msgid "Google's Software Is Malware - 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> / By " "company /" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><h2> msgid "Google's Software is Malware" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Nonfree (proprietary) software is very often malware (designed to mistreat " "the user). Nonfree software is controlled by its developers, which puts them " "in a position of power over the users; <a " "href=\"/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html\">that is the " "basic injustice</a>. The developers and manufacturers often exercise that " "power to the detriment of the users they ought to serve." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "This typically takes the form of malicious functionalities." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><p> msgid "" "If you know of an example that ought to be in this page but isn't here, " "please write to <a " "href=\"mailto:webmasters@gnu.org\"><webmasters@gnu.org></a> to inform " "us. Please include the URL of a trustworthy reference or two to serve as " "specific substantiation." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><h3> msgid "Types of Google malware" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#back-doors\">Back doors</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#censorship\">Censorship</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#drm\">DRM</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#insecurity\">Insecurity</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#interference\">Interference</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#manipulation\">Manipulation</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#sabotage\">Sabotage</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#subscriptions\">Subscriptions</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#surveillance\">Surveillance</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#tyrants\">Tyrants</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Back Doors" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The <a href=\"https://play.google.com/about/play-terms/\"> 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><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><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.com/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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android has a <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In Android, <a " "href=\"https://www.computerworld.com/article/2506557/google-throws--kill-switch--on-android-phones.html\"> " "Google has a back door to remotely delete apps</a>. (It was in a program " "called GTalkService, which seems since then to have been merged into Google " "Play.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google can also <a " "href=\"https://jon.oberheide.org/blog/2010/06/25/remote-kill-and-install-on-google-android/\"> " "forcibly and remotely install apps</a> through GTalkService. This is not " "equivalent to a universal back door, but permits various dirty tricks." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Although Google's <em>exercise</em> of this power has not been malicious so " "far, the point is that nobody should have such power, which could also be " "used maliciously. You might well decide to let a security service remotely " "<em>deactivate</em> programs that it considers malicious. But there is no " "excuse for allowing it to <em>delete</em> the programs, and you should have " "the right to decide who (if anyone) to trust in this way." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Censorship" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google <a " "href=\"https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2017/0316/Google-Family-Link-gives-parents-a-way-to-monitor-preteens-accounts\"> " "offers censorship software</a>, ostensibly for parents to put into their " "children's computers." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "On Windows and MacOS, Chrome <a " "href=\"https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/developers/extensions-deployment-faq\"> " "disables extensions</a> that are not hosted in the Chrome Web Store." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "For example, an extension was <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20170120094917/https://consumerist.com/2017/01/18/why-is-google-blocking-this-ad-blocker-on-chrome/\"> " "banned from the Chrome Web Store, and permanently disabled</a> on more than " "40,000 computers." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/03/google-pulls-ad-blocking-app-for-samsung-phones\"> " "Google censored installation of Samsung's ad-blocker</a> on Android phones, " "saying that blocking ads is “interference” with the sites that " "advertise (and surveil users through ads)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The ad-blocker is proprietary software, just like the program (Google Play) " "that Google used to deny access to install it. Using a nonfree program gives " "the owner power over you, and Google has exercised that power." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google's censorship, unlike that of Apple, is not total: Android allows " "users to install apps in other ways. You can install free programs from " "f-droid.org." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "DRM" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Digital restrictions management, or “DRM,” refers to " "functionalities designed to restrict what users can do with the data in " "their computers." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google now allows Android apps to detect whether a device has been rooted, " "<a " "href=\"https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/13/netflix-confirms-blocking-rootedunlocked-devices-app-still-working-now/\">and " "refuse to install if so</a>. The Netflix app uses this ability to enforce " "DRM by refusing to install on rooted Android devices." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Update: Google <i>intentionally</i> changed Android so that apps <a " "href=\"https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-use-of-google-drm-means-rooted-android-devices-are-banned-170515/\">can " "detect rooted devices and refuse to run on them</a>. The Netflix app is " "proprietary malware, and one shouldn't use it. However, that does not make " "what Google has done any less wrong." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Chrome <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2017/01/30/google-quietly-makes-optiona.html\">implements " "DRM</a>. So does Chromium, through nonfree software that is effectively part " "of it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a href=\"https://issues.chromium.org/issues/40504000\">More " "information</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android <a " "href=\"https://developer.android.com/reference/android/drm/package-summary.html\"> " "contains facilities specifically to support DRM</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Insecurity" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "These bugs are/were not intentional, so unlike the rest of the file they do " "not count as malware. We mention them to refute the supposition that " "prestigious proprietary software doesn't have grave bugs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><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><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><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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This involves an apparently unintentional weakness in Android, exploited " "intentionally by malicious apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google's ad platform enabled advertisers to <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/now-even-youtube-serves-ads-with-cpu-draining-cryptocurrency-miners/\"> " "run cryptocurrency miner code on the computers of YouTube users through " "proprietary JavaScript</a>. Some people noticed this, and the outrage made " "Google remove the miners, but the number of affected users was probably very " "high." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20180816030205/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/privacy-scandal-nsa-can-spy-on-smart-phone-data-a-920971.html\"> " "The NSA can tap data in smart phones, including iPhones, Android, and " "BlackBerry</a>. While there is not much detail here, it seems that this " "does not operate via the universal back door that we know nearly all " "portable phones have. It may involve exploiting various bugs. There are <a " "href=\"https://www.osnews.com/story/27416/the-second-operating-system-hiding-in-every-mobile-phone/\"> " "lots of bugs in the phones' radio software</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Interference" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "This section gives examples of Google software harassing or annoying the " "user, or causing trouble for the user. These actions are like sabotage but " "the word “sabotage” is too strong for them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In 2019, <a " "href=\"https://chromestory.com/2019/07/disable-pull-to-refresh-on-chrome-for-android/\"> " "Google revoked users' ability to turn off the “pull-to-refresh” " "gesture in Chrome for Android</a>. Despite <a " "href=\"https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/8152831\"> thousands of " "protests by frustrated users</a>, Google has not reverted its " "decision. Proprietary software developers are known for ignoring users' " "requests in favor of their own gain and convenience. Only free software " "gives users control over their own computing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><div><h3> msgid "Manipulation" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google is <a " "href=\"https://slate.com/technology/2025/01/google-gemini-ai-workspace-default-opt-in.html\"> " "forcing its bullshit generator, Gemini, on many users of Gmail</a> without " "asking them, and not even offering the users a way to deactivate it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Workplace IT managers, whose employees are forced to use Gmail, can get it " "turned off after a laborious procedure, followed by waiting—the " "darkest of dark patterns." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Sabotage" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "The wrongs in this section are not precisely malware, since they do not " "involve making the program that runs in a way that hurts the user. But they " "are a lot like malware, since they are technical Google actions that harm " "the users of specific Google software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Revolv is a device that managed “smart home” operations: " "switching lights, operate motion sensors, regulating temperature, etc. Its " "proprietary software depends on a remote server to do these tasks. On May " "15th, 2016, Google/Alphabet <a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/nest-reminds-customers-ownership-isnt-what-it-used-be\">intentionally " "broke it by shutting down the server</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If it were free software, users would have the ability to make it work " "again, differently, and then have a freedom-respecting home instead of a " "“smart” home. Don't let proprietary software control your " "devices and turn them into $300 out-of-warranty bricks. Insist on " "self-contained computers that run free software!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google has long had <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/24/google-can-unlock-android-devices-remotely-if-phone-unencrypted\">a " "back door to remotely unlock an Android device</a>, unless its disk is " "encrypted (possible since Android 5.0 Lollipop, but still not quite the " "default)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Subscriptions" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Nest snooper/surveillance cameras are always tethered to Google " "servers, record videos 24/7, and are <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/google-nest-cameras-get-a-25-33-subscription-price-hike/\"> " "subscription-based, which is an injustice to people who use them</a>. The " "article discusses the rise in prices for “plans” you can buy " "from Google, which include storing videos in the " "“cloud”—another word for someone else's computer." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Surveillance" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Pixel 9 “smart”phone <a " "href=\"https://cybernews.com/security/google-pixel-9-phone-beams-data-and-awaits-commands/\"> " "frequently updates Google servers with its location and current " "configuration</a> along with personally identifiable data, raising concerns " "about user privacy. Moreover, it communicates with services that are not in " "use, and periodically attempts to download experimental, possibly insecure " "software. The system does not inform the user that it is doing all this." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "There is hope, however: it is possible to <a " "href=\"https://doc.e.foundation/devices\"> replace the original Android " "operating system with a deGoogled version</a> in Pixel phones up to 8a, and " "in phones from many other brands. No doubt that the Pixel 9 will be " "supported soon." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><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><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://web.archive.org/web/20240123114737/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><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-a7383469308/\">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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Google apps on Android <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/13/google-location-tracking-android-iphone-mobile\"> " "record the user's location even when users disable “location " "tracking”</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "There are other ways to turn off the other kinds of location tracking, but " "most users will be tricked by the misleading control." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android tracks location for Google <a " "href=\"https://www.techdirt.com/2017/11/21/investigation-finds-google-collected-location-data-even-with-location-services-turned-off/\"> " "even when “location services” are turned off, even when the " "phone has no SIM card</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google's new voice messaging app <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/21/12994362/allo-privacy-message-logs-google\">logs " "all conversations</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Play (a component of Android) <a " "href=\"https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/235594-yes-google-play-is-tracking-you-and-thats-just-the-tip-of-a-very-large-iceberg\"> " "tracks the users' movements without their permission</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Even if you disable Google Maps and location tracking, you must disable " "Google Play itself to completely stop the tracking. This is yet another " "example of nonfree software pretending to obey the user, when it's actually " "doing something else. Such a thing would be almost unthinkable with free " "software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome makes it easy for an extension to do <a " "href=\"https://labs.detectify.com/2015/07/28/how-i-disabled-your-chrome-security-extensions/\">total " "snooping on the user's browsing</a>, and many of them do so." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome includes a module that <a " "href=\"https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/google-chrome-listening-in-to-your-room-shows-the-importance-of-privacy-defense-in-depth/\"> " "activates microphones and transmits audio to its servers</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Nest thermometers send <a " "href=\"https://bgr.com/general/google-nest-jailbreak-hack/\">a lot of data " "about the user</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20151018132125/http://www.brad-x.com/2013/08/04/google-chrome-is-spyware/\"> " "spies on browser history, affiliations</a>, and other installed software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Spyware in Android phones (and Windows? laptops): The Wall Street Journal " "(in an article blocked from us by a paywall) reports that <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/1/4580718/fbi-can-remotely-activate-android-and-laptop-microphones-reports-wsj\"> " "the FBI can remotely activate the GPS and microphone in Android phones and " "laptops</a> (presumably Windows laptops). Here is <a " "href=\"https://cryptome.org/2013/08/fbi-hackers.htm\">more info</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Spyware is present in some Android devices when they are sold. Some " "Motorola phones, made when this company was owned by Google, use a modified " "version of Android that <a " "href=\"http://www.beneaththewaves.net/Projects/Motorola_Is_Listening.html\"> " "sends personal data to Motorola</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A Motorola phone <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20170629175629/http://www.itproportal.com/2013/07/25/motorolas-new-x8-arm-chip-underpinning-the-always-on-future-of-android/\"> " "listens for voice all the time</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Play intentionally sends app developers <a " "href=\"https://gadgets360.com/apps/news/google-play-store-policy-raises-privacy-concerns-331116\"> " "the personal details of users that install the app</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Merely asking the “consent” of users is not enough to legitimize " "actions like this. At this point, most users have stopped reading the " "“Terms and Conditions” that spell out what they are " "“consenting” to. Google should clearly and honestly identify " "the information it collects on users, instead of hiding it in an obscurely " "worded EULA." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "However, to truly protect people's privacy, we must prevent Google and other " "companies from getting this personal information in the first place!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many web sites report all their visitors to Google by using the Google " "Analytics service, which <a " "href=\"https://www.pcworld.com/article/460787/google_analytics_breaks_norwegian_privacy_laws_local_agency_said.html\"> " "tells Google the IP address and the page that was visited</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome contains a key logger that <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190126075111/http://www.favbrowser.com/google-chrome-spyware-confirmed/\"> " "sends Google every URL typed in</a>, one key at a time." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Tyrants" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Tyrants are systems that reject any operating system not " "“authorized” by the manufacturer." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Motorola, then owned by Google, made <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20250422121516/http://blog.azimuthsecurity.com/2013/04/unlocking-motorola-bootloader.html\"> " "Android phones that are tyrants</a> (though someone found a way to crack the " "restriction)." 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 © 2017-2025 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/malware-google.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: malware-google.html\n" "POT-Creation-Date: 2025-05-10 11:25+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 "Google's Software Is Malware - 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> / By " "company /" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><h2> msgid "Google's Software is Malware" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Nonfree (proprietary) software is very often malware (designed to mistreat " "the user). Nonfree software is controlled by its developers, which puts them " "in a position of power over the users; <a " "href=\"/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html\">that is the " "basic injustice</a>. The developers and manufacturers often exercise that " "power to the detriment of the users they ought to serve." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "This typically takes the form of malicious functionalities." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><p> msgid "" "If you know of an example that ought to be in this page but isn't here, " "please write to <a " "href=\"mailto:webmasters@gnu.org\"><webmasters@gnu.org></a> to inform " "us. Please include the URL of a trustworthy reference or two to serve as " "specific substantiation." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><h3> msgid "Types of Google malware" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#back-doors\">Back doors</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#censorship\">Censorship</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#drm\">DRM</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#insecurity\">Insecurity</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#interference\">Interference</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#manipulation\">Manipulation</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#sabotage\">Sabotage</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#subscriptions\">Subscriptions</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#surveillance\">Surveillance</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><div><ul><li> msgid "<a href=\"#tyrants\">Tyrants</a>" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Back Doors" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The <a href=\"https://play.google.com/about/play-terms/\"> 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><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><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.com/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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android has a <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In Android, <a " "href=\"https://www.computerworld.com/article/2506557/google-throws--kill-switch--on-android-phones.html\"> " "Google has a back door to remotely delete apps</a>. (It was in a program " "called GTalkService, which seems since then to have been merged into Google " "Play.)" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google can also <a " "href=\"https://jon.oberheide.org/blog/2010/06/25/remote-kill-and-install-on-google-android/\"> " "forcibly and remotely install apps</a> through GTalkService. This is not " "equivalent to a universal back door, but permits various dirty tricks." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Although Google's <em>exercise</em> of this power has not been malicious so " "far, the point is that nobody should have such power, which could also be " "used maliciously. You might well decide to let a security service remotely " "<em>deactivate</em> programs that it considers malicious. But there is no " "excuse for allowing it to <em>delete</em> the programs, and you should have " "the right to decide who (if anyone) to trust in this way." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Censorship" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google <a " "href=\"https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2017/0316/Google-Family-Link-gives-parents-a-way-to-monitor-preteens-accounts\"> " "offers censorship software</a>, ostensibly for parents to put into their " "children's computers." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "On Windows and MacOS, Chrome <a " "href=\"https://sites.google.com/a/chromium.org/dev/developers/extensions-deployment-faq\"> " "disables extensions</a> that are not hosted in the Chrome Web Store." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "For example, an extension was <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20170120094917/https://consumerist.com/2017/01/18/why-is-google-blocking-this-ad-blocker-on-chrome/\"> " "banned from the Chrome Web Store, and permanently disabled</a> on more than " "40,000 computers." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/03/google-pulls-ad-blocking-app-for-samsung-phones\"> " "Google censored installation of Samsung's ad-blocker</a> on Android phones, " "saying that blocking ads is “interference” with the sites that " "advertise (and surveil users through ads)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The ad-blocker is proprietary software, just like the program (Google Play) " "that Google used to deny access to install it. Using a nonfree program gives " "the owner power over you, and Google has exercised that power." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google's censorship, unlike that of Apple, is not total: Android allows " "users to install apps in other ways. You can install free programs from " "f-droid.org." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "DRM" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Digital restrictions management, or “DRM,” refers to " "functionalities designed to restrict what users can do with the data in " "their computers." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google now allows Android apps to detect whether a device has been rooted, " "<a " "href=\"https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/13/netflix-confirms-blocking-rootedunlocked-devices-app-still-working-now/\">and " "refuse to install if so</a>. The Netflix app uses this ability to enforce " "DRM by refusing to install on rooted Android devices." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Update: Google <i>intentionally</i> changed Android so that apps <a " "href=\"https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-use-of-google-drm-means-rooted-android-devices-are-banned-170515/\">can " "detect rooted devices and refuse to run on them</a>. The Netflix app is " "proprietary malware, and one shouldn't use it. However, that does not make " "what Google has done any less wrong." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Chrome <a " "href=\"https://boingboing.net/2017/01/30/google-quietly-makes-optiona.html\">implements " "DRM</a>. So does Chromium, through nonfree software that is effectively part " "of it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a href=\"https://issues.chromium.org/issues/40504000\">More " "information</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android <a " "href=\"https://developer.android.com/reference/android/drm/package-summary.html\"> " "contains facilities specifically to support DRM</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Insecurity" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "These bugs are/were not intentional, so unlike the rest of the file they do " "not count as malware. We mention them to refute the supposition that " "prestigious proprietary software doesn't have grave bugs." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><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><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><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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "This involves an apparently unintentional weakness in Android, exploited " "intentionally by malicious apps." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google's ad platform enabled advertisers to <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/now-even-youtube-serves-ads-with-cpu-draining-cryptocurrency-miners/\"> " "run cryptocurrency miner code on the computers of YouTube users through " "proprietary JavaScript</a>. Some people noticed this, and the outrage made " "Google remove the miners, but the number of affected users was probably very " "high." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "<a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20180816030205/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/privacy-scandal-nsa-can-spy-on-smart-phone-data-a-920971.html\"> " "The NSA can tap data in smart phones, including iPhones, Android, and " "BlackBerry</a>. While there is not much detail here, it seems that this " "does not operate via the universal back door that we know nearly all " "portable phones have. It may involve exploiting various bugs. There are <a " "href=\"https://www.osnews.com/story/27416/the-second-operating-system-hiding-in-every-mobile-phone/\"> " "lots of bugs in the phones' radio software</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Interference" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "This section gives examples of Google software harassing or annoying the " "user, or causing trouble for the user. These actions are like sabotage but " "the word “sabotage” is too strong for them." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "In 2019, <a " "href=\"https://chromestory.com/2019/07/disable-pull-to-refresh-on-chrome-for-android/\"> " "Google revoked users' ability to turn off the “pull-to-refresh” " "gesture in Chrome for Android</a>. Despite <a " "href=\"https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/8152831\"> thousands of " "protests by frustrated users</a>, Google has not reverted its " "decision. Proprietary software developers are known for ignoring users' " "requests in favor of their own gain and convenience. Only free software " "gives users control over their own computing." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><div><h3> msgid "Manipulation" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google is <a " "href=\"https://slate.com/technology/2025/01/google-gemini-ai-workspace-default-opt-in.html\"> " "forcing its bullshit generator, Gemini, on many users of Gmail</a> without " "asking them, and not even offering the users a way to deactivate it." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Workplace IT managers, whose employees are forced to use Gmail, can get it " "turned off after a laborious procedure, followed by waiting—the " "darkest of dark patterns." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Sabotage" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "The wrongs in this section are not precisely malware, since they do not " "involve making the program that runs in a way that hurts the user. But they " "are a lot like malware, since they are technical Google actions that harm " "the users of specific Google software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Revolv is a device that managed “smart home” operations: " "switching lights, operate motion sensors, regulating temperature, etc. Its " "proprietary software depends on a remote server to do these tasks. On May " "15th, 2016, Google/Alphabet <a " "href=\"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/nest-reminds-customers-ownership-isnt-what-it-used-be\">intentionally " "broke it by shutting down the server</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "If it were free software, users would have the ability to make it work " "again, differently, and then have a freedom-respecting home instead of a " "“smart” home. Don't let proprietary software control your " "devices and turn them into $300 out-of-warranty bricks. Insist on " "self-contained computers that run free software!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google has long had <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/24/google-can-unlock-android-devices-remotely-if-phone-unencrypted\">a " "back door to remotely unlock an Android device</a>, unless its disk is " "encrypted (possible since Android 5.0 Lollipop, but still not quite the " "default)." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Subscriptions" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Nest snooper/surveillance cameras are always tethered to Google " "servers, record videos 24/7, and are <a " "href=\"https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/google-nest-cameras-get-a-25-33-subscription-price-hike/\"> " "subscription-based, which is an injustice to people who use them</a>. The " "article discusses the rise in prices for “plans” you can buy " "from Google, which include storing videos in the " "“cloud”—another word for someone else's computer." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Surveillance" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "The Pixel 9 “smart”phone <a " "href=\"https://cybernews.com/security/google-pixel-9-phone-beams-data-and-awaits-commands/\"> " "frequently updates Google servers with its location and current " "configuration</a> along with personally identifiable data, raising concerns " "about user privacy. Moreover, it communicates with services that are not in " "use, and periodically attempts to download experimental, possibly insecure " "software. The system does not inform the user that it is doing all this." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "There is hope, however: it is possible to <a " "href=\"https://doc.e.foundation/devices\"> replace the original Android " "operating system with a deGoogled version</a> in Pixel phones up to 8a, and " "in phones from many other brands. No doubt that the Pixel 9 will be " "supported soon." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><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><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://web.archive.org/web/20240123114737/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><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-a7383469308/\">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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Some Google apps on Android <a " "href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/13/google-location-tracking-android-iphone-mobile\"> " "record the user's location even when users disable “location " "tracking”</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "There are other ways to turn off the other kinds of location tracking, but " "most users will be tricked by the misleading control." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Android tracks location for Google <a " "href=\"https://www.techdirt.com/2017/11/21/investigation-finds-google-collected-location-data-even-with-location-services-turned-off/\"> " "even when “location services” are turned off, even when the " "phone has no SIM card</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><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><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><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google's new voice messaging app <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/21/12994362/allo-privacy-message-logs-google\">logs " "all conversations</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Play (a component of Android) <a " "href=\"https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/235594-yes-google-play-is-tracking-you-and-thats-just-the-tip-of-a-very-large-iceberg\"> " "tracks the users' movements without their permission</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Even if you disable Google Maps and location tracking, you must disable " "Google Play itself to completely stop the tracking. This is yet another " "example of nonfree software pretending to obey the user, when it's actually " "doing something else. Such a thing would be almost unthinkable with free " "software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome makes it easy for an extension to do <a " "href=\"https://labs.detectify.com/2015/07/28/how-i-disabled-your-chrome-security-extensions/\">total " "snooping on the user's browsing</a>, and many of them do so." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome includes a module that <a " "href=\"https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/google-chrome-listening-in-to-your-room-shows-the-importance-of-privacy-defense-in-depth/\"> " "activates microphones and transmits audio to its servers</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Nest thermometers send <a " "href=\"https://bgr.com/general/google-nest-jailbreak-hack/\">a lot of data " "about the user</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20151018132125/http://www.brad-x.com/2013/08/04/google-chrome-is-spyware/\"> " "spies on browser history, affiliations</a>, and other installed software." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Spyware in Android phones (and Windows? laptops): The Wall Street Journal " "(in an article blocked from us by a paywall) reports that <a " "href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/1/4580718/fbi-can-remotely-activate-android-and-laptop-microphones-reports-wsj\"> " "the FBI can remotely activate the GPS and microphone in Android phones and " "laptops</a> (presumably Windows laptops). Here is <a " "href=\"https://cryptome.org/2013/08/fbi-hackers.htm\">more info</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Spyware is present in some Android devices when they are sold. Some " "Motorola phones, made when this company was owned by Google, use a modified " "version of Android that <a " "href=\"http://www.beneaththewaves.net/Projects/Motorola_Is_Listening.html\"> " "sends personal data to Motorola</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "A Motorola phone <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20170629175629/http://www.itproportal.com/2013/07/25/motorolas-new-x8-arm-chip-underpinning-the-always-on-future-of-android/\"> " "listens for voice all the time</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Play intentionally sends app developers <a " "href=\"https://gadgets360.com/apps/news/google-play-store-policy-raises-privacy-concerns-331116\"> " "the personal details of users that install the app</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Merely asking the “consent” of users is not enough to legitimize " "actions like this. At this point, most users have stopped reading the " "“Terms and Conditions” that spell out what they are " "“consenting” to. Google should clearly and honestly identify " "the information it collects on users, instead of hiding it in an obscurely " "worded EULA." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "However, to truly protect people's privacy, we must prevent Google and other " "companies from getting this personal information in the first place!" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Many web sites report all their visitors to Google by using the Google " "Analytics service, which <a " "href=\"https://www.pcworld.com/article/460787/google_analytics_breaks_norwegian_privacy_laws_local_agency_said.html\"> " "tells Google the IP address and the page that was visited</a>." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Google Chrome contains a key logger that <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190126075111/http://www.favbrowser.com/google-chrome-spyware-confirmed/\"> " "sends Google every URL typed in</a>, one key at a time." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><h3> msgid "Tyrants" msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><p> msgid "" "Tyrants are systems that reject any operating system not " "“authorized” by the manufacturer." msgstr "" #. type: Content of: <div><div><ul><li><p> msgid "" "Motorola, then owned by Google, made <a " "href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20250422121516/http://blog.azimuthsecurity.com/2013/04/unlocking-motorola-bootloader.html\"> " "Android phones that are tyrants</a> (though someone found a way to crack the " "restriction)." 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 © 2017-2025 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 ""