privacy and security." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Instead of WhatsApp you can use <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jami\">GNU Jami</a>, which is free " "software and will not collect your data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many popular mobile games include a random-reward system called <a " "href=\"#gacha\"><i>gacha</i></a> which is especially effective on " "children. One variant of gacha was declared illegal in Japan in 2012, but " "the other variants are still <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/04/04/japanese-mobile-gaming-still-cant-shake-off-the-spectre-of-exploitation/\"> " "luring players into compulsively spending</a> inordinate amounts of money on " "virtual toys." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Most Internet connected devices in Mozilla's <a " "href=\"https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded\">“Privacy " "Not Included”</a> list <a " "href=\"https://foundation.mozilla.org/privacynotincluded/arlo-video-doorbell\">are " "designed to snoop on users</a> even if they meet Mozilla's “Minimum " "Security Standards.” Insecure design of the program running on some of " "these devices <a " "href=\"https://foundation.mozilla.org/privacynotincluded/vibratissimo-panty-buster\">makes " "the user susceptible to be snooped and exploited by crackers as well</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The personal finance management software “Quicken” <a " "href=\"https://www.quicken.com/support/quicken-discontinuation-policy\"> has " "a discontinuation policy, a.k.a. planned obsolescence</a>, which is an " "injustice to users. A free (as in freedom) program would let users control " "the software. But when you use a proprietary software, you won't be in " "control." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe Flash Player <a " "href=\"https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/end-of-life.html\"> has a " "universal back door</a> which lets Adobe control the software and, for " "example, disable it whenever it wants. Adobe will block Flash content from " "running in Flash Player beginning January 12, 2021, which indicates that " "they have access to every Flash Player through a back door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The back door won't be dangerous in the future, as it'll disable a " "proprietary program and make users delete the software, but it was an " "injustice for many years. Users should have deleted Flash Player even before " "its end of life." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "As of 2019-2020, Minecraft players are <a " "href=\"https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/java-edition-moving-house\">being " "forced to move to Microsoft servers</a>, which results in privacy " "violation. Microsoft publishes a program so users can run their own server, " "but the program is proprietary and it's another <a " "href=\"/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html\">injustice to " "users</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "People can play <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Minetest\">Minetest</a> " "instead. Minetest is free software and respects the user's computer freedom." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "While the world is still struggling with COVID-19 coronavirus, many <a " "href=\"https://mashable.com/article/privacy-in-the-age-of-coronavirus/\">people " "are in danger of surveillance</a> and their computers are infected with " "malware as a result of installing proprietary software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "HP tricked users into installing a mischievous update in their printers that " "<a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/11/ink-stained-wretches-battle-soul-digital-freedom-taking-place-inside-your-printer\">made " "the devices reject all third-party ink cartridges</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "United States officials are facing one of biggest crackings against them in " "years, when <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/15/orion-hack-solar-winds-explained-us-treasury-commerce-department\">malicious " "code was sneaked into SolarWinds' proprietary software named " "Orion</a>. Crackers got access to networks when users downloaded a tainted " "software update. Crackers were able to monitor internal emails at some of " "the top agencies in the US." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Commercial crackware can <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/20/iphones-vulnerable-to-hacking-tool-for-months-researchers-say\"> " "get passwords out of an iMonster</a>, use the microphone and camera, and " "other things." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/18/zoom-helped-china-surveillance/\"> " "A Zoom executive carried out snooping and censorship for China</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This abuse of Zoom's power shows how dangerous that power is. The root " "problem is not the surveillance and censorship, but rather the power that " "Zoom has. It gets that power partly from the use of its server, but also " "partly from the nonfree client program." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Wavelink and JetStream wifi routers have universal back doors that " "enable unauthenticated users to remotely control not only the routers, but " "also any devices connected to the network. There is evidence that <a " "href=\"https://cybernews.com/security/walmart-exclusive-routers-others-made-in-china-contain-backdoors-to-control-devices/\"> " "this vulnerability is actively exploited</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If you consider buying a router, we encourage you to get one that <a " "href=\"https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/routers\">runs on free " "software</a>. Any attempts at introducing malicious functionalities in it " "(e.g., through a firmware update) will be detected by the community, and " "soon corrected." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If unfortunately you own a router that runs on proprietary software, don't " "panic! You may be able to replace its firmware with a free operating system " "such as <a href=\"https://librecmc.org\">libreCMC</a>. If you don't know " "how, you can get help from a nearby GNU/Linux user group." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Baidu apps were <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/baidus-android-apps-caught-collecting-sensitive-user-details/\"> " "caught collecting sensitive personal data</a> that can be used for lifetime " "tracking of users, and putting them in danger. More than 1.4 billion people " "worldwide are affected by these proprietary apps, and users' privacy is " "jeopardized by this surveillance tool. Data collected by Baidu may be handed " "over to the Chinese government, possibly putting Chinese people in danger." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft's Office 365 suite enables employers <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/26/microsoft-productivity-score-feature-criticised-workplace-surveillance\">to " "snoop on each employee</a>. After a public outburst, Microsoft stated that " "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/02/microsoft-apologises-productivity-score-critics-derided-workplace-surveillance\">it " "would remove this capability</a>. Let's hope so." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple has <a " "href=\"https://sneak.berlin/20201112/your-computer-isnt-yours\">implemented " "a malware in its computers that imposes surveillance</a> on users and " "reports users' computing to Apple." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The reports are even unencrypted and they've been leaking this data for two " "years already. This malware is reporting to Apple what user opens what " "program at what time. It also gives Apple power to sabotage users' " "computing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "According to FTC, the company behind the Zoom conferencing software <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/11/zoom-lied-to-users-about-end-to-end-encryption-for-years-ftc-says/\">has " "lied to users about its end-to-end encryption</a> for years, at least since " "2016." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "People can use free (as in freedom) programs such as <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi\">Jitsi</a> or <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/BigBlueButton\">BigBlueButton</a>, " "better still if installed in a server controlled by the users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Apple iOS version of Zoom <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7e599/zoom-ios-app-sends-data-to-facebook-even-if-you-dont-have-a-facebook-account\">is " "sending users' data to Facebook</a> even if the user doesn't have a Facebook " "account. According to the article, Zoom and Facebook don't even mention this " "surveillance on their privacy policy page, making this an obvious violation " "of people's privacy even in their own terms." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft <a " "href=\"https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/why-does-my-new-e-mail-account-need-a-phone-number/70049eaf-3b66-4d02-87cc-79dc73c2ea08\">forces " "people to give their phone number</a> in order to be able to create an " "account on the company's network. On top of mistreating their users by " "providing nonfree software, Microsoft is tracking their lives outside the " "computer and violates their privacy." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The company behind Zoom does not only deny users' computer freedom by " "developing this piece of nonfree software, it also violates users' civil " "rights by <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/12/21288995/zoom-blocking-feature-chinese-government-censorship\">banning " "events and censoring users</a> to serve the agenda of governments." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Freedom respecting programs such as <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi\">Jitsi</a> or <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/BigBlueButton\">BigBlueButton</a> can " "be used instead, better still if installed in a server controlled by its " "users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft is imposing its surveillance on the game of Minecraft by <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/22/21527647/minecraft-microsoft-account-mojang-java\">requiring " "every player to open an account on Microsoft's network</a>. Microsoft has " "bought the game and will merge all accounts into its network, which will " "give them access to people's data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Minecraft players <a href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Minetest\">can " "play Minetest</a> instead. The essential advantage of Minetest is that it is " "free software, meaning it respects the user's computer freedom. As a bonus, " "it offers more options." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft is <a " "href=\"https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-windows-10-setup-now-prevents-local-account-creation/\">tricking " "users to create an account on their network</a> to be able to install and " "use the Windows operating system, which is malware. The account can be used " "for surveillance and/or violating people's rights in many ways, such as " "turning their purchased software to a subscription product." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The addictive Genshin Impact relentlessly <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/oct/22/genshin-impact-video-game-slowly-taking-over-the-world\">coerces " "players to spend money by overwhelming the game play with loot boxes</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Internet-enabled watches with proprietary software are malware, violating " "people (specially children's) privacy. In addition, they have a lot of " "security flaws. They <a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/kid-smartwatch-security-vulnerabilities/\"> " "permit security breakers (and unauthorized people) to access</a> the watch." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Thus, ill-intentioned unauthorized people can intercept communications " "between parent and child and spoof messages to and from the watch, possibly " "endangering the child." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Note that this article misuses the word “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">hackers</a>” to mean " "“crackers.”)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Roblox (among many other games) created anti-features which sucker children " "into <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/mar/11/my-kids-spent-600-on-their-ipads-without-my-knowledge\"> " "utilizing third-party payment services without authorization.</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Mellow sous-vide cooker is tethered to a server. The company suddenly <a " "href=\"https://www.slashgear.com/mellow-sous-vide-owners-get-unwelcome-subscription-surprise-27630842/\"> " "turned this tethering into a subscription</a>, forbidding users from taking " "advantage of the “advanced features” of the cooker unless they " "pay a monthly fee." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many employers are using nonfree software, including videoconference " "software, to <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/27/shirking-from-home-staff-feel-the-heat-as-bosses-ramp-up-remote-surveillance\"> " "surveil and monitor staff working at home</a>. If the program reports " "whether you are “active,” that is in effect a malicious " "surveillance feature." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Facebook <a " "href=\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8747541/Facebook-accused-watching-Instagram-users-mobile-cameras.html\">snoops " "on Instagram</a> users by surreptitously turning on the device's camera." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Oculus headsets <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/18/21372435/oculus-facebook-login-change-separate-account-support-end-quest-october\">require " "users to identify themselves to Facebook</a>. This will give Facebook free " "rein to pervasively snoop on Oculus users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple is <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/aug/30/this-isnt-the-1990s-apple-under-pressure-from-app-developers\"> " "putting the squeeze on all business</a> conducted through apps for " "iMonsters." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is a symptom of a very big injustice: that Apple has the power to " "decide what software can be installed on an iMonster. That it is a jail." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "New Toyotas will <a " "href=\"https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/18/aws_toyota_alliance/\"> upload " "data to AWS to help create custom insurance premiums</a> based on driver " "behaviour." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Before you buy a “connected” car, make sure you can disconnect " "its cellular antenna and its GPS antenna. If you want GPS navigation, get a " "separate navigator which runs free software and works with Open Street Map." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple can remotely <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/aug/18/apple-sets-deadline-in-feud-with-fortnite-maker-epic-games\"> " "cut off any developer's access to the tools for developing software</a> for " "iOS or MacOS." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Epic (Apple's target in this example) makes nonfree games which have their " "own <a " "href=\"https://ekgaming.com/2019/03/17/is-the-epic-games-store-spying-on-your-computer/\"> " "malicious features</a>, but that doesn't make it acceptable for Apple to " "have this sort of power." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "TikTok <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2020/08/11/tiktok-exploited-android-secur.html\"> " "exploited an Android vulnerability</a> to obtain user MAC addresses." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple whistleblower Thomas Le Bonniec reports that Apple made a practice of " "surreptitiously activating the Siri software to <a " "href=\"https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Public-Statement-Siri-recordings-TLB.pdf\"> " "record users' conversations when they had not activated Siri</a>. This was " "not just occasional, it was systematic practice." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "His job was to listen to these recordings, in a group that made transcripts " "of them. He does not believes that Apple has ceased this practice." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The only reliable way to prevent this is, for the program that controls " "access to the microphone to decide when the user has “activated” " "any service, to be free software, and the operating system under it free as " "well. This way, users could make sure Apple can't listen to them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Nest <a " "href=\"https://blog.google/products/google-nest/partnership-adt-smarter-home-security/\"> " "is taking over ADT</a>. Google sent out a software update to its speaker " "devices using their back door <a " "href=\"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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Focals eyeglass display, with snooping microphone, has been eliminated. " "Google eliminated it by buying the manufacturer and shutting it down. It " "also <a " "href=\"https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/canadian-smart-glasses-going-offline-weeks-after-company-bought-by-google-1.5042010\">shut " "down the server these devices depend on</a>, which caused the ones already " "sold to cease to function." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It may be a good thing to wipe out this product—for " "“smart,” read “snoop”—but Google didn't do " "that for the sake of privacy. Rather, it was eliminating competition for " "its own snooping product." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BMW will remotely <a " "href=\"https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/bmw-vehicle-as-a-platform/\"> " "enable and disable functionality in cars</a> through a universal back door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "“Bossware” is malware that bosses <a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/06/inside-invasive-secretive-bossware-tracking-workers\"> " "coerce workers into installing in their own computers</a>, so the bosses can " "spy on them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This shows why requiring the user's “consent” is not an adequate " "basis for protecting digital privacy. The boss can coerce most workers into " "consenting to almost anything, even probable exposure to contagious disease " "that can be fatal. Software like this should be illegal and bosses that " "demand it should be prosecuted for it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Runescape is a popular online game with some <a " "href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/runescape/comments/33cd8g/question_why_is_runescape_so_addicting/\"> " "addictive features</a> derived from <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness\"> behavioral " "manipulation techniques</a>. Certain repetitive aspects of the game, like <a " "href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinding_(video_games)\"> grinding</a>, " "can be minimised by becoming a paying member, and can thus encourage " "children and impressionable people to spend money on the game." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Most apps are malware, but Trump's campaign app, like Modi's campaign app, " "is <a " "href=\"https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/06/21/1004228/trumps-data-hungry-invasive-app-is-a-voter-surveillance-tool-of-extraordinary-scope/\"> " "especially nasty malware, helping companies snoop on users as well as " "snooping on them itself</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article says that Biden's app has a less manipulative overall approach, " "but that does not tell us whether it has functionalities we consider " "malicious, such as sending data the user has not explicitly asked to send." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "TV manufacturers are able to <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/fbi-warns-about-snoopy-smart-tvs-spying-on-you/\">snoop " "every second of what the user is watching</a>. This is illegal due to the " "Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988, but they're circumventing it through " "EULAs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/ripple20-iot-vulnerabilities/?bxid=5bd66d4c2ddf9c619437e4b8&cndid=9608804&esrc=Wired_etl_load&source=EDT_WIR_NEWSLETTER_0_DAILY_ZZ&utm_bran%5C\"> " "A disasterous security bug</a> touches millions of products in the Internet " "of Stings." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "As a result, anyone can sting the user, not only the manufacturer." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Best Buy made controllable appliances and <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6\"> " "shut down the service to control them through</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "While it is laudable that Best Buy recognized it was mistreating the " "customers by doing so, this doesn't alter the facts that tethering the " "device to a particular server is a path to screwing the users, and that it " "is a consequence of having nonfree software in the device." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Wink sells a “smart” home hub that is tethered to a server. In " "May 2020, it ordered the purchasers to start <a " "href=\"https://www.techhive.com/article/3542631/wink-users-revolt-following-its-sudden-shift-to-a-subscription-model.html\"> " "paying a monthly fee for the use of that server</a>. Because of the " "tethering, the hub is useless without that." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 autopilot features</a> on people's cars to make them pay extra " "for re-enabling the features." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Xiaomi phones <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/04/30/exclusive-warning-over-chinese-mobile-giant-xiaomi-recording-millions-of-peoples-private-web-and-phone-use/\">report " "many actions the user takes</a>: starting an app, looking at a folder, " "visiting a website, listening to a song. They send device identifying " "information too." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Other nonfree programs snoop too. For instance, Spotify and other streaming " "dis-services make a dossier about each user, and <a " "href=\"/malware/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201508210\"> they make users " "identify themselves to pay</a>. Out, out, damned Spotify!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Forbes exonerates the same wrongs when the culprits are not Chinese, but we " "condemn this no matter who does it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The <a href=\"https://www.google.com/mobile/android/market-tos.html\"> " "Google Play Terms of Service</a> insist that the user of Android accept the " "presence of universal back doors in apps released by Google." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This does not tell us whether any of Google's apps currently contains a " "universal back door, but that is a secondary question. In moral terms, " "demanding that people accept in advance certain bad treatment is equivalent " "to actually doing it. Whatever condemnation the latter deserves, the former " "deserves the same." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The CIA exploited existing vulnerabilities in “smart” TVs and " "phones to design a malware that <a " "href=\"https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wikileaks-vault-7-android-iphone-cia-phones-handsets-tv-smart-julian-assange-a7616651.html\"> " "spies through their microphones and cameras while making them appear to be " "turned off</a>. Since the spyware sniffs signals, it bypasses encryption." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Alipay Health Code app estimates whether the user has Covid-19 and <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/business/china-coronavirus-surveillance.html\"> " "tells the cops directly</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Internet-tethered Amazon Ring had a security vulnerability that enabled " "attackers to <a " "href=\"https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/11/07/amazons-ring-doorbells-leaks-customers-wi-fi-username-and-password\"> " "access the user's wifi password</a>, and snoop on the household through " "connected surveillance devices." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Knowledge of the wifi password would not be sufficient to carry out any " "significant surveillance if the devices implemented proper security, " "including encryption. But many devices with proprietary software lack " "this. Of course, they are also used by their manufacturers for snooping." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The ToToc messaging app seems to be a <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html\"> " "spying tool for the government of the United Arab Emirates</a>. Any nonfree " "program could be doing this, and that is a good reason to use free software " "instead." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>Note: this article uses the word “free” in the sense of " "“gratis.”</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Avast and AVG extensions for Firefox and Chrome were found to <a " "href=\"https://www.itpro.co.uk/security/internet-security/354417/avast-and-avg-extensions-pulled-from-chrome\"> " "snoop on users' detailed browsing habits</a>. Mozilla and Google removed the " "problematic extensions from their stores, but this shows once more how " "unsafe nonfree software can be. Tools that are supposed to protect a " "proprietary system are, instead, infecting it with additional malware (the " "system itself being the original malware)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many Android apps fool their users by asking them to decide what permissions " "to give the program, and then <a " "href=\"https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2019/07/10/android-apps-sidestepping-permissions-to-access-sensitive-data/\"> " "bypassing these permissions</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Android system is supposed to prevent data leaks by running apps in " "isolated sandboxes, but developers have found ways to access the data by " "other means, and there is nothing the user can do to stop them from doing " "so, since both the system and the apps are nonfree." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Most modern cars now <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/12/17/cars-now-run-on-the-new-oil.html\"> " "record and send various kinds of data to the manufacturer</a>. For the user, " "access to the data is nearly impossible, as it involves cracking the car's " "computer, which is always hidden and running with proprietary software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "iMonsters and Android phones, when used for work, give employers powerful <a " "href=\"https://www.fastcompany.com/90440073/if-you-use-your-personal-phone-for-work-say-goodbye-to-your-privacy\"> " "snooping and sabotage capabilities</a> if they install their own software on " "the device. Many employers demand to do this. For the employee, this is " "simply nonfree software, as fundamentally unjust and as dangerous as any " "other nonfree software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Amazon Ring app does <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/29/ring-smart-doorbell-company-surveillance-eff-report\"> " "surveillance for other companies as well as for Amazon</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android phones subsidized by the US government come with <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/us-government-funded-android-phones-come-preinstalled-with-unremovable-malware/\"> " "preinstalled adware and a back door for forcing installation of apps</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The adware is in a modified version of an essential system configuration " "app. The back door is a surreptitious addition to a program whose stated " "purpose is to be a <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/unremovable-malware-found-preinstalled-on-low-end-smartphone-sold-in-the-us/\"> " "universal back door for firmware</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In other words, a program whose raison d'être is malicious has a secret " "secondary malicious purpose. All this is in addition to the malware of " "Android itself." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some security breakers (wrongly referred in this article as <a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">“hackers”</a>) " "managed to interfere the Amazon Ring proprietary system, and <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/dec/13/ring-hackers-reportedly-watching-talking-strangers-in-home-cameras\">access " "its camera, speakers and microphones</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Safari occasionally <a " "href=\"https://blog.cryptographyengineering.com/2019/10/13/dear-apple-safe-browsing-might-not-be-that-safe/\"> " "sends browsing data from Apple devices in China to the Tencent Safe Browsing " "service</a>, to check URLs that possibly correspond to " "“fraudulent” websites. Since Tencent collaborates with the " "Chinese government, its Safe Browsing black list most certainly contains the " "websites of political opponents. By linking the requests originating from " "single IP addresses, the government can identify dissenters in China and " "Hong Kong, thus endangering their lives." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple plans to require that <a " "href=\"https://www.macrumors.com/2019/04/08/mac-apps-notarization-macos-10-14-5/\"> " "all application software for MacOS be approved by Apple first</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Offering a checking service as an option could be useful and would not be " "wrong. Requiring users to get Apple's approval is tyranny. Apple says the " "check will only look for malware (not counting the malware that is <a " "href=\"/proprietary/malware-apple.html#TOC\">part of the operating " "system</a>), but Apple could change that policy step by step. Or perhaps " "Apple will define malware to include any app that China does not like." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "For free software, this means users will need to get Apple's approval after " "compilation. This amounts to a system of surveilling the use of free " "programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Chinese Communist Party's “Study the Great Nation” app " "requires users to grant it <a " "href=\"https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/chinese-app-allows-officials-access-to-100-million-users-phone-report-2115962\"> " "access to the phone's microphone, photos, text messages, contacts, and " "internet history</a>, and the Android version was found to contain a " "back-door allowing developers to run any code they wish in the users' phone, " "as “superusers.” Downloading and using this app is mandatory at " "some workplaces." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Note: The <a " "href=\"http://web-old.archive.org/web/20191015005153/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinese-app-on-xis-ideology-allows-data-access-to-100-million-users-phones-report-says/2019/10/11/2d53bbae-eb4d-11e9-bafb-da248f8d5734_story.html\"> " "Washington Post version of the article</a> (partly obfuscated, but readable " "after copy-pasting in a text editor) includes a clarification saying that " "the tests were only performed on the Android version of the app, and that, " "according to Apple, “this kind of ‘superuser’ surveillance " "could not be conducted on Apple's operating system.”" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/10/07/apple-ios-13-1-2-for-hong-kong.html\"> " "censors the Taiwan flag in iOS</a> on behalf of the Chinese government. When " "the region is set to Hong Kong, this flag is not visible in the emoji " "selection widget but is still accessible. When the region is set to mainland " "China, all attempts to display it will result in the “empty " "emoji” icon as if the flag never existed." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Thus, not only does Apple use the App Store as an instrument of censorship, " "it also uses the iThing operating system for that purpose." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple has <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/10/hong-kong-protests-apple-pulls-tracking-app-after-china-criticism\"> " "banned the app that Hong Kong protesters use to communicate</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Obeying the “local laws” about what people can do with software " "is no excuse for censoring what software people can use." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe has <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/adobe-to-ban-users-from-venezuela-due-to-us-executive-order/\"> " "cancelled the software subscriptions of all users in Venezuela</a>. This " "demonstrates how a requirement for subscription can be turned into a tool " "for sabotage." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A very popular app found in the Google Play store contained a module that " "was designed to <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/08/google-play-app-with-100-million-downloads-executed-secret-payloads/\">secretly " "install malware on the user's computer</a>. The app developers regularly " "used it to make the computer download and execute any code they wanted." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is a concrete example of what users are exposed to when they run " "nonfree apps. They can never be completely sure that a nonfree app is safe." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Facebook app <a " "href=\"https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/09/09/facebook-app-social-network-tracking-your-every-move/2270305001/\"> " "tracks users even when it is turned off</a>, after tricking them into giving " "the app broad permissions in order to use one of its functionalities." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The recent versions of Microsoft Office require the user to <a " "href=\"https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-office-for-home-and-school-faq?legRedir=true&CorrelationId=c9c5b549-11ad-4f71-bf81-b7e069fdb372\"> " "connect to Microsoft servers at least every thirty-one days</a>. Otherwise, " "the software will refuse to edit any documents or create new ones. It will " "be restricted to viewing and printing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some nonfree period-tracking apps including MIA Fem and Maya <a " "href=\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/period-tracker-apps-facebook-maya-mia-fem\"> " "send intimate details of users' lives to Facebook</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Tesla users claim Tesla <a " "href=\"https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-battery/tesla-owner-lawsuit-claims-software-update-fraudulently-cut-battery-capacity-idUSKCN1UY2TW\">force-installed " "software to cut down on battery range</a>, rather than replace the defective " "batteries. Tesla did this to avoid having to run their warranty." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This means that proprietary software can potentially be a way to commit " "perjury with impunity." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "ChromeBooks are programmed for obsolescence: ChromeOS has a universal back " "door that is used for updates and <a " "href=\"https://www.theregister.co.uk/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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In other words, when you stop getting screwed by the back door, you start " "getting screwed by the obsolescence." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft recorded users of Xboxes and had <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/43kv4q/microsoft-human-contractors-listened-to-xbox-owners-homes-kinect-cortana\"> " "human workers listen to the recordings</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Morally, we see no difference between having human workers listen and having " "speech-recognition systems listen. Both intrude on privacy." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Keeping track of who downloads a proprietary program is a form of " "surveillance. There is a proprietary program for adjusting a certain " "telescopic rifle sight. <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/09/06/exclusive-feds-demand-apple-and-google-hand-over-names-of-10000-users-of-a-gun-scope-app/\"> " "A US prosecutor has demanded the list of all the 10,000 or more people who " "have installed it</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "With a free program there would not be a list of who has installed it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A series of vulnerabilities <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2019/08/31/apple-iphone-ipad-security-ios-upgrade-iphone-xs-max-xr-update/\">found " "in iOS allowed attackers to gain access to sensitive information including " "private messages, passwords, photos and contacts stored on the user's " "iMonster</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The deep insecurity of iMonsters is even more pertinent given that Apple's " "proprietary software makes users totally dependent on Apple for even a " "modicum of security. It also means that the devices do not even try to " "offer security against Apple itself." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A game published on Facebook <a " "href=\"https://www.revealnews.org/article/so-your-child-racked-up-unwanted-credit-card-charges-playing-video-games-now-what/\">aimed " "at leading children to spend</a> large amounts of their parents' money " "without explaining it to them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "When Apple suspects a user of fraud, it judges the case secretly and " "presents the verdict as a fait accompli. The punishment to a user found " "guilty <a " "href=\"https://qz.com/1683460/what-happens-to-your-itunes-account-when-apple-says-youve-committed-fraud/\">is " "being cut off for life, which more-or-less cripples the user's Apple devices " "forever</a>. There is no appeal." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Skype refuses to say whether it can <a " "href=\"http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/07/20/skype_won_t_comment_on_whether_it_can_now_eavesdrop_on_conversations_.html\">eavesdrop " "on calls</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "That almost certainly means it can do so." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Out of 21 gratis Android antivirus apps that were tested by security " "researchers, eight <a " "href=\"https://www.comparitech.com/antivirus/android-antivirus-vulnerabilities/\"> " "failed to detect a test virus</a>. All of them asked for dangerous " "permissions or contained advertising trackers, with seven being more risky " "than the average of the 100 most popular Android apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Note that the article refers to these proprietary apps as " "“free”. It should have said “gratis” " "instead.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many unscrupulous mobile-app developers keep finding ways to <a " "href=\"https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/more-than-1000-android-apps-harvest-your-data-even-after-you-deny-permissions/\"> " "bypass user's settings</a>, regulations, and privacy-enhancing features of " "the operating system, in order to gather as much private data as they " "possibly can." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Thus, we can't trust rules against spying. What we can trust is having " "control over the software we run." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Since Google “Assistant” uses proprietary software, there is no " "way to see or control what it records or sends." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Resourceful children figured out how to <a " "href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48908766\"> empty their " "parents' bank account</a> buying packs of special players for an Electronic " "Arts soccer game." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The random element of these packs (also called “loot boxes”) " "makes the game <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions#addictiveness\"> strongly " "addictive</a>, but the fact that players are pressured to spend more in " "order to get ahead of their competitors further qualifies it as " "<em>predatory</em>. Note that Belgium <a " "href=\"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/29/fifa-ultimate-team-packs-blocked-in-belgium/\"> " "made these loot boxes illegal</a> in 2018." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The only good reason to have a copy of such a proprietary game is to study " "it for free software development." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple appears to say that <a " "href=\"https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/10/apple-silent-update-zoom-app/\"> " "there is a back door in MacOS</a> for automatically updating some (all?) " "apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The specific change described in the article was not malicious—it " "protected users from surveillance by third parties—but that is a " "separate question." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This involves an apparently unintentional weakness in Android, exploited " "intentionally by malicious apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Clash of Clans is a good example of a gratis mobile game that its developers " "<a href=\"https://gamerant.com/clash-of-clans-addiction/\"> made very " "addictive</a> for a large proportion of its users—and turned into a " "cash machine for themselves—by using <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness\"> " "psychological manipulation techniques</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(The article uses “free” to mean “zero " "price,” which is a usage we should avoid. We recommend saying " "“gratis” instead.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In spite of Apple's supposed commitment to privacy, iPhone apps contain " "trackers that are busy at night <a " "href=\"https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2019/05/its-3-am-do-you-know-who-your-iphone-is-talking-to.html\"> " "sending users' personal information to third parties</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article mentions specific examples: Microsoft OneDrive, Intuit's Mint, " "Nike, Spotify, The Washington Post, The Weather Channel (owned by IBM), the " "crime-alert service Citizen, Yelp and DoorDash. But it is likely that most " "nonfree apps contain trackers. Some of these send personally identifying " "data such as phone fingerprint, exact location, email address, phone number " "or even delivery address (in the case of DoorDash). Once this information is " "collected by the company, there is no telling what it will be used for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Femm “fertility” app is secretly a <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/30/revealed-womens-fertility-app-is-funded-by-anti-abortion-campaigners\"> " "tool for propaganda</a> by natalist Christians. It spreads distrust for " "contraception." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "It snoops on users, too, as you must expect from nonfree programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Amazon Alexa collects a lot more information from users than is necessary " "for correct functioning (time, location, recordings made without a " "legitimate prompt), and sends it to Amazon's servers, which store it " "indefinitely. Even worse, Amazon forwards it to third-party companies. Thus, " "even if users request deletion of their data from Amazon's servers, <a " "href=\"https://www.ctpost.com/business/article/Alexa-has-been-eavesdropping-on-you-this-whole-13822095.php\"> " "the data remain on other servers</a>, where they can be accessed by " "advertising companies and government agencies. In other words, deleting the " "collected information doesn't cancel the wrong of collecting it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Data collected by devices such as the Nest thermostat, the Philips " "Hue-connected lights, the Chamberlain MyQ garage opener and the Sonos " "speakers are likewise stored longer than necessary on the servers the " "devices are tethered to. Moreover, they are made available to Alexa. As a " "result, Amazon has a very precise picture of users' life at home, not only " "in the present, but in the past (and, who knows, in the future too?)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Users caught in the jail of an iMonster are <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/05/15/brittle-security.html\"> sitting " "ducks for other attackers</a>, and the app censorship prevents security " "companies from figuring out how those attacks work." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple's censorship of apps is fundamentally unjust, and would be inexcusable " "even if it didn't lead to security threats as well." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BlizzCon 2019 imposed a <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/05/blizzcon-2019-tickets-revolve-around-invasive-poorly-reviewed-smartphone-app/\"> " "requirement to run a proprietary phone app</a> to be allowed into the event." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This app is a spyware that can snoop on a lot of sensitive data, including " "user's location and contact list, and has <a " "href=\"https://old.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/bkd5ew/you_need_to_have_a_phone_to_attend_blizzcon_this/emg38xv/\"> " "near-complete control</a> over the phone." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Jibo robot toys were tethered to the manufacturer's server, and <a " "href=\"https://www.apnews.com/99c9ec8ebad242ca88178e22c7642648\"> the " "company made them all cease to work</a> by shutting down that server." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The shutdown might ironically be good for their users, since the product was " "designed to manipulate people by presenting a phony semblance of emotions, " "and was most certainly spying on them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The FordPass Connect feature of some Ford vehicles has <a " "href=\"https://www.myfordpass.com/content/ford_com/fp_app/en_us/termsprivacy.html\"> " "near-complete access to the internal car network</a>. It is constantly " "connected to the cellular phone network and sends Ford a lot of data, " "including car location. This feature operates even when the ignition key is " "removed, and users report that they can't disable it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If you own one of these cars, have you succeeded in breaking the " "connectivity by disconnecting the cellular modem, or wrapping the antenna in " "aluminum foil?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some of users' commands to the Alexa service are <a " "href=\"https://www.smh.com.au/technology/alexa-is-someone-else-listening-to-us-sometimes-someone-is-20190411-p51d4g.html\"> " "recorded for Amazon employees to listen to</a>. The Google and Apple voice " "assistants do similar things." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A fraction of the Alexa service staff even has access to <a " "href=\"https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/amazon-s-alexa-reviewers-can-access-customers-home-addresses-1.1248788\"> " "location and other personal data</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Since the client program is nonfree, and data processing is done “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#CloudComputing\">in the " "cloud</a>” (a soothing way of saying “We won't tell you how and " "where it's done”), users have no way to know what happens to the " "recordings unless human eavesdroppers <a " "href=\"https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/three-cheers-for-amazon-s-human-eavesdroppers-1.1243033\"> " "break their non-disclosure agreements</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "As of April 2019, it is <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/major-browsers-to-prevent-disabling-of-click-tracking-privacy-risk/\">no " "longer possible to disable an unscrupulous tracking anti-feature</a> that <a " "href=\"https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/links.html#hyperlink-auditing\">reports " "users when they follow ping links</a> in Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, " "Microsoft Edge and also in the upcoming Microsoft Edge that is going to be " "based on Chromium." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Data collected by menstrual and pregnancy monitoring apps is often <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/13/theres-a-dark-side-to-womens-health-apps-menstrual-surveillance\"> " "available to employers and insurance companies</a>. Even though the data is " "“anonymized and aggregated,” it can easily be traced back to the " "woman who uses the app." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This has harmful implications for women's rights to equal employment and " "freedom to make their own pregnancy choices. Don't use these apps, even if " "someone offers you a reward to do so. A free-software app that does more or " "less the same thing without spying on you is available from <a " "href=\"https://search.f-droid.org/?q=menstr\">F-Droid</a>, and <a " "href=\"https://dcs.megaphone.fm/BLM6228935164.mp3?key=7e4b8f7018d13cdc2b5ea6e5772b6b8f\"> " "a new one is being developed</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft has been <a " "href=\"https://borncity.com/win/2019/01/17/windows-10-update-kb4023057-re-released-1-16-2019/\"> " "force-installing a “remediation” program</a> on computers " "running certain versions of Windows 10. Remediation, in Microsoft's view, " "means <a " "href=\"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb4023057-update-for-windows-10-update-service-components-fccad0ca-dc10-2e46-9ed1-7e392450fb3a\"> " "tampering with users' settings and files</a>, notably to " "“repair” any components of the updating system that users may " "have intentionally disabled, and thus regain full power over them. Microsoft " "repeatedly pushed faulty versions of this program to users' machines, " "causing numerous problems, some of which <a " "href=\"https://www.windowsmode.com/microsoft-suspends-windows-10-october-2018-update-rollout-due-to-critical-bugs/\"> " "critical</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This exemplifies the arrogant and manipulative attitude that proprietary " "software developers have learned to adopt toward the people they are " "supposedly serving. Migrate to a <a href=\"/distros/free-distros.html\">free " "operating system</a> if you can!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If your employer makes you run Windows, tell the financial department how " "this wastes your time dealing with endless connections and premature " "hardware failures." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Volkswagen programmed its car engine computers to <a " "href=\"https://www.petri.com/volkswagen-used-software-to-cheat-on-emissions\"> " "detect the Environmental Protection Agency's emission tests</a>, and run " "dirty the rest of the time. In real driving, the cars exceeded emissions " "standards by a factor of up to 35." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Using free software would not have stopped Volkswagen from programming it " "this way, but would have made it harder to conceal, and given the users the " "possibility of correcting the deception." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Former executives of Volkswagen are being <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/15/former-head-of-volkswagen-could-face-10-years-in-prison\"> " "sued over this fraud</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google tracks the movements of Android phones and iPhones running Google " "apps, and sometimes <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/13/us/google-location-tracking-police.html\"> " "saves the data for years</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Nonfree software in the phone has to be responsible for sending the location " "data to Google." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Ebooks “bought” from Microsoft's store check that their DRM is " "valid by connecting to the store every time their “owner” wants " "to read them. Microsoft is going to close this store, <a " "href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47810367\"> bricking all DRM'ed " "ebooks it has ever “sold”</a>. (The article additionally " "highlights the pitfalls of DRM.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is another proof that a DRM-encumbered product doesn't belong to the " "person who bought it. Microsoft said it will refund customers, but this is " "no excuse for selling them restricted books." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "OfficeMax cheated customers by <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/03/office-depot-tricked-people-into-buying-pc-support-with-fake-virus-scans/\"> " "using proprietary “PC Health Check” software</a> rigged to give " "false results, deceiving the customer into thinking per computer was " "infected and buy unneeded support services from the company." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Medtronics Conexus Telemetry Protocol has <a " "href=\"http://www.startribune.com/750-000-medtronic-defibrillators-vulnerable-to-hacking/507470932/\"> " "two vulnerabilities that affect several models of implantable " "defibrillators</a> and the devices they connect to." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This protocol has been around since 2006, and similar vulnerabilities were " "discovered in an earlier Medtronics communication protocol in " "2008. Apparently, nothing was done by the company to correct them. This " "means you can't rely on proprietary software developers to fix bugs in their " "products." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Car companies are coming up with a list of clever reasons why <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/business/autonomous-cars-technology-privacy.html\"> " "they “have to” put cameras and microphones in the car</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BMW says its software does not store any driver-monitoring information. If " "this means none of the data that come out of the cameras and microphones can " "be seen by anyone else, the cameras and microphones are not dangerous. But " "should we trust this claim? The only way it can deserve rational trust is if " "the software is free." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many Android phones come with a huge number of <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190326145122/https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/22/inenglish/1553244778_819882.html\"> " "preinstalled nonfree apps that have access to sensitive data without users' " "knowledge</a>. These hidden apps may either call home with the data, or pass " "it on to user-installed apps that have access to the network but no direct " "access to the data. This results in massive surveillance on which the user " "has absolutely no control." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Tesla cars collect lots of personal data, and <a " "href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/29/tesla-model-3-keeps-data-like-crash-videos-location-phone-contacts.html\"> " "when they go to a junkyard the driver's personal data goes with them</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The British supermarket Tesco sold tablets which were tethered to Tesco's " "server for reinstalling default settings. Tesco <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/mar/25/tesco-hudl-tablet-support-kill-fix\"> " "turned off the server for old models</a>, so now if you try to reinstall the " "default settings, it bricks them instead." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A study of 24 “health” apps found that 19 of them <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/pan9e8/health-apps-can-share-your-data-everywhere-new-study-shows\"> " "send sensitive personal data to third parties</a>, which can use it for " "invasive advertising or discriminating against people in poor medical " "condition." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Whenever user “consent” is sought, it is buried in lengthy terms " "of service that are difficult to understand. In any case, " "“consent” is not sufficient to legitimize snooping." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Volvo plans to <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/20/volvo-to-install-cameras-in-new-cars-to-reduce-road-deaths\"> " "install cameras inside cars</a> to monitor the driver for signs of " "impairment that could cause an accident." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "However, there is nothing to prevent these cameras from doing other things, " "such as biometrically identifying the driver or passengers, other than " "proprietary software which Volvo—or various governments and " "criminals—could change at any time." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Low-priced Chromebooks for schools are <a " "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "But complaining is not sufficient. Parents, students and teachers should " "realize that the software Google 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 at the " "School Board to refuse the budget unless the school initiates a 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A cracker would be able to <a " "href=\"https://uploadvr.com/hackable-webcam-oculus-sensor-be-aware/\"> turn " "the Oculus Rift sensors into spy cameras</a> after breaking into the " "computer they are connected to." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Unfortunately, the article <a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">improperly refers to " "crackers as “hackers”</a>.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In China, it is mandatory for electric cars to be equipped with a terminal " "that <a href=\"https://www.apnews.com/4a749a4211904784826b45e812cff4ca\"> " "transfers technical data, including car location, to a government-run " "platform</a>. In practice, <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#car-spying\"> " "manufacturers collect this data</a> as part of their own spying, then " "forward it to the government-run platform." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Malware installed into the processor in a hard drive could <a " "href=\"https://yro.slashdot.org/story/19/03/08/1928257/hard-disks-can-be-turned-into-listening-devices-researchers-find\"> " "use the disk itself as a microphone to detect speech</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article refers to the “Linux operating system” but seems to " "mean <a href=\"/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html\">GNU/Linux</a>. That hack would not " "require changing Linux itself." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Game Of War: Fire Age is an iPhone game with <a " "href=\"https://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html\"> " "addictive features</a> which are based on <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness\">behavioral " "manipulation techniques</a>, compounded with group emulation. After a fairly " "easy start, the game slows down and becomes more difficult, so gamers are " "led to spend more and more money in order to keep up with their group. And " "if they stop playing for a while, the equipment they invested in gets " "destroyed by the “enemy” unless they buy an expensive " "“shield” to protect it. This game is also deceptive, as it uses " "confusing menus and complex stats to obfuscate true monetary costs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Ring (now Amazon) doorbell camera is designed so that the manufacturer " "(now Amazon) can watch all the time. Now it turns out that <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190918024432/https://dojo.bullguard.com/dojo-by-bullguard/blog/ring/\"> " "anyone else can also watch, and fake videos too</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The third party vulnerability is presumably unintentional and Amazon will " "probably fix it. However, we do not expect Amazon to change the design that " "<a href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201901100\">allows " "Amazon to watch</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The AppCensus database gives information on <a " "href=\"https://www.appcensus.mobi\"> how Android apps use and misuse users' " "personal data</a>. As of March 2019, nearly 78,000 have been analyzed, of " "which 24,000 (31%) transmit the <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201812290\"> Advertising " "ID</a> to other companies, and <a " "href=\"https://blog.appcensus.mobi/2019/02/14/ad-ids-behaving-badly/\"> " "18,000 (23% of the total) link this ID to hardware identifiers</a>, so that " "users cannot escape tracking by resetting it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Collecting hardware identifiers is in apparent violation of Google's " "policies. But it seems that Google wasn't aware of it, and, once informed, " "was in no hurry to take action. This proves that the policies of a " "development platform are ineffective at preventing nonfree software " "developers from including malware in their programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Facebook offered a convenient proprietary library for building mobile apps, " "which also <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/02/23/surveillance-zucksterism.html\"> " "sent personal data to Facebook</a>. Lots of companies built apps that way " "and released them, apparently not realizing that all the personal data they " "collected would go to Facebook as well." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It shows that no one can trust a nonfree program, not even the developers of " "other nonfree programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The HP <a href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/02/08/inkjet-dystopias.html\"> " "“ink subscription” cartridges have DRM that constantly " "communicates with HP servers</a> to make sure the user is still paying for " "the subscription, and hasn't printed more pages than were paid for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Even though the ink subscription program may be cheaper in some specific " "cases, it spies on users, and involves totally unacceptable restrictions in " "the use of ink cartridges that would otherwise be in working order." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Vizio TVs <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019\"> " "collect “whatever the TV sees,”</a> in the own words of the " "company's CTO, and this data is sold to third parties. This is in return for " "“better service” (meaning more intrusive ads?) and slightly " "lower retail prices." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "What is supposed to make this spying acceptable, according to him, is that " "it is opt-in in newer models. But since the Vizio software is nonfree, we " "don't know what is actually happening behind the scenes, and there is no " "guarantee that all future updates will leave the settings unchanged." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If you already own a Vizio “smart” TV (or any " "“smart” TV, for that matter), the easiest way to make sure it " "isn't spying on you is to disconnect it from the Internet, and use a " "terrestrial antenna instead. Unfortunately, this is not always " "possible. Another option, if you are technically oriented, is to get your " "own router (which can be an old computer running completely free software), " "and set up a firewall to block connections to Vizio's servers. Or, as a last " "resort, you can replace your TV with another model." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some portable surveillance devices (“phones”) now have <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/20/samsung-galaxy-s10-launch-triple-cameras-ultrasonic-fingerprint-sensors-and-5g\"> " "fingerprint sensors in the display</a>. Does that imply they could take the " "fingerprint of anyone who operates the touch screen?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Twenty nine “beauty camera” apps that used to be on Google Play " "had one or more malicious functionalities, such as stealing users' photos " "instead of “beautifying” them, <a " "href=\"https://www.teleanalysis.com/these-29-beauty-camera-apps-steal-private-photo/\"> " "pushing unwanted and often malicious ads on users, and redirecting them to " "phishing sites</a> that stole their credentials. Furthermore, the user " "interface of most of them was designed to make uninstallation difficult." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Users should of course uninstall these dangerous apps if they haven't yet, " "but they should also stay away from nonfree apps in general. <em>All</em> " "nonfree apps carry a potential risk because there is no easy way of knowing " "what they really do." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many nonfree apps have a surveillance feature for <a " "href=\"https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/06/iphone-session-replay-screenshots/\"> " "recording all the users' actions</a> in interacting with the app." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "An investigation of the 150 most popular gratis VPN apps in Google Play " "found that <a " "href=\"https://www.top10vpn.com/free-vpn-android-app-risk-index/\"> 25% fail " "to protect their users' privacy</a> due to DNS leaks. In addition, 85% " "feature intrusive permissions or functions in their source code—often " "used for invasive advertising—that could potentially also be used to " "spy on users. Other technical flaws were found as well." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Moreover, a previous investigation had found that <a " "href=\"https://www.top10vpn.com/free-vpn-app-investigation/\">half of the " "top 10 gratis VPN apps have lousy privacy policies</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(It is unfortunate that these articles talk about “free " "apps.” These apps are gratis, but they are <em>not</em> <a " "href=\"/philosophy/free-sw.html\">free software</a>.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is not a 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Around 40% of gratis Android apps <a " "href=\"https://privacyinternational.org/report/2647/how-apps-android-share-data-facebook-report\"> " "report on the user's actions to Facebook</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Often they send the machine's “advertising ID,” so that Facebook " "can correlate the data it obtains from the same machine via various " "apps. Some of them send Facebook detailed information about the user's " "activities in the app; others only say that the user is using that app, but " "that alone is often quite informative." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "This spying occurs regardless of whether the user has a Facebook account." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Foundry's graphics software <a " "href=\"https://torrentfreak.com/software-company-fines-pirates-after-monitoring-their-computers-181102/\"> " "reports information to identify who is running it</a>. The result is often a " "legal threat demanding a lot of money." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The fact that this is used for repression of forbidden sharing makes it even " "more vicious." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This illustrates that making unauthorized copies of nonfree software is not " "a cure for the injustice of nonfree software. It may avoid paying for the " "nasty thing, but cannot make it less nasty." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Samsung phones come preloaded with <a " "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Preloading crapware along with a nonfree operating system is common " "practice, but by making the 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Until 2015, any tweet that listed a geographical tag <a " "href=\"http://web-old.archive.org/web/20190115233002/https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-location-data-gps-privacy/\"> " "sent the precise GPS location to Twitter's server</a>. It still contains " "these GPS locations." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In the game Fruit Pop, the player buys boosts with coins to get a high " "score. The player gets coins at the end of each game, and can buy more coins " "with real money." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Getting a higher score once leads the player to desire higher score again " "later. But the higher score resulting from the boost <a " "href=\"https://qz.com/873348/50000-coins-for-1-99-how-mobile-game-in-app-purchases-are-warping-kids-understanding-of-basic-economic-ideas/\">does " "not give the player more coins, and does not help the player get a higher " "score in subsequent games</a>. To get that, the player will need a boost " "frequently, and usually has to pay real money for that. Since boosts are " "exciting and entertaining, the player is subtly pushed to purchase more " "coins with real money to get boosts, and it can develop into a costly habit." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Amazon Ring “security” devices <a " "href=\"https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/10/ring-gave-employees-access-customer-video-feeds/\"> " "send the video they capture to Amazon servers</a>, which save it long-term." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In many cases, the video shows everyone that comes near, or merely passes " "by, the user's front door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article focuses on how Ring used to let individual employees look at the " "videos freely. It appears Amazon has tried to prevent that secondary abuse, " "but the primary abuse—that Amazon gets the video—Amazon expects " "society to surrender to." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Weather Channel app <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/04/weather-channel-app-lawsuit-location-data-selling\"> " "stored users' locations to the company's server</a>. The company is being " "sued, demanding that it notify the users of what it will do with the data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "We think that lawsuit is about a side issue. What the company does with the " "data is a secondary issue. The principal wrong here is that the company gets " "that data at all." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/gy77wy/stop-using-third-party-weather-apps\"> " "Other weather apps</a>, including Accuweather and WeatherBug, are tracking " "people's locations." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "New GM cars <a " "href=\"https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gmc/vehicles/canyon/2019.html\"> " "offer the feature of a universal back door</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Every nonfree program offers the user zero security against its " "developer. With this malfeature, GM has explicitly made things even worse." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Facebook's app got “consent” to <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/06/facebook-emails-reveal-discussions-over-call-log-consent\"> " "upload call logs automatically from Android phones</a> while disguising what " "the “consent” was for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many web sites use JavaScript code <a " "href=\"http://gizmodo.com/before-you-hit-submit-this-company-has-already-logge-1795906081\"> " "to snoop on information that users have typed into a form but not sent</a>, " "in order to learn their identity. Some are <a " "href=\"https://www.manatt.com/insights/newsletters/advertising-law/sites-illegally-tracked-consumers-new-suits-allege\"> " "getting sued</a> for this." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The chat facilities of some customer services use the same sort of malware " "to <a " "href=\"https://gizmodo.com/be-warned-customer-service-agents-can-see-what-youre-t-1830688119\"> " "read what the user is typing before it is posted</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Corel Paintshop Pro has a <a " "href=\"https://torrentfreak.com/corel-wrongly-accuses-licensed-user-of-piracy-disables-software-remotely-181110/\"> " "back door that can make it cease to function</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article is full of confusions, errors and biases that we have an " "obligation to expose, given that we are making a link to them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li> msgid "" "Getting a patent does not “enable” a company to do any " "particular thing in its products. What it does enable the company to do is " "sue other companies if they do some particular thing in their products." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li> msgid "" "A company's policies about when to attack users through a back door are " "beside the point. Inserting the back door is wrong in the first place, and " "using the back door is always wrong too. No software developer should have " "that power over users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li> msgid "" "“<a href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Piracy\">Piracy</a>” " "means attacking ships. Using that word to refer to sharing copies is a " "smear; please don't smear sharing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The idea of “protecting our IP” is total confusion. The term " "“IP” itself is a <a href=\"/philosophy/not-ipr.html\">bogus " "generalization about things that have nothing in common</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In addition, to speak of “protecting” that bogus generalization " "is a separate absurdity. It's like calling the cops because neighbors' kids " "are playing on your front yard, and saying that you're “protecting the " "boundary line”. The kids can't do harm to the boundary line, not even " "with a jackhammer, because it is an abstraction and can't be affected by " "physical action." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Nearly all “home security cameras” <a " "href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/d-link-camera-poses-data-security-risk--consumer-reports-finds/\"> " "give the manufacturer an unencrypted copy of everything they " "see</a>. “Home insecurity camera” would be a better name!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "When Consumer Reports tested them, it suggested that these manufacturers " "promise not to look at what's in the videos. That's not security for your " "home. Security means making sure they don't get to see through your camera." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Android apps <a " "href=\"https://www.androidauthority.com/apps-uninstall-trackers-917539/amp/\"> " "track the phones of users that have deleted them</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple and Samsung deliberately <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/24/apple-samsung-fined-for-slowing-down-phones\">degrade " "the performance of older phones to force users to buy their newer " "phones</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "GM <a href=\"https://boingboing.net/2018/10/23/dont-touch-that-dial.html\"> " "tracked the choices of radio programs</a> in its “connected” " "cars, minute by minute." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "GM did not get users' consent, but it could have got that easily by sneaking " "it into the contract that users sign for some digital service or other. A " "requirement for consent is effectively no protection." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The cars can also collect lots of other data: listening to you, watching " "you, following your movements, tracking passengers' cell " "phones. <em>All</em> such data collection should be forbidden." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "But if you really want to be safe, we must make sure the car's hardware " "cannot collect any of that data, or that the software is free so we know it " "won't collect any of that data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Printer manufacturers are very innovative—at blocking the use of " "independent replacement ink cartridges. Their “security " "upgrades” occasionally impose new forms of cartridge DRM. <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/pa98ab/printer-makers-are-crippling-cheap-ink-cartridges-via-bogus-security-updates\"> " "HP and Epson have done this</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A nonfree video game, available through the nonfree Steam client, <a " "href=\"https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/274552-great-now-games-are-hijacking-systems-with-\"> " "included a “miner”</a>, i.e. an executable that hijacks the CPU " "in users' computers to mine a cryptocurrency." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A cracker used an exploit in outdated software to <a " "href=\"https://www.pcmag.com/news/360968/400-websites-secretly-served-cryptocurrency-miners-to-visito\"> " "inject a “miner” in web pages</a> served to visitors. This type " "of malware hijacks the computer's processor to mine a cryptocurrency." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Honeywell's “smart” thermostats communicate only through the " "company's server. They have all the nasty characteristics of such devices: " "<a " "href=\"https://www.businessinsider.com/honeywell-iot-thermostats-server-outage-2018-9\"> " "surveillance, and danger of sabotage</a> (of a specific user, or of all " "users at once), as well as the risk of an outage (which is what just " "happened)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In addition, setting the desired temperature requires running nonfree " "software. With an old-fashioned thermostat, you can do it using controls " "right on the thermostat." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Researchers have discovered how to <a " "href=\"http://news.rub.de/english/press-releases/2018-09-24-it-security-secret-messages-alexa-and-co\"> " "hide voice commands in other audio</a>, so that people cannot hear them, but " "Alexa and Siri can." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android has a <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/9/14/17861150/google-battery-saver-android-9-pie-remote-settings-change\"> " "back door for remotely changing “user” settings</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article suggests it might be a universal back door, but this isn't " "clear." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "These manipulative behaviors are malicious functionalities, and they are " "possible because the game is proprietary. If it were free, people could " "publish a non-manipulative version and play that instead." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Red Shell is a spyware that is found in many proprietary games. It <a " "href=\"https://nebulous.cloud/threads/red-shell-illegal-spyware-for-steam-games.31924/\"> " "tracks data on users' computers and sends it to third parties</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Blizzard Warden is a hidden “cheating-prevention” program that " "<a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2005/10/new-gaming-feature-spyware\"> " "spies on every process running on a gamer's computer and sniffs a good deal " "of personal data</a>, including lots of activities which have nothing to do " "with cheating." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The game Metal Gear Rising for MacOS was tethered to a server. The company " "<a " "href=\"http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/400087-metal-gear-rising-mac-unplayable-drm\"> " "shut down the server, and all copies stopped working</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In MacOS and iOS, the procedure for <a " "href=\"https://support.apple.com/guide/photos/export-photos-videos-and-slideshows-pht6e157c5f/mac\"> " "converting images from the Photos format</a> to a free format is so tedious " "and time-consuming that users just give up if they have a lot of them." msgstr "" #. TRANSLATORS: Use space (SPC) as msgstr if you don't have notes. #. type: Content of: <div><div> msgid "*GNUN-SLOT: TRANSLATOR'S NOTES*" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph, #. replace it with the translation of these two: # #. We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality #. translations. However, we are not exempt from imperfection. #. Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard #. to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org"> # #. <web-translators@gnu.org></a>.</p> # #. <p>For information on coordinating and contributing translations of #. our web pages, see <a #. href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations #. README</a>. #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Please see the <a " "href=\"/server/standards/README.translations.html\">Translations README</a> " "for information on coordinating and contributing translations of this " "article." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "Copyright © 2018-2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "" "This page is licensed under a <a rel=\"license\" " "href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\">Creative Commons " "Attribution 4.0 International License</a>." msgstr "" #. TRANSLATORS: Use space (SPC) as msgstr if you don't want credits. #. type: Content of: <div><div> msgid "*GNUN-SLOT: TRANSLATOR'S CREDITS*" msgstr "" #. timestamp start #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "Updated:" msgstr ""

# LANGUAGE translation of https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/all.html # Copyright (C) YEAR Free Software Foundation, Inc. # This file is distributed under the same license as the original article. # FIRST AUTHOR , YEAR. # #, fuzzy msgid "" msgstr "" "Project-Id-Version: all.html\n" "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-12-03 06:55+0000\n" "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n" "Last-Translator: FULL NAME \n" "Language-Team: LANGUAGE \n" "Language: \n" "MIME-Version: 1.0\n" "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8\n" "Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n" #. type: Content of: msgid "Additions to the Malware Section - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><a> msgid "<a id=\"side-menu-button\" class=\"switch\" href=\"#navlinks\">" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'title' of: <div><a><img> msgid "Section contents" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'alt' of: <div><a><img> msgid " [Section contents] " msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div> msgid "</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p><a> msgid "<a href=\"/\">" msgstr "" #. type: Attribute 'title' of: <div><p><a><img> msgid "GNU Home" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "</a> / <a href=\"/proprietary/proprietary.html\">Malware</a> /" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><h2> msgid "Additions to the Malware Section" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "" "These are all the malware items that have been added to this directory since " "2018, in reverse chronological order. (In some cases, the latest reference " "was updated after the item was added.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><small> msgid "<small class='date-tag'>Added:" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><small> msgid "— Latest reference:" msgstr "" #. #echo encoding='none' var='PUB' #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li> msgid "</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Ed Tech companies use their surveillance power to 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 to operate</a>. That wouldn't hurt, but it " "doesn't address the root of the problem. All data acquired in a school about " "any student, teacher, or employee must not leave the school, and must be " "kept in computers that belong to the school and run free (as in freedom) " "software. That way, the school district and/or parents can control what is " "done with those data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A building in LA, with a supermarket in it, <a " "href=\"https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-09/column-trader-joes-parking-app\">demands " "customers load a particular app to pay for parking in the parking lot</a>, " "and accept pervasive surveillance. They also have the option of entering " "their license plate numbers in a kiosk. That is an injustice, too." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple's new tactic to restrict users from repairing their own device and " "impose DRM on people is to <a " "href=\"https://www.ifixit.com/News/54829/apples-new-screen-repair-trap-could-change-the-repair-industry-forever\">completely " "disable its Face ID functionality</a> when you replace its screen." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 with 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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Spotify app <a " "href=\"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639920/000119312518063434/d494294df1.htm\">harvests " "users' data to personally identify and know people</a> through music, their " "mood, mindset, activities, and tastes. There are over 150 billion events " "logged daily on the program which contains users' data and personal " "information." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20211014123717/https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/13/theres-an-app-for-that/#gnash\">has " "licensed its Flash Player to China's Zhong Cheng Network</a> who is offering " "the program bundled with spyware and a back door that can remotely " "deactivate it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe is responsible for this since they gave Zhong Cheng Network permission " "to do this. This injustice involves “misuse” of the DMCA, but " "“proper,” intended use of the DMCA is a much bigger injustice. " "There is <a href=\"/philosophy/right-to-read.html\">a series of errors " "related to DMCA</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Canon's all-in-one printer, scanner, and fax machine <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/legal/canon-sued-for-disabling-scanner-when-printers-run-out-of-ink/\">will " "stop you from using any of its features if it's out of ink</a>! Since " "there's no need for ink to use scan or fax, Canon is sued by its customers " "for this malicious behavior. The proprietary software installed on Canon " "machines arbitrarily restricts users from using their device as they wish." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If the client software for Facebook were free, useds could probably make the " "newsfeed disappear by modifying the client not to display it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Xiaomi phones <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/22/lithuania-tells-citizens-to-throw-out-chinese-phones-over-censorship-concerns\">have " "a malfeature to bleep out phrases that express political views China does " "not like</a>. In phones sold in Europe, Xiaomi leaves this deactivated by " "default, but has a back door to activate the censorship." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is the natural result of having nonfree software in a device that can " "communicate with the company that made it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.elsalvador.com/eldiariodehoy/app-chivo-bitcoin-pone-en-riesgo-datos-personales-de-usuarios/852310/2021/\">El " "Salvador Dictatorship's Chivo wallet is spyware</a>, it's a proprietary " "program that breaks users' freedom and spies on people; demands personal " "data such as the national ID number and does face recognition, and it is bad " "security for its data. It also asks for almost every malware permission in " "people's smartphones." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article criticizes it for faults in “data protection”, " "though <a href=\"/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html\">“data " "protection” is the wrong approach to privacy anyway</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 is idle." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple has made it <a " "href=\"https://gizmodo.com/apple-and-google-pull-opposition-app-from-russian-store-1847695238\"> " "impossible to load Navalny's tactical voting app into an iPhone</a> in " "Russia." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It is impossible because (1) the iPhone refuses to load apps from anywhere " "other than Apple, and (2) Apple has obeyed a Russian censorship law. The " "first point is enforced by Apple's nonfree software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Various models of security cameras, DVRs, and baby monitors that run " "proprietary software <a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/kalay-iot-bug-video-feeds/\">are affected " "by a security vulnerability that could give attackers access to live " "feeds</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Recent Samsung TVs have a back door with which Samsung can <a " "href=\"https://www.pcmag.com/news/samsung-can-remotely-disable-any-of-its-tvs-worldwide\"> " "brick them remotely</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Russian communications watchdog <a " "href=\"https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/russian-watchdog-tells-google-apple-remove-navalny-app-report-2021-08-20/\"> " "tells Google and Apple to remove Navalny's app</a> from their stores." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Because Apple controls what a user can install, this is absolute " "censorship. By contrast, because Android does not do that, users can install " "apps even if Google does not offer them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>Please note that the article wrongly refers to crackers as “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">hackers</a>”.</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A newly found Microsoft Windows vulnerability <a " "href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/08/tech/microsoft-windows-10-printnightmare/\"> " "can allow crackers to remotely gain access to the operating system</a> and " "install programs, view and delete data, or even create new user accounts " "with full user rights." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The security research firm accidentally leaked instructions on how the flaw " "could be exploited but Windows users should still wait for Microsoft to fix " "the flaw, if they fix it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jul/05/advertisers-targeted-dream-incubation\"> " "Advertising companies are experimenting to manipulate people's minds</a>, " "and impose a new way of advertising by altering their dreams. This " "“targeted dream incubation” would trigger “refreshing " "dreams” of the product, according to the companies." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Peloton company which produces treadmills recently <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/peloton-tread-owners-now-forced-into-monthly-subscription-after-recall/\">locked " "people out of basic features of people's treadmills by a software " "update</a>. The company now asks people for a membership/subscription for " "what people already paid for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The software used in the treadmill is proprietary and probably includes back " "doors to force software updates. It teaches the lesson that if a product " "talks to external networks, you must expect it to take in new malware." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Please note that the company behind this product said they are working to " "reverse the changes so people will no longer need subscription to use the " "locked feature." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apparently public anger made the company back down. If we want that to be " "our safety, we need to build up the anger against malicious features (and " "the proprietary software that is their entry path) to the point that even " "the most powerful companies don't dare." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/17/nine-out-of-10-health-apps-harvest-user-data-global-study-shows\">Almost " "all proprietary health apps harvest users' data</a>, including sensitive " "health information, tracking identifiers, and cookies to track user " "activities. Some of these applications are tracking users across different " "platforms." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/03/tiktok-just-gave-itself-permission-to-collect-biometric-data-on-u-s-users-including-faceprints-and-voiceprints/\">TikTok " "apps collect biometric identifiers and biometric information from users' " "smartphones</a>. The company behind it does whatever it wants and collects " "whatever data it can." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google, Apple, and Microsoft (and probably some other companies) <a " "href=\"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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Since the beginning of 2017, <a " "href=\"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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/icloud-data-turned-over-to-chinese-government-conflicts-with-apples-privacy-first-focus/\">Apple " "is moving its Chinese customers' iCloud data to a datacenter controlled by " "the Chinese government</a>. Apple is already storing the encryption keys on " "these servers, obeying Chinese authority, making all Chinese user data " "available to the government." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A motorcycle company named Klim is selling airbag vests with different " "payment methods, one of them is through a <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/93yyyd/this-motorcycle-airbag-vest-will-stop-working-if-you-miss-a-payment\">proprietary " "subscription-based option that will block the vest from inflating if the " "payments don't go through</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "They say there is a 30-days grace period if you miss a payment but the grace " "period is no excuse to the insecurity." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://me2ba.org/me2ba-product-testing-spotlight-report-published-data-sharing-in-primary-secondary-school-mobile-apps-2/\">60% " "of school apps are sending student data to potentially high-risk third " "parties</a>, putting students and possibly all other school workers under " "surveillance. This is made possible by using unsafe and proprietary programs " "made by data-hungry corporations." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>Please note that whether students consent to this or not, doesn't " "justify the surveillance they're imposed to.</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The United States' government is reportedly considering <a " "href=\"https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/private-companies-may-spy-on/\">teaming " "up with private companies to monitor American citizens' private online " "activity and digital communications</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "What creates the opportunity to try this is the fact that these companies " "are already snooping on users' private activities. That in turn is due to " "people's use of nonfree software which snoops, and online dis-services which " "snoop." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A zero-day vulnerability in Zoom which <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/critical-zoom-vulnerability-triggers-remote-code-execution-without-user-input/\">can " "be used to launch remote code execution (RCE) attacks</a> has been disclosed " "by researchers. The researchers demonstrated a three-bug attack chain that " "caused an RCE on a target machine, all this without any form of user " "interaction." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google <a " "href=\"https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/disha-ravi-arrest-puts-privacy-of-all-google-india-users-in-doubt-1769772-2021-02-16\">handed " "over personal data of Indian protesters and 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BMW is trying to <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/2/21311332/bmw-in-car-purchase-heated-seats-software-over-the-air-updates\">lock " "certain features of its cars, and force people to pay to use part of the car " "they already bought</a>. This is done through forced update of the car " "software via a radio-operated back door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Amazon's monopoly and DRM is <a " "href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/03/10/amazon-library-ebook-monopoly/\">stopping " "public libraries from lending e-books and audiobooks</a>. Amazon became " "powerful in e-book world by <a " "href=\"/philosophy/why-call-it-the-swindle.html\">Swindle</a>, and is now " "misusing its power and violates people's rights using <a " "href=\"https://www.defectivebydesign.org\">Digital Restrictions " "Management</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article is written in a way that endorses DRM in general, which is " "unacceptable. <a href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-drm.html\">DRM is an " "injustice to people</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-09/hackers-expose-tesla-jails-in-breach-of-150-000-security-cams\">Over " "150 thousand security cameras that used Verkada company's proprietary " "software are cracked</a> by a major security breach. Crackers have had " "access to security archives of various gyms, hospitals, jails, schools, and " "police stations that have used Verkada's cameras." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a href=\"/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html\">It is injustice to " "the public</a> for gyms, stores, hospitals, jails, and schools to hand " "“security” footage to a company from which the government can " "collect it at any time, without even telling them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "TV manufacturers are turning to produce only “Smart” TV sets " "(which include spyware) that <a " "href=\"https://frame.work/blog/in-defense-of-dumb-tvs\">it's now very hard " "to find a TV that doesn't spy on you</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It appears that those manufacturers business model is not to produce TV and " "sell them for money, but to collect your personal data and (possibly) hand " "over them to others for benefit." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Tiny Lab Productions, along with online ad businesses run by Google, Twitter " "and three other companies are facing a lawsuit <a " "href=\"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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "At least 30 thousand organizations in the United States are newly “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">cracked</a>” via <a " "href=\"https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/03/at-least-30000-u-s-organizations-newly-hacked-via-holes-in-microsofts-email-software/\">holes " "in Microsoft's proprietary email software, named Microsoft 365</a>. It is " "unclear whether there are other holes and vulnerabilities in the program or " "not but history and experience tells us it wouldn't be the last disaster " "with proprietary programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Researchers at the security firm SentinelOne discovered a <a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/windows-defender-vulnerability-twelve-years/\">security " "flaw in proprietary program Microsoft Windows Defender that lurked " "undetected for 12 years</a>. If the program was free (as in freedom), more " "people would have had a chance to notice the problem, therefore, it could've " "been fixed a lot sooner." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Proprietary programs Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx <a " "href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/video-conferencing-services/videoconferencing-privacy-issues-google-microsoft-webex/\">are " "collecting user's 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The proprietary program Microsoft Teams' insecurity <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/04/27/your-whole-companys-microsoft-teams-data-couldve-been-stolen-with-an-evil-gif\">could " "have let a malicious GIF steal user data from Microsoft Teams accounts</a>, " "possibly across an entire company, and taken control of “an " "organization's entire roster of Teams accounts.”" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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=\"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 " "defenselessly do whatever Microsoft tells them to do." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The proprietary program Clubhouse is malware and a privacy " "disaster. Clubhouse <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/20/why-hot-new-social-app-clubhouse-spells-nothing-but-trouble\">collects " "people's personal data such as recordings of people's conversations</a>, " "and, as a secondary problem, does not encrypt them, which shows a bad " "security part of the issue." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A user's unique Clubhouse ID number and chatroom ID are transmitted in " "plaintext, and Agora (the company behind the app) would likely have access " "to users' raw audio, potentially providing access to the Chinese government." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Even with good security of data transmission, collecting personal data of " "people is wrong and a violation of people's privacy rights." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 10</a>, using <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#windows-update\">a universal " "backdoor in Windows</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 developers power to impose " "their decisions on users. Free software on the other hand empowers users to " "make their own decisions." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Prodigy maths game played in schools at no cost entices students to play " "it at home, where <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/19/maths-app-targeting-uk-schools-is-criticised-over-premium-model\"> " "the company tries to lure them into paying for a premium subscription</a> in " "exchange for mere cosmetic features that, at school, underline the " "socioeconomic gap between those who can afford it and those who can't." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The strategy of <a href=\"/education/edu-schools.html\">using schools as a " "fishing pool for customers</a> is a common practice traditionally adopted by " "nonfree software companies." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The HonorLock online exam proctoring program is a surveillance tool that <a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/students-are-pushing-back-against-proctoring-surveillance-apps\">tracks " "students and collects data</a> such as face, driving license, and network " "information, among others, in blatant violation of students' privacy." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Preventing students from cheating should not be an excuse for running " "malware/spyware on their computers, and it's good that students are " "protesting. But their petitions overlook a crucial issue, namely, the " "injustice of being forced to run nonfree software in order to get an " "education." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many cr…apps, developed by various companies for various " "organizations, do <a " "href=\"https://www.expressvpn.com/digital-security-lab/investigation-xoth\"> " "location tracking unknown to those companies and those organizations</a>. " "It's actually some widely used libraries that do the tracking." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "What's unusual here is that proprietary software developer A tricks " "proprietary software developers B1 … B50 into making platforms for A " "to mistreat the end user." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Samsung is forcing its smartphone users in Hong Kong (and Macau) <a " "href=\"https://blog.headuck.com/2020/10/12/samsung-phones-force-mainland-china-dns-service-upon-hong-kong-wifi-users/\">to " "use a public DNS in Mainland China</a>, using software update released in " "September 2020, which causes many unease and privacy concerns." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The authorities in Venice track the <a " "href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/venice-control-room-tourism/index.html\"> " "movements of all tourists</a> using their portable phones. The article says " "that <em>at present</em> the system is configured to report only aggregated " "information. But that could be changed. What will that system do 10 years " "from now? What will a similar system in another country do? Those are the " "questions this raises." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A cracker <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7apnn/your-cock-is-mine-now-hacker-locks-internet-connected-chastity-cage-demands-ransom\">took " "control of people's internet-connected chastity cages and demanded " "ransom</a>. The chastity cages are being controlled by a proprietary app " "(mobile program)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Please note that the article wrongly refers to crackers as \"<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">hackers</a>\".)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "As of 2021, WhatsApp (one of Facebook's subsidiaries) is <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlypage/2021/01/08/whatsapp-tells-users-share-your-data-with-facebook-or-well-deactivate-your-account/\">forcing " "its users to hand over sensitive personal data</a> to its parent " "company. This increases Facebook's power over users, and further jeopardizes " "people's privacy and security." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Instead of WhatsApp you can use <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jami\">GNU Jami</a>, which is free " "software and will not collect your data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many popular mobile games include a random-reward system called <a " "href=\"#gacha\"><i>gacha</i></a> which is especially effective on " "children. One variant of gacha was declared illegal in Japan in 2012, but " "the other variants are still <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/04/04/japanese-mobile-gaming-still-cant-shake-off-the-spectre-of-exploitation/\"> " "luring players into compulsively spending</a> inordinate amounts of money on " "virtual toys." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Most Internet connected devices in Mozilla's <a " "href=\"https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded\">“Privacy " "Not Included”</a> list <a " "href=\"https://foundation.mozilla.org/privacynotincluded/arlo-video-doorbell\">are " "designed to snoop on users</a> even if they meet Mozilla's “Minimum " "Security Standards.” Insecure design of the program running on some of " "these devices <a " "href=\"https://foundation.mozilla.org/privacynotincluded/vibratissimo-panty-buster\">makes " "the user susceptible to be snooped and exploited by crackers as well</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The personal finance management software “Quicken” <a " "href=\"https://www.quicken.com/support/quicken-discontinuation-policy\"> has " "a discontinuation policy, a.k.a. planned obsolescence</a>, which is an " "injustice to users. A free (as in freedom) program would let users control " "the software. But when you use a proprietary software, you won't be in " "control." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe Flash Player <a " "href=\"https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/end-of-life.html\"> has a " "universal back door</a> which lets Adobe control the software and, for " "example, disable it whenever it wants. Adobe will block Flash content from " "running in Flash Player beginning January 12, 2021, which indicates that " "they have access to every Flash Player through a back door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The back door won't be dangerous in the future, as it'll disable a " "proprietary program and make users delete the software, but it was an " "injustice for many years. Users should have deleted Flash Player even before " "its end of life." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "As of 2019-2020, Minecraft players are <a " "href=\"https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/java-edition-moving-house\">being " "forced to move to Microsoft servers</a>, which results in privacy " "violation. Microsoft publishes a program so users can run their own server, " "but the program is proprietary and it's another <a " "href=\"/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html\">injustice to " "users</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "People can play <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Minetest\">Minetest</a> " "instead. Minetest is free software and respects the user's computer freedom." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "While the world is still struggling with COVID-19 coronavirus, many <a " "href=\"https://mashable.com/article/privacy-in-the-age-of-coronavirus/\">people " "are in danger of surveillance</a> and their computers are infected with " "malware as a result of installing proprietary software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "HP tricked users into installing a mischievous update in their printers that " "<a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/11/ink-stained-wretches-battle-soul-digital-freedom-taking-place-inside-your-printer\">made " "the devices reject all third-party ink cartridges</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "United States officials are facing one of biggest crackings against them in " "years, when <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/15/orion-hack-solar-winds-explained-us-treasury-commerce-department\">malicious " "code was sneaked into SolarWinds' proprietary software named " "Orion</a>. Crackers got access to networks when users downloaded a tainted " "software update. Crackers were able to monitor internal emails at some of " "the top agencies in the US." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Commercial crackware can <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/20/iphones-vulnerable-to-hacking-tool-for-months-researchers-say\"> " "get passwords out of an iMonster</a>, use the microphone and camera, and " "other things." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/18/zoom-helped-china-surveillance/\"> " "A Zoom executive carried out snooping and censorship for China</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This abuse of Zoom's power shows how dangerous that power is. The root " "problem is not the surveillance and censorship, but rather the power that " "Zoom has. It gets that power partly from the use of its server, but also " "partly from the nonfree client program." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Wavelink and JetStream wifi routers have universal back doors that " "enable unauthenticated users to remotely control not only the routers, but " "also any devices connected to the network. There is evidence that <a " "href=\"https://cybernews.com/security/walmart-exclusive-routers-others-made-in-china-contain-backdoors-to-control-devices/\"> " "this vulnerability is actively exploited</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If you consider buying a router, we encourage you to get one that <a " "href=\"https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/routers\">runs on free " "software</a>. Any attempts at introducing malicious functionalities in it " "(e.g., through a firmware update) will be detected by the community, and " "soon corrected." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If unfortunately you own a router that runs on proprietary software, don't " "panic! You may be able to replace its firmware with a free operating system " "such as <a href=\"https://librecmc.org\">libreCMC</a>. If you don't know " "how, you can get help from a nearby GNU/Linux user group." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Baidu apps were <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/baidus-android-apps-caught-collecting-sensitive-user-details/\"> " "caught collecting sensitive personal data</a> that can be used for lifetime " "tracking of users, and putting them in danger. More than 1.4 billion people " "worldwide are affected by these proprietary apps, and users' privacy is " "jeopardized by this surveillance tool. Data collected by Baidu may be handed " "over to the Chinese government, possibly putting Chinese people in danger." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft's Office 365 suite enables employers <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/26/microsoft-productivity-score-feature-criticised-workplace-surveillance\">to " "snoop on each employee</a>. After a public outburst, Microsoft stated that " "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/02/microsoft-apologises-productivity-score-critics-derided-workplace-surveillance\">it " "would remove this capability</a>. Let's hope so." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple has <a " "href=\"https://sneak.berlin/20201112/your-computer-isnt-yours\">implemented " "a malware in its computers that imposes surveillance</a> on users and " "reports users' computing to Apple." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The reports are even unencrypted and they've been leaking this data for two " "years already. This malware is reporting to Apple what user opens what " "program at what time. It also gives Apple power to sabotage users' " "computing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "According to FTC, the company behind the Zoom conferencing software <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/11/zoom-lied-to-users-about-end-to-end-encryption-for-years-ftc-says/\">has " "lied to users about its end-to-end encryption</a> for years, at least since " "2016." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "People can use free (as in freedom) programs such as <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi\">Jitsi</a> or <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/BigBlueButton\">BigBlueButton</a>, " "better still if installed in a server controlled by the users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Apple iOS version of Zoom <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7e599/zoom-ios-app-sends-data-to-facebook-even-if-you-dont-have-a-facebook-account\">is " "sending users' data to Facebook</a> even if the user doesn't have a Facebook " "account. According to the article, Zoom and Facebook don't even mention this " "surveillance on their privacy policy page, making this an obvious violation " "of people's privacy even in their own terms." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft <a " "href=\"https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/why-does-my-new-e-mail-account-need-a-phone-number/70049eaf-3b66-4d02-87cc-79dc73c2ea08\">forces " "people to give their phone number</a> in order to be able to create an " "account on the company's network. On top of mistreating their users by " "providing nonfree software, Microsoft is tracking their lives outside the " "computer and violates their privacy." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The company behind Zoom does not only deny users' computer freedom by " "developing this piece of nonfree software, it also violates users' civil " "rights by <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/12/21288995/zoom-blocking-feature-chinese-government-censorship\">banning " "events and censoring users</a> to serve the agenda of governments." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Freedom respecting programs such as <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi\">Jitsi</a> or <a " "href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/BigBlueButton\">BigBlueButton</a> can " "be used instead, better still if installed in a server controlled by its " "users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft is imposing its surveillance on the game of Minecraft by <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/22/21527647/minecraft-microsoft-account-mojang-java\">requiring " "every player to open an account on Microsoft's network</a>. Microsoft has " "bought the game and will merge all accounts into its network, which will " "give them access to people's data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Minecraft players <a href=\"https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Minetest\">can " "play Minetest</a> instead. The essential advantage of Minetest is that it is " "free software, meaning it respects the user's computer freedom. As a bonus, " "it offers more options." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft is <a " "href=\"https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-windows-10-setup-now-prevents-local-account-creation/\">tricking " "users to create an account on their network</a> to be able to install and " "use the Windows operating system, which is malware. The account can be used " "for surveillance and/or violating people's rights in many ways, such as " "turning their purchased software to a subscription product." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The addictive Genshin Impact relentlessly <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/oct/22/genshin-impact-video-game-slowly-taking-over-the-world\">coerces " "players to spend money by overwhelming the game play with loot boxes</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Internet-enabled watches with proprietary software are malware, violating " "people (specially children's) privacy. In addition, they have a lot of " "security flaws. They <a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/kid-smartwatch-security-vulnerabilities/\"> " "permit security breakers (and unauthorized people) to access</a> the watch." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Thus, ill-intentioned unauthorized people can intercept communications " "between parent and child and spoof messages to and from the watch, possibly " "endangering the child." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Note that this article misuses the word “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">hackers</a>” to mean " "“crackers.”)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Roblox (among many other games) created anti-features which sucker children " "into <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/mar/11/my-kids-spent-600-on-their-ipads-without-my-knowledge\"> " "utilizing third-party payment services without authorization.</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Mellow sous-vide cooker is tethered to a server. The company suddenly <a " "href=\"https://www.slashgear.com/mellow-sous-vide-owners-get-unwelcome-subscription-surprise-27630842/\"> " "turned this tethering into a subscription</a>, forbidding users from taking " "advantage of the “advanced features” of the cooker unless they " "pay a monthly fee." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many employers are using nonfree software, including videoconference " "software, to <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/27/shirking-from-home-staff-feel-the-heat-as-bosses-ramp-up-remote-surveillance\"> " "surveil and monitor staff working at home</a>. If the program reports " "whether you are “active,” that is in effect a malicious " "surveillance feature." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Facebook <a " "href=\"https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8747541/Facebook-accused-watching-Instagram-users-mobile-cameras.html\">snoops " "on Instagram</a> users by surreptitously turning on the device's camera." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Oculus headsets <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/18/21372435/oculus-facebook-login-change-separate-account-support-end-quest-october\">require " "users to identify themselves to Facebook</a>. This will give Facebook free " "rein to pervasively snoop on Oculus users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple is <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/aug/30/this-isnt-the-1990s-apple-under-pressure-from-app-developers\"> " "putting the squeeze on all business</a> conducted through apps for " "iMonsters." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is a symptom of a very big injustice: that Apple has the power to " "decide what software can be installed on an iMonster. That it is a jail." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "New Toyotas will <a " "href=\"https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/18/aws_toyota_alliance/\"> upload " "data to AWS to help create custom insurance premiums</a> based on driver " "behaviour." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Before you buy a “connected” car, make sure you can disconnect " "its cellular antenna and its GPS antenna. If you want GPS navigation, get a " "separate navigator which runs free software and works with Open Street Map." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple can remotely <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/aug/18/apple-sets-deadline-in-feud-with-fortnite-maker-epic-games\"> " "cut off any developer's access to the tools for developing software</a> for " "iOS or MacOS." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Epic (Apple's target in this example) makes nonfree games which have their " "own <a " "href=\"https://ekgaming.com/2019/03/17/is-the-epic-games-store-spying-on-your-computer/\"> " "malicious features</a>, but that doesn't make it acceptable for Apple to " "have this sort of power." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "TikTok <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2020/08/11/tiktok-exploited-android-secur.html\"> " "exploited an Android vulnerability</a> to obtain user MAC addresses." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple whistleblower Thomas Le Bonniec reports that Apple made a practice of " "surreptitiously activating the Siri software to <a " "href=\"https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Public-Statement-Siri-recordings-TLB.pdf\"> " "record users' conversations when they had not activated Siri</a>. This was " "not just occasional, it was systematic practice." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "His job was to listen to these recordings, in a group that made transcripts " "of them. He does not believes that Apple has ceased this practice." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The only reliable way to prevent this is, for the program that controls " "access to the microphone to decide when the user has “activated” " "any service, to be free software, and the operating system under it free as " "well. This way, users could make sure Apple can't listen to them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Nest <a " "href=\"https://blog.google/products/google-nest/partnership-adt-smarter-home-security/\"> " "is taking over ADT</a>. Google sent out a software update to its speaker " "devices using their back door <a " "href=\"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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Focals eyeglass display, with snooping microphone, has been eliminated. " "Google eliminated it by buying the manufacturer and shutting it down. It " "also <a " "href=\"https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/canadian-smart-glasses-going-offline-weeks-after-company-bought-by-google-1.5042010\">shut " "down the server these devices depend on</a>, which caused the ones already " "sold to cease to function." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It may be a good thing to wipe out this product—for " "“smart,” read “snoop”—but Google didn't do " "that for the sake of privacy. Rather, it was eliminating competition for " "its own snooping product." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BMW will remotely <a " "href=\"https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/bmw-vehicle-as-a-platform/\"> " "enable and disable functionality in cars</a> through a universal back door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "“Bossware” is malware that bosses <a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/06/inside-invasive-secretive-bossware-tracking-workers\"> " "coerce workers into installing in their own computers</a>, so the bosses can " "spy on them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This shows why requiring the user's “consent” is not an adequate " "basis for protecting digital privacy. The boss can coerce most workers into " "consenting to almost anything, even probable exposure to contagious disease " "that can be fatal. Software like this should be illegal and bosses that " "demand it should be prosecuted for it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Runescape is a popular online game with some <a " "href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/runescape/comments/33cd8g/question_why_is_runescape_so_addicting/\"> " "addictive features</a> derived from <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness\"> behavioral " "manipulation techniques</a>. Certain repetitive aspects of the game, like <a " "href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinding_(video_games)\"> grinding</a>, " "can be minimised by becoming a paying member, and can thus encourage " "children and impressionable people to spend money on the game." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Most apps are malware, but Trump's campaign app, like Modi's campaign app, " "is <a " "href=\"https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/06/21/1004228/trumps-data-hungry-invasive-app-is-a-voter-surveillance-tool-of-extraordinary-scope/\"> " "especially nasty malware, helping companies snoop on users as well as " "snooping on them itself</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article says that Biden's app has a less manipulative overall approach, " "but that does not tell us whether it has functionalities we consider " "malicious, such as sending data the user has not explicitly asked to send." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "TV manufacturers are able to <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/fbi-warns-about-snoopy-smart-tvs-spying-on-you/\">snoop " "every second of what the user is watching</a>. This is illegal due to the " "Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988, but they're circumventing it through " "EULAs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/ripple20-iot-vulnerabilities/?bxid=5bd66d4c2ddf9c619437e4b8&cndid=9608804&esrc=Wired_etl_load&source=EDT_WIR_NEWSLETTER_0_DAILY_ZZ&utm_bran%5C\"> " "A disasterous security bug</a> touches millions of products in the Internet " "of Stings." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "As a result, anyone can sting the user, not only the manufacturer." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Best Buy made controllable appliances and <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6\"> " "shut down the service to control them through</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "While it is laudable that Best Buy recognized it was mistreating the " "customers by doing so, this doesn't alter the facts that tethering the " "device to a particular server is a path to screwing the users, and that it " "is a consequence of having nonfree software in the device." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Wink sells a “smart” home hub that is tethered to a server. In " "May 2020, it ordered the purchasers to start <a " "href=\"https://www.techhive.com/article/3542631/wink-users-revolt-following-its-sudden-shift-to-a-subscription-model.html\"> " "paying a monthly fee for the use of that server</a>. Because of the " "tethering, the hub is useless without that." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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 autopilot features</a> on people's cars to make them pay extra " "for re-enabling the features." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Xiaomi phones <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/04/30/exclusive-warning-over-chinese-mobile-giant-xiaomi-recording-millions-of-peoples-private-web-and-phone-use/\">report " "many actions the user takes</a>: starting an app, looking at a folder, " "visiting a website, listening to a song. They send device identifying " "information too." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Other nonfree programs snoop too. For instance, Spotify and other streaming " "dis-services make a dossier about each user, and <a " "href=\"/malware/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201508210\"> they make users " "identify themselves to pay</a>. Out, out, damned Spotify!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Forbes exonerates the same wrongs when the culprits are not Chinese, but we " "condemn this no matter who does it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The <a href=\"https://www.google.com/mobile/android/market-tos.html\"> " "Google Play Terms of Service</a> insist that the user of Android accept the " "presence of universal back doors in apps released by Google." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This does not tell us whether any of Google's apps currently contains a " "universal back door, but that is a secondary question. In moral terms, " "demanding that people accept in advance certain bad treatment is equivalent " "to actually doing it. Whatever condemnation the latter deserves, the former " "deserves the same." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The CIA exploited existing vulnerabilities in “smart” TVs and " "phones to design a malware that <a " "href=\"https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wikileaks-vault-7-android-iphone-cia-phones-handsets-tv-smart-julian-assange-a7616651.html\"> " "spies through their microphones and cameras while making them appear to be " "turned off</a>. Since the spyware sniffs signals, it bypasses encryption." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Alipay Health Code app estimates whether the user has Covid-19 and <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/business/china-coronavirus-surveillance.html\"> " "tells the cops directly</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Internet-tethered Amazon Ring had a security vulnerability that enabled " "attackers to <a " "href=\"https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2019/11/07/amazons-ring-doorbells-leaks-customers-wi-fi-username-and-password\"> " "access the user's wifi password</a>, and snoop on the household through " "connected surveillance devices." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Knowledge of the wifi password would not be sufficient to carry out any " "significant surveillance if the devices implemented proper security, " "including encryption. But many devices with proprietary software lack " "this. Of course, they are also used by their manufacturers for snooping." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The ToToc messaging app seems to be a <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/us/politics/totok-app-uae.html\"> " "spying tool for the government of the United Arab Emirates</a>. Any nonfree " "program could be doing this, and that is a good reason to use free software " "instead." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>Note: this article uses the word “free” in the sense of " "“gratis.”</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Avast and AVG extensions for Firefox and Chrome were found to <a " "href=\"https://www.itpro.co.uk/security/internet-security/354417/avast-and-avg-extensions-pulled-from-chrome\"> " "snoop on users' detailed browsing habits</a>. Mozilla and Google removed the " "problematic extensions from their stores, but this shows once more how " "unsafe nonfree software can be. Tools that are supposed to protect a " "proprietary system are, instead, infecting it with additional malware (the " "system itself being the original malware)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many Android apps fool their users by asking them to decide what permissions " "to give the program, and then <a " "href=\"https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2019/07/10/android-apps-sidestepping-permissions-to-access-sensitive-data/\"> " "bypassing these permissions</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Android system is supposed to prevent data leaks by running apps in " "isolated sandboxes, but developers have found ways to access the data by " "other means, and there is nothing the user can do to stop them from doing " "so, since both the system and the apps are nonfree." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Most modern cars now <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/12/17/cars-now-run-on-the-new-oil.html\"> " "record and send various kinds of data to the manufacturer</a>. For the user, " "access to the data is nearly impossible, as it involves cracking the car's " "computer, which is always hidden and running with proprietary software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "iMonsters and Android phones, when used for work, give employers powerful <a " "href=\"https://www.fastcompany.com/90440073/if-you-use-your-personal-phone-for-work-say-goodbye-to-your-privacy\"> " "snooping and sabotage capabilities</a> if they install their own software on " "the device. Many employers demand to do this. For the employee, this is " "simply nonfree software, as fundamentally unjust and as dangerous as any " "other nonfree software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Amazon Ring app does <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/29/ring-smart-doorbell-company-surveillance-eff-report\"> " "surveillance for other companies as well as for Amazon</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android phones subsidized by the US government come with <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/us-government-funded-android-phones-come-preinstalled-with-unremovable-malware/\"> " "preinstalled adware and a back door for forcing installation of apps</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The adware is in a modified version of an essential system configuration " "app. The back door is a surreptitious addition to a program whose stated " "purpose is to be a <a " "href=\"https://www.zdnet.com/article/unremovable-malware-found-preinstalled-on-low-end-smartphone-sold-in-the-us/\"> " "universal back door for firmware</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In other words, a program whose raison d'être is malicious has a secret " "secondary malicious purpose. All this is in addition to the malware of " "Android itself." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some security breakers (wrongly referred in this article as <a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">“hackers”</a>) " "managed to interfere the Amazon Ring proprietary system, and <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/dec/13/ring-hackers-reportedly-watching-talking-strangers-in-home-cameras\">access " "its camera, speakers and microphones</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Safari occasionally <a " "href=\"https://blog.cryptographyengineering.com/2019/10/13/dear-apple-safe-browsing-might-not-be-that-safe/\"> " "sends browsing data from Apple devices in China to the Tencent Safe Browsing " "service</a>, to check URLs that possibly correspond to " "“fraudulent” websites. Since Tencent collaborates with the " "Chinese government, its Safe Browsing black list most certainly contains the " "websites of political opponents. By linking the requests originating from " "single IP addresses, the government can identify dissenters in China and " "Hong Kong, thus endangering their lives." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple plans to require that <a " "href=\"https://www.macrumors.com/2019/04/08/mac-apps-notarization-macos-10-14-5/\"> " "all application software for MacOS be approved by Apple first</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Offering a checking service as an option could be useful and would not be " "wrong. Requiring users to get Apple's approval is tyranny. Apple says the " "check will only look for malware (not counting the malware that is <a " "href=\"/proprietary/malware-apple.html#TOC\">part of the operating " "system</a>), but Apple could change that policy step by step. Or perhaps " "Apple will define malware to include any app that China does not like." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "For free software, this means users will need to get Apple's approval after " "compilation. This amounts to a system of surveilling the use of free " "programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Chinese Communist Party's “Study the Great Nation” app " "requires users to grant it <a " "href=\"https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/chinese-app-allows-officials-access-to-100-million-users-phone-report-2115962\"> " "access to the phone's microphone, photos, text messages, contacts, and " "internet history</a>, and the Android version was found to contain a " "back-door allowing developers to run any code they wish in the users' phone, " "as “superusers.” Downloading and using this app is mandatory at " "some workplaces." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Note: The <a " "href=\"http://web-old.archive.org/web/20191015005153/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinese-app-on-xis-ideology-allows-data-access-to-100-million-users-phones-report-says/2019/10/11/2d53bbae-eb4d-11e9-bafb-da248f8d5734_story.html\"> " "Washington Post version of the article</a> (partly obfuscated, but readable " "after copy-pasting in a text editor) includes a clarification saying that " "the tests were only performed on the Android version of the app, and that, " "according to Apple, “this kind of ‘superuser’ surveillance " "could not be conducted on Apple's operating system.”" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/10/07/apple-ios-13-1-2-for-hong-kong.html\"> " "censors the Taiwan flag in iOS</a> on behalf of the Chinese government. When " "the region is set to Hong Kong, this flag is not visible in the emoji " "selection widget but is still accessible. When the region is set to mainland " "China, all attempts to display it will result in the “empty " "emoji” icon as if the flag never existed." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Thus, not only does Apple use the App Store as an instrument of censorship, " "it also uses the iThing operating system for that purpose." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple has <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/10/hong-kong-protests-apple-pulls-tracking-app-after-china-criticism\"> " "banned the app that Hong Kong protesters use to communicate</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Obeying the “local laws” about what people can do with software " "is no excuse for censoring what software people can use." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Adobe has <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/adobe-to-ban-users-from-venezuela-due-to-us-executive-order/\"> " "cancelled the software subscriptions of all users in Venezuela</a>. This " "demonstrates how a requirement for subscription can be turned into a tool " "for sabotage." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A very popular app found in the Google Play store contained a module that " "was designed to <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/08/google-play-app-with-100-million-downloads-executed-secret-payloads/\">secretly " "install malware on the user's computer</a>. The app developers regularly " "used it to make the computer download and execute any code they wanted." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is a concrete example of what users are exposed to when they run " "nonfree apps. They can never be completely sure that a nonfree app is safe." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Facebook app <a " "href=\"https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/09/09/facebook-app-social-network-tracking-your-every-move/2270305001/\"> " "tracks users even when it is turned off</a>, after tricking them into giving " "the app broad permissions in order to use one of its functionalities." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The recent versions of Microsoft Office require the user to <a " "href=\"https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-office-for-home-and-school-faq?legRedir=true&CorrelationId=c9c5b549-11ad-4f71-bf81-b7e069fdb372\"> " "connect to Microsoft servers at least every thirty-one days</a>. Otherwise, " "the software will refuse to edit any documents or create new ones. It will " "be restricted to viewing and printing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some nonfree period-tracking apps including MIA Fem and Maya <a " "href=\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/period-tracker-apps-facebook-maya-mia-fem\"> " "send intimate details of users' lives to Facebook</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Tesla users claim Tesla <a " "href=\"https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-battery/tesla-owner-lawsuit-claims-software-update-fraudulently-cut-battery-capacity-idUSKCN1UY2TW\">force-installed " "software to cut down on battery range</a>, rather than replace the defective " "batteries. Tesla did this to avoid having to run their warranty." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This means that proprietary software can potentially be a way to commit " "perjury with impunity." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "ChromeBooks are programmed for obsolescence: ChromeOS has a universal back " "door that is used for updates and <a " "href=\"https://www.theregister.co.uk/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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In other words, when you stop getting screwed by the back door, you start " "getting screwed by the obsolescence." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft recorded users of Xboxes and had <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/43kv4q/microsoft-human-contractors-listened-to-xbox-owners-homes-kinect-cortana\"> " "human workers listen to the recordings</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Morally, we see no difference between having human workers listen and having " "speech-recognition systems listen. Both intrude on privacy." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Keeping track of who downloads a proprietary program is a form of " "surveillance. There is a proprietary program for adjusting a certain " "telescopic rifle sight. <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/09/06/exclusive-feds-demand-apple-and-google-hand-over-names-of-10000-users-of-a-gun-scope-app/\"> " "A US prosecutor has demanded the list of all the 10,000 or more people who " "have installed it</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "With a free program there would not be a list of who has installed it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A series of vulnerabilities <a " "href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2019/08/31/apple-iphone-ipad-security-ios-upgrade-iphone-xs-max-xr-update/\">found " "in iOS allowed attackers to gain access to sensitive information including " "private messages, passwords, photos and contacts stored on the user's " "iMonster</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The deep insecurity of iMonsters is even more pertinent given that Apple's " "proprietary software makes users totally dependent on Apple for even a " "modicum of security. It also means that the devices do not even try to " "offer security against Apple itself." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A game published on Facebook <a " "href=\"https://www.revealnews.org/article/so-your-child-racked-up-unwanted-credit-card-charges-playing-video-games-now-what/\">aimed " "at leading children to spend</a> large amounts of their parents' money " "without explaining it to them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "When Apple suspects a user of fraud, it judges the case secretly and " "presents the verdict as a fait accompli. The punishment to a user found " "guilty <a " "href=\"https://qz.com/1683460/what-happens-to-your-itunes-account-when-apple-says-youve-committed-fraud/\">is " "being cut off for life, which more-or-less cripples the user's Apple devices " "forever</a>. There is no appeal." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Skype refuses to say whether it can <a " "href=\"http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/07/20/skype_won_t_comment_on_whether_it_can_now_eavesdrop_on_conversations_.html\">eavesdrop " "on calls</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "That almost certainly means it can do so." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Out of 21 gratis Android antivirus apps that were tested by security " "researchers, eight <a " "href=\"https://www.comparitech.com/antivirus/android-antivirus-vulnerabilities/\"> " "failed to detect a test virus</a>. All of them asked for dangerous " "permissions or contained advertising trackers, with seven being more risky " "than the average of the 100 most popular Android apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Note that the article refers to these proprietary apps as " "“free”. It should have said “gratis” " "instead.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many unscrupulous mobile-app developers keep finding ways to <a " "href=\"https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/more-than-1000-android-apps-harvest-your-data-even-after-you-deny-permissions/\"> " "bypass user's settings</a>, regulations, and privacy-enhancing features of " "the operating system, in order to gather as much private data as they " "possibly can." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Thus, we can't trust rules against spying. What we can trust is having " "control over the software we run." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Since Google “Assistant” uses proprietary software, there is no " "way to see or control what it records or sends." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Resourceful children figured out how to <a " "href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48908766\"> empty their " "parents' bank account</a> buying packs of special players for an Electronic " "Arts soccer game." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The random element of these packs (also called “loot boxes”) " "makes the game <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions#addictiveness\"> strongly " "addictive</a>, but the fact that players are pressured to spend more in " "order to get ahead of their competitors further qualifies it as " "<em>predatory</em>. Note that Belgium <a " "href=\"https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/29/fifa-ultimate-team-packs-blocked-in-belgium/\"> " "made these loot boxes illegal</a> in 2018." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The only good reason to have a copy of such a proprietary game is to study " "it for free software development." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple appears to say that <a " "href=\"https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/10/apple-silent-update-zoom-app/\"> " "there is a back door in MacOS</a> for automatically updating some (all?) " "apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The specific change described in the article was not malicious—it " "protected users from surveillance by third parties—but that is a " "separate question." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This involves an apparently unintentional weakness in Android, exploited " "intentionally by malicious apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Clash of Clans is a good example of a gratis mobile game that its developers " "<a href=\"https://gamerant.com/clash-of-clans-addiction/\"> made very " "addictive</a> for a large proportion of its users—and turned into a " "cash machine for themselves—by using <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness\"> " "psychological manipulation techniques</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(The article uses “free” to mean “zero " "price,” which is a usage we should avoid. We recommend saying " "“gratis” instead.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In spite of Apple's supposed commitment to privacy, iPhone apps contain " "trackers that are busy at night <a " "href=\"https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2019/05/its-3-am-do-you-know-who-your-iphone-is-talking-to.html\"> " "sending users' personal information to third parties</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article mentions specific examples: Microsoft OneDrive, Intuit's Mint, " "Nike, Spotify, The Washington Post, The Weather Channel (owned by IBM), the " "crime-alert service Citizen, Yelp and DoorDash. But it is likely that most " "nonfree apps contain trackers. Some of these send personally identifying " "data such as phone fingerprint, exact location, email address, phone number " "or even delivery address (in the case of DoorDash). Once this information is " "collected by the company, there is no telling what it will be used for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Femm “fertility” app is secretly a <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/30/revealed-womens-fertility-app-is-funded-by-anti-abortion-campaigners\"> " "tool for propaganda</a> by natalist Christians. It spreads distrust for " "contraception." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "It snoops on users, too, as you must expect from nonfree programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Amazon Alexa collects a lot more information from users than is necessary " "for correct functioning (time, location, recordings made without a " "legitimate prompt), and sends it to Amazon's servers, which store it " "indefinitely. Even worse, Amazon forwards it to third-party companies. Thus, " "even if users request deletion of their data from Amazon's servers, <a " "href=\"https://www.ctpost.com/business/article/Alexa-has-been-eavesdropping-on-you-this-whole-13822095.php\"> " "the data remain on other servers</a>, where they can be accessed by " "advertising companies and government agencies. In other words, deleting the " "collected information doesn't cancel the wrong of collecting it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Data collected by devices such as the Nest thermostat, the Philips " "Hue-connected lights, the Chamberlain MyQ garage opener and the Sonos " "speakers are likewise stored longer than necessary on the servers the " "devices are tethered to. Moreover, they are made available to Alexa. As a " "result, Amazon has a very precise picture of users' life at home, not only " "in the present, but in the past (and, who knows, in the future too?)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Users caught in the jail of an iMonster are <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/05/15/brittle-security.html\"> sitting " "ducks for other attackers</a>, and the app censorship prevents security " "companies from figuring out how those attacks work." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple's censorship of apps is fundamentally unjust, and would be inexcusable " "even if it didn't lead to security threats as well." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BlizzCon 2019 imposed a <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/05/blizzcon-2019-tickets-revolve-around-invasive-poorly-reviewed-smartphone-app/\"> " "requirement to run a proprietary phone app</a> to be allowed into the event." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This app is a spyware that can snoop on a lot of sensitive data, including " "user's location and contact list, and has <a " "href=\"https://old.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/bkd5ew/you_need_to_have_a_phone_to_attend_blizzcon_this/emg38xv/\"> " "near-complete control</a> over the phone." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Jibo robot toys were tethered to the manufacturer's server, and <a " "href=\"https://www.apnews.com/99c9ec8ebad242ca88178e22c7642648\"> the " "company made them all cease to work</a> by shutting down that server." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The shutdown might ironically be good for their users, since the product was " "designed to manipulate people by presenting a phony semblance of emotions, " "and was most certainly spying on them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The FordPass Connect feature of some Ford vehicles has <a " "href=\"https://www.myfordpass.com/content/ford_com/fp_app/en_us/termsprivacy.html\"> " "near-complete access to the internal car network</a>. It is constantly " "connected to the cellular phone network and sends Ford a lot of data, " "including car location. This feature operates even when the ignition key is " "removed, and users report that they can't disable it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If you own one of these cars, have you succeeded in breaking the " "connectivity by disconnecting the cellular modem, or wrapping the antenna in " "aluminum foil?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some of users' commands to the Alexa service are <a " "href=\"https://www.smh.com.au/technology/alexa-is-someone-else-listening-to-us-sometimes-someone-is-20190411-p51d4g.html\"> " "recorded for Amazon employees to listen to</a>. The Google and Apple voice " "assistants do similar things." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A fraction of the Alexa service staff even has access to <a " "href=\"https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/amazon-s-alexa-reviewers-can-access-customers-home-addresses-1.1248788\"> " "location and other personal data</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Since the client program is nonfree, and data processing is done “<a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#CloudComputing\">in the " "cloud</a>” (a soothing way of saying “We won't tell you how and " "where it's done”), users have no way to know what happens to the " "recordings unless human eavesdroppers <a " "href=\"https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/three-cheers-for-amazon-s-human-eavesdroppers-1.1243033\"> " "break their non-disclosure agreements</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "As of April 2019, it is <a " "href=\"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/major-browsers-to-prevent-disabling-of-click-tracking-privacy-risk/\">no " "longer possible to disable an unscrupulous tracking anti-feature</a> that <a " "href=\"https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/links.html#hyperlink-auditing\">reports " "users when they follow ping links</a> in Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, " "Microsoft Edge and also in the upcoming Microsoft Edge that is going to be " "based on Chromium." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Data collected by menstrual and pregnancy monitoring apps is often <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/13/theres-a-dark-side-to-womens-health-apps-menstrual-surveillance\"> " "available to employers and insurance companies</a>. Even though the data is " "“anonymized and aggregated,” it can easily be traced back to the " "woman who uses the app." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This has harmful implications for women's rights to equal employment and " "freedom to make their own pregnancy choices. Don't use these apps, even if " "someone offers you a reward to do so. A free-software app that does more or " "less the same thing without spying on you is available from <a " "href=\"https://search.f-droid.org/?q=menstr\">F-Droid</a>, and <a " "href=\"https://dcs.megaphone.fm/BLM6228935164.mp3?key=7e4b8f7018d13cdc2b5ea6e5772b6b8f\"> " "a new one is being developed</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Microsoft has been <a " "href=\"https://borncity.com/win/2019/01/17/windows-10-update-kb4023057-re-released-1-16-2019/\"> " "force-installing a “remediation” program</a> on computers " "running certain versions of Windows 10. Remediation, in Microsoft's view, " "means <a " "href=\"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb4023057-update-for-windows-10-update-service-components-fccad0ca-dc10-2e46-9ed1-7e392450fb3a\"> " "tampering with users' settings and files</a>, notably to " "“repair” any components of the updating system that users may " "have intentionally disabled, and thus regain full power over them. Microsoft " "repeatedly pushed faulty versions of this program to users' machines, " "causing numerous problems, some of which <a " "href=\"https://www.windowsmode.com/microsoft-suspends-windows-10-october-2018-update-rollout-due-to-critical-bugs/\"> " "critical</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This exemplifies the arrogant and manipulative attitude that proprietary " "software developers have learned to adopt toward the people they are " "supposedly serving. Migrate to a <a href=\"/distros/free-distros.html\">free " "operating system</a> if you can!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If your employer makes you run Windows, tell the financial department how " "this wastes your time dealing with endless connections and premature " "hardware failures." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Volkswagen programmed its car engine computers to <a " "href=\"https://www.petri.com/volkswagen-used-software-to-cheat-on-emissions\"> " "detect the Environmental Protection Agency's emission tests</a>, and run " "dirty the rest of the time. In real driving, the cars exceeded emissions " "standards by a factor of up to 35." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Using free software would not have stopped Volkswagen from programming it " "this way, but would have made it harder to conceal, and given the users the " "possibility of correcting the deception." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Former executives of Volkswagen are being <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/15/former-head-of-volkswagen-could-face-10-years-in-prison\"> " "sued over this fraud</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google tracks the movements of Android phones and iPhones running Google " "apps, and sometimes <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/13/us/google-location-tracking-police.html\"> " "saves the data for years</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Nonfree software in the phone has to be responsible for sending the location " "data to Google." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Ebooks “bought” from Microsoft's store check that their DRM is " "valid by connecting to the store every time their “owner” wants " "to read them. Microsoft is going to close this store, <a " "href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47810367\"> bricking all DRM'ed " "ebooks it has ever “sold”</a>. (The article additionally " "highlights the pitfalls of DRM.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is another proof that a DRM-encumbered product doesn't belong to the " "person who bought it. Microsoft said it will refund customers, but this is " "no excuse for selling them restricted books." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "OfficeMax cheated customers by <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/03/office-depot-tricked-people-into-buying-pc-support-with-fake-virus-scans/\"> " "using proprietary “PC Health Check” software</a> rigged to give " "false results, deceiving the customer into thinking per computer was " "infected and buy unneeded support services from the company." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Medtronics Conexus Telemetry Protocol has <a " "href=\"http://www.startribune.com/750-000-medtronic-defibrillators-vulnerable-to-hacking/507470932/\"> " "two vulnerabilities that affect several models of implantable " "defibrillators</a> and the devices they connect to." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This protocol has been around since 2006, and similar vulnerabilities were " "discovered in an earlier Medtronics communication protocol in " "2008. Apparently, nothing was done by the company to correct them. This " "means you can't rely on proprietary software developers to fix bugs in their " "products." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Car companies are coming up with a list of clever reasons why <a " "href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/business/autonomous-cars-technology-privacy.html\"> " "they “have to” put cameras and microphones in the car</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "BMW says its software does not store any driver-monitoring information. If " "this means none of the data that come out of the cameras and microphones can " "be seen by anyone else, the cameras and microphones are not dangerous. But " "should we trust this claim? The only way it can deserve rational trust is if " "the software is free." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many Android phones come with a huge number of <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190326145122/https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/22/inenglish/1553244778_819882.html\"> " "preinstalled nonfree apps that have access to sensitive data without users' " "knowledge</a>. These hidden apps may either call home with the data, or pass " "it on to user-installed apps that have access to the network but no direct " "access to the data. This results in massive surveillance on which the user " "has absolutely no control." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Tesla cars collect lots of personal data, and <a " "href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/29/tesla-model-3-keeps-data-like-crash-videos-location-phone-contacts.html\"> " "when they go to a junkyard the driver's personal data goes with them</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The British supermarket Tesco sold tablets which were tethered to Tesco's " "server for reinstalling default settings. Tesco <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/mar/25/tesco-hudl-tablet-support-kill-fix\"> " "turned off the server for old models</a>, so now if you try to reinstall the " "default settings, it bricks them instead." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A study of 24 “health” apps found that 19 of them <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/pan9e8/health-apps-can-share-your-data-everywhere-new-study-shows\"> " "send sensitive personal data to third parties</a>, which can use it for " "invasive advertising or discriminating against people in poor medical " "condition." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Whenever user “consent” is sought, it is buried in lengthy terms " "of service that are difficult to understand. In any case, " "“consent” is not sufficient to legitimize snooping." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Volvo plans to <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/20/volvo-to-install-cameras-in-new-cars-to-reduce-road-deaths\"> " "install cameras inside cars</a> to monitor the driver for signs of " "impairment that could cause an accident." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "However, there is nothing to prevent these cameras from doing other things, " "such as biometrically identifying the driver or passengers, other than " "proprietary software which Volvo—or various governments and " "criminals—could change at any time." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Low-priced Chromebooks for schools are <a " "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "But complaining is not sufficient. Parents, students and teachers should " "realize that the software Google 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 at the " "School Board to refuse the budget unless the school initiates a 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A cracker would be able to <a " "href=\"https://uploadvr.com/hackable-webcam-oculus-sensor-be-aware/\"> turn " "the Oculus Rift sensors into spy cameras</a> after breaking into the " "computer they are connected to." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(Unfortunately, the article <a " "href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Hacker\">improperly refers to " "crackers as “hackers”</a>.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In China, it is mandatory for electric cars to be equipped with a terminal " "that <a href=\"https://www.apnews.com/4a749a4211904784826b45e812cff4ca\"> " "transfers technical data, including car location, to a government-run " "platform</a>. In practice, <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#car-spying\"> " "manufacturers collect this data</a> as part of their own spying, then " "forward it to the government-run platform." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Malware installed into the processor in a hard drive could <a " "href=\"https://yro.slashdot.org/story/19/03/08/1928257/hard-disks-can-be-turned-into-listening-devices-researchers-find\"> " "use the disk itself as a microphone to detect speech</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article refers to the “Linux operating system” but seems to " "mean <a href=\"/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html\">GNU/Linux</a>. That hack would not " "require changing Linux itself." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Game Of War: Fire Age is an iPhone game with <a " "href=\"https://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html\"> " "addictive features</a> which are based on <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness\">behavioral " "manipulation techniques</a>, compounded with group emulation. After a fairly " "easy start, the game slows down and becomes more difficult, so gamers are " "led to spend more and more money in order to keep up with their group. And " "if they stop playing for a while, the equipment they invested in gets " "destroyed by the “enemy” unless they buy an expensive " "“shield” to protect it. This game is also deceptive, as it uses " "confusing menus and complex stats to obfuscate true monetary costs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Ring (now Amazon) doorbell camera is designed so that the manufacturer " "(now Amazon) can watch all the time. Now it turns out that <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190918024432/https://dojo.bullguard.com/dojo-by-bullguard/blog/ring/\"> " "anyone else can also watch, and fake videos too</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The third party vulnerability is presumably unintentional and Amazon will " "probably fix it. However, we do not expect Amazon to change the design that " "<a href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201901100\">allows " "Amazon to watch</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The AppCensus database gives information on <a " "href=\"https://www.appcensus.mobi\"> how Android apps use and misuse users' " "personal data</a>. As of March 2019, nearly 78,000 have been analyzed, of " "which 24,000 (31%) transmit the <a " "href=\"/proprietary/proprietary-surveillance.html#M201812290\"> Advertising " "ID</a> to other companies, and <a " "href=\"https://blog.appcensus.mobi/2019/02/14/ad-ids-behaving-badly/\"> " "18,000 (23% of the total) link this ID to hardware identifiers</a>, so that " "users cannot escape tracking by resetting it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Collecting hardware identifiers is in apparent violation of Google's " "policies. But it seems that Google wasn't aware of it, and, once informed, " "was in no hurry to take action. This proves that the policies of a " "development platform are ineffective at preventing nonfree software " "developers from including malware in their programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Facebook offered a convenient proprietary library for building mobile apps, " "which also <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/02/23/surveillance-zucksterism.html\"> " "sent personal data to Facebook</a>. Lots of companies built apps that way " "and released them, apparently not realizing that all the personal data they " "collected would go to Facebook as well." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "It shows that no one can trust a nonfree program, not even the developers of " "other nonfree programs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The HP <a href=\"https://boingboing.net/2019/02/08/inkjet-dystopias.html\"> " "“ink subscription” cartridges have DRM that constantly " "communicates with HP servers</a> to make sure the user is still paying for " "the subscription, and hasn't printed more pages than were paid for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Even though the ink subscription program may be cheaper in some specific " "cases, it spies on users, and involves totally unacceptable restrictions in " "the use of ink cartridges that would otherwise be in working order." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Vizio TVs <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019\"> " "collect “whatever the TV sees,”</a> in the own words of the " "company's CTO, and this data is sold to third parties. This is in return for " "“better service” (meaning more intrusive ads?) and slightly " "lower retail prices." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "What is supposed to make this spying acceptable, according to him, is that " "it is opt-in in newer models. But since the Vizio software is nonfree, we " "don't know what is actually happening behind the scenes, and there is no " "guarantee that all future updates will leave the settings unchanged." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If you already own a Vizio “smart” TV (or any " "“smart” TV, for that matter), the easiest way to make sure it " "isn't spying on you is to disconnect it from the Internet, and use a " "terrestrial antenna instead. Unfortunately, this is not always " "possible. Another option, if you are technically oriented, is to get your " "own router (which can be an old computer running completely free software), " "and set up a firewall to block connections to Vizio's servers. Or, as a last " "resort, you can replace your TV with another model." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some portable surveillance devices (“phones”) now have <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/20/samsung-galaxy-s10-launch-triple-cameras-ultrasonic-fingerprint-sensors-and-5g\"> " "fingerprint sensors in the display</a>. Does that imply they could take the " "fingerprint of anyone who operates the touch screen?" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Twenty nine “beauty camera” apps that used to be on Google Play " "had one or more malicious functionalities, such as stealing users' photos " "instead of “beautifying” them, <a " "href=\"https://www.teleanalysis.com/these-29-beauty-camera-apps-steal-private-photo/\"> " "pushing unwanted and often malicious ads on users, and redirecting them to " "phishing sites</a> that stole their credentials. Furthermore, the user " "interface of most of them was designed to make uninstallation difficult." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Users should of course uninstall these dangerous apps if they haven't yet, " "but they should also stay away from nonfree apps in general. <em>All</em> " "nonfree apps carry a potential risk because there is no easy way of knowing " "what they really do." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many nonfree apps have a surveillance feature for <a " "href=\"https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/06/iphone-session-replay-screenshots/\"> " "recording all the users' actions</a> in interacting with the app." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "An investigation of the 150 most popular gratis VPN apps in Google Play " "found that <a " "href=\"https://www.top10vpn.com/free-vpn-android-app-risk-index/\"> 25% fail " "to protect their users' privacy</a> due to DNS leaks. In addition, 85% " "feature intrusive permissions or functions in their source code—often " "used for invasive advertising—that could potentially also be used to " "spy on users. Other technical flaws were found as well." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Moreover, a previous investigation had found that <a " "href=\"https://www.top10vpn.com/free-vpn-app-investigation/\">half of the " "top 10 gratis VPN apps have lousy privacy policies</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<small>(It is unfortunate that these articles talk about “free " "apps.” These apps are gratis, but they are <em>not</em> <a " "href=\"/philosophy/free-sw.html\">free software</a>.)</small>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This is not a 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Around 40% of gratis Android apps <a " "href=\"https://privacyinternational.org/report/2647/how-apps-android-share-data-facebook-report\"> " "report on the user's actions to Facebook</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Often they send the machine's “advertising ID,” so that Facebook " "can correlate the data it obtains from the same machine via various " "apps. Some of them send Facebook detailed information about the user's " "activities in the app; others only say that the user is using that app, but " "that alone is often quite informative." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "This spying occurs regardless of whether the user has a Facebook account." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Foundry's graphics software <a " "href=\"https://torrentfreak.com/software-company-fines-pirates-after-monitoring-their-computers-181102/\"> " "reports information to identify who is running it</a>. The result is often a " "legal threat demanding a lot of money." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The fact that this is used for repression of forbidden sharing makes it even " "more vicious." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This illustrates that making unauthorized copies of nonfree software is not " "a cure for the injustice of nonfree software. It may avoid paying for the " "nasty thing, but cannot make it less nasty." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Samsung phones come preloaded with <a " "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Preloading crapware along with a nonfree operating system is common " "practice, but by making the 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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Until 2015, any tweet that listed a geographical tag <a " "href=\"http://web-old.archive.org/web/20190115233002/https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-location-data-gps-privacy/\"> " "sent the precise GPS location to Twitter's server</a>. It still contains " "these GPS locations." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In the game Fruit Pop, the player buys boosts with coins to get a high " "score. The player gets coins at the end of each game, and can buy more coins " "with real money." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Getting a higher score once leads the player to desire higher score again " "later. But the higher score resulting from the boost <a " "href=\"https://qz.com/873348/50000-coins-for-1-99-how-mobile-game-in-app-purchases-are-warping-kids-understanding-of-basic-economic-ideas/\">does " "not give the player more coins, and does not help the player get a higher " "score in subsequent games</a>. To get that, the player will need a boost " "frequently, and usually has to pay real money for that. Since boosts are " "exciting and entertaining, the player is subtly pushed to purchase more " "coins with real money to get boosts, and it can develop into a costly habit." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Amazon Ring “security” devices <a " "href=\"https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/10/ring-gave-employees-access-customer-video-feeds/\"> " "send the video they capture to Amazon servers</a>, which save it long-term." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In many cases, the video shows everyone that comes near, or merely passes " "by, the user's front door." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article focuses on how Ring used to let individual employees look at the " "videos freely. It appears Amazon has tried to prevent that secondary abuse, " "but the primary abuse—that Amazon gets the video—Amazon expects " "society to surrender to." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Weather Channel app <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/04/weather-channel-app-lawsuit-location-data-selling\"> " "stored users' locations to the company's server</a>. The company is being " "sued, demanding that it notify the users of what it will do with the data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "We think that lawsuit is about a side issue. What the company does with the " "data is a secondary issue. The principal wrong here is that the company gets " "that data at all." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/gy77wy/stop-using-third-party-weather-apps\"> " "Other weather apps</a>, including Accuweather and WeatherBug, are tracking " "people's locations." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "New GM cars <a " "href=\"https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gmc/vehicles/canyon/2019.html\"> " "offer the feature of a universal back door</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Every nonfree program offers the user zero security against its " "developer. With this malfeature, GM has explicitly made things even worse." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Facebook's app got “consent” to <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/06/facebook-emails-reveal-discussions-over-call-log-consent\"> " "upload call logs automatically from Android phones</a> while disguising what " "the “consent” was for." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many web sites use JavaScript code <a " "href=\"http://gizmodo.com/before-you-hit-submit-this-company-has-already-logge-1795906081\"> " "to snoop on information that users have typed into a form but not sent</a>, " "in order to learn their identity. Some are <a " "href=\"https://www.manatt.com/insights/newsletters/advertising-law/sites-illegally-tracked-consumers-new-suits-allege\"> " "getting sued</a> for this." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The chat facilities of some customer services use the same sort of malware " "to <a " "href=\"https://gizmodo.com/be-warned-customer-service-agents-can-see-what-youre-t-1830688119\"> " "read what the user is typing before it is posted</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Corel Paintshop Pro has a <a " "href=\"https://torrentfreak.com/corel-wrongly-accuses-licensed-user-of-piracy-disables-software-remotely-181110/\"> " "back door that can make it cease to function</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article is full of confusions, errors and biases that we have an " "obligation to expose, given that we are making a link to them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li> msgid "" "Getting a patent does not “enable” a company to do any " "particular thing in its products. What it does enable the company to do is " "sue other companies if they do some particular thing in their products." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li> msgid "" "A company's policies about when to attack users through a back door are " "beside the point. Inserting the back door is wrong in the first place, and " "using the back door is always wrong too. No software developer should have " "that power over users." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li> msgid "" "“<a href=\"/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Piracy\">Piracy</a>” " "means attacking ships. Using that word to refer to sharing copies is a " "smear; please don't smear sharing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The idea of “protecting our IP” is total confusion. The term " "“IP” itself is a <a href=\"/philosophy/not-ipr.html\">bogus " "generalization about things that have nothing in common</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In addition, to speak of “protecting” that bogus generalization " "is a separate absurdity. It's like calling the cops because neighbors' kids " "are playing on your front yard, and saying that you're “protecting the " "boundary line”. The kids can't do harm to the boundary line, not even " "with a jackhammer, because it is an abstraction and can't be affected by " "physical action." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Nearly all “home security cameras” <a " "href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/d-link-camera-poses-data-security-risk--consumer-reports-finds/\"> " "give the manufacturer an unencrypted copy of everything they " "see</a>. “Home insecurity camera” would be a better name!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "When Consumer Reports tested them, it suggested that these manufacturers " "promise not to look at what's in the videos. That's not security for your " "home. Security means making sure they don't get to see through your camera." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Android apps <a " "href=\"https://www.androidauthority.com/apps-uninstall-trackers-917539/amp/\"> " "track the phones of users that have deleted them</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Apple and Samsung deliberately <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/24/apple-samsung-fined-for-slowing-down-phones\">degrade " "the performance of older phones to force users to buy their newer " "phones</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "GM <a href=\"https://boingboing.net/2018/10/23/dont-touch-that-dial.html\"> " "tracked the choices of radio programs</a> in its “connected” " "cars, minute by minute." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "GM did not get users' consent, but it could have got that easily by sneaking " "it into the contract that users sign for some digital service or other. A " "requirement for consent is effectively no protection." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The cars can also collect lots of other data: listening to you, watching " "you, following your movements, tracking passengers' cell " "phones. <em>All</em> such data collection should be forbidden." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "But if you really want to be safe, we must make sure the car's hardware " "cannot collect any of that data, or that the software is free so we know it " "won't collect any of that data." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Printer manufacturers are very innovative—at blocking the use of " "independent replacement ink cartridges. Their “security " "upgrades” occasionally impose new forms of cartridge DRM. <a " "href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/pa98ab/printer-makers-are-crippling-cheap-ink-cartridges-via-bogus-security-updates\"> " "HP and Epson have done this</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A nonfree video game, available through the nonfree Steam client, <a " "href=\"https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/274552-great-now-games-are-hijacking-systems-with-\"> " "included a “miner”</a>, i.e. an executable that hijacks the CPU " "in users' computers to mine a cryptocurrency." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A cracker used an exploit in outdated software to <a " "href=\"https://www.pcmag.com/news/360968/400-websites-secretly-served-cryptocurrency-miners-to-visito\"> " "inject a “miner” in web pages</a> served to visitors. This type " "of malware hijacks the computer's processor to mine a cryptocurrency." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<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>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Honeywell's “smart” thermostats communicate only through the " "company's server. They have all the nasty characteristics of such devices: " "<a " "href=\"https://www.businessinsider.com/honeywell-iot-thermostats-server-outage-2018-9\"> " "surveillance, and danger of sabotage</a> (of a specific user, or of all " "users at once), as well as the risk of an outage (which is what just " "happened)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In addition, setting the desired temperature requires running nonfree " "software. With an old-fashioned thermostat, you can do it using controls " "right on the thermostat." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Researchers have discovered how to <a " "href=\"http://news.rub.de/english/press-releases/2018-09-24-it-security-secret-messages-alexa-and-co\"> " "hide voice commands in other audio</a>, so that people cannot hear them, but " "Alexa and Siri can." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android has a <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/9/14/17861150/google-battery-saver-android-9-pie-remote-settings-change\"> " "back door for remotely changing “user” settings</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The article suggests it might be a universal back door, but this isn't " "clear." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "These manipulative behaviors are malicious functionalities, and they are " "possible because the game is proprietary. If it were free, people could " "publish a non-manipulative version and play that instead." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Red Shell is a spyware that is found in many proprietary games. It <a " "href=\"https://nebulous.cloud/threads/red-shell-illegal-spyware-for-steam-games.31924/\"> " "tracks data on users' computers and sends it to third parties</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Blizzard Warden is a hidden “cheating-prevention” program that " "<a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2005/10/new-gaming-feature-spyware\"> " "spies on every process running on a gamer's computer and sniffs a good deal " "of personal data</a>, including lots of activities which have nothing to do " "with cheating." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The game Metal Gear Rising for MacOS was tethered to a server. The company " "<a " "href=\"http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/400087-metal-gear-rising-mac-unplayable-drm\"> " "shut down the server, and all copies stopped working</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In MacOS and iOS, the procedure for <a " "href=\"https://support.apple.com/guide/photos/export-photos-videos-and-slideshows-pht6e157c5f/mac\"> " "converting images from the Photos format</a> to a free format is so tedious " "and time-consuming that users just give up if they have a lot of them." msgstr "" #. TRANSLATORS: Use space (SPC) as msgstr if you don't have notes. #. type: Content of: <div><div> msgid "*GNUN-SLOT: TRANSLATOR'S NOTES*" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "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>." msgstr "" #. TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph, #. replace it with the translation of these two: # #. We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality #. translations. However, we are not exempt from imperfection. #. Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard #. to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org"> # #. <web-translators@gnu.org></a>.</p> # #. <p>For information on coordinating and contributing translations of #. our web pages, see <a #. href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations #. README</a>. #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Please see the <a " "href=\"/server/standards/README.translations.html\">Translations README</a> " "for information on coordinating and contributing translations of this " "article." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "Copyright © 2018-2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "" "This page is licensed under a <a rel=\"license\" " "href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\">Creative Commons " "Attribution 4.0 International License</a>." msgstr "" #. TRANSLATORS: Use space (SPC) as msgstr if you don't want credits. #. type: Content of: <div><div> msgid "*GNUN-SLOT: TRANSLATOR'S CREDITS*" msgstr "" #. timestamp start #. type: Content of: <div><p> msgid "Updated:" msgstr ""