The GNU.org website has an interesting post in the category “Philosophy of the GNU Project.” In short, it describes Microsoft software as malware. Along with Microsoft, it also mentions Apple and Amazon.
We cannot know why these statements appear on the GΝU.org website, but what gives them particular weight is the fact that the site is supported by the FSF (Free Software Foundation) or the Free Software Foundation.
The Free Software Foundation is dedicated to the development and promotion of software that users need, without seeking any profit. This fact allows the Foundation not to renege on its words.
To be fair, however, we must state what the Free Software Foundation defines as malicious software.
Proprietary software is often malicious software [1]
- “malicious software”: translation of the original term “malware”.
The FSF states that “Malware means software that is designed to operate in ways that misuse or harm the user.” It makes no reference to the fact that some users may already know what runs on their computers.
Continuing the FPS notes that Windows systems have hidden backdoors and that in Windows 10 they are used for automatic update installation, as well as to remotely disable applications. Microsoft continues to notify the NSA first about security vulnerabilities before addressing them, and it halts the distribution of Windows XP, except for the few companies that keep paying.
As you can imagine, the Institute also mentioned the default settings of Windows 10, which allow Microsoft to spy on its customers, that disk encryption in Windows 10 sends the keys to Microsoft, and that OneDrive allows the NSA to directly monitor users' data.
Apple and Amazon did not escape the GNU.org website, but the accusations are “mistakes” compared to the “crimes” of Microsoft.
