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by **Paul** Mon 07 Sep 2015, 9:24 pm

Valley of the Sun Casual Club » Discussions » Proprietary and Free software

azdewars

110 Posts
08-27-2015 10:33 PM

Proprietary software, also called nonfree software, means software that doesn't respect users' freedom and community. This means that its developer or owner has power over its users. This power is itself an injustice.
The point of this page is that the initial injustice of proprietary software often leads to further injustices: malicious functionalities.
Power corrupts, so the proprietary program's developer is tempted to design the program to mistreat its users—that is, to make it malware. (Malware means software whose functioning mistreats the user.) Of course, the developer usually does not do this out of malice, but rather to put the users at a disadvantage. That does not make it any less nasty or more legitimate.
Yielding to that temptation has become ever more frequent; nowadays it is standard practice. Modern proprietary software is software for suckers!
- Company or type of product
- Apple Malware
- Microsoft Malware
- Malware in mobile devices
- Malware in the Amazon Swindle
- Type of malware
- Back doors
- Censorship
- Insecurity
- Sabotage
- Interference
- Surveillance
- Digital restrictions management or “DRM” means functionalities designed to restrict what users can do with the data in their computers.
- Jails—systems that impose censorship on application programs.
- Tyrants—systems that reject any operating system not “authorized” by the manufacturer.
“Free software” means software that respects users' freedom and community. Roughly, it means that the users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. Thus, “free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”. We sometimes call it “libre software” to show we do not mean it is gratis.
We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them. With these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the program and what it does for them. When users don't control the program, we call it a “nonfree” or “proprietary” program. The nonfree program controls the users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the program an instrument of unjust power.
A program is free software if the program's users have the four essential freedoms:
- The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these freedoms. Otherwise, it is nonfree. While we can distinguish various nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of being free, we consider them all equally unethical.
Below is a link to GNU/Linux free software home page.
http://www.gnu.org/

john

by **Paul** Sun 18 Oct 2015, 8:53 pm

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JimQ916

1,199 Posts
08-28-2015 6:36 AM

John...thanks...great info to know. I've become VERY selective about what I download and also have 5 different utilities......anti-virus (3 counting Windows Defender), malware, spyware and a utility called Zone Alarm which blocks any sites from gaining access to my computer....also have a utility to clear all Temp files and cached files along with cookies and what-not. Lost 2 computers from virus's that I stupidly opened and installed...not gonna lose this one. I run ALL of these once a week (usually Sunday). CNET is where I got these protection from...great site....lot's of utilities and most are free...Jim

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azdewars

141 Posts
08-28-2015 8:23 AM

Thank you Jim, I also have same kind of setup. I use AVG Internet Security 2015, AVG PC tune-Up 2015, CCLEANER (free) is an excellent app cleaner and UltraDefrag (free) drives.
I scan many of source code of applications and you would be surprised at the spyware, malware and adware that is inserted into applications that appear to be helpful to us. Its ashame what it has come to and where its going./.
John

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pdb1

5,705 Posts
08-28-2015 12:29 PM

Whatever works for each . I have been using Iolo's System Mechanic Professional as long as I can remember . Has all the go to programs I ever need . And now has these new " live boost " and " power sense " monitoring that is very comprehensible .

With "activecare antimalware " .

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azdewars

141 Posts
08-28-2015 4:01 PM

Thank you Paul. My intent of this post was to make members aware of GNU OS. Its free software. Not free as in free beer but free as in free speech. I post a link to their homepage if you'd like to take a peek. Where its very hard to insert any malware, spyware, adware, etc. as the source code is open to ev1 to modify to suit their particular needs
John

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pdb1

5,705 Posts
08-28-2015 4:12 PM

azdewars:
Proprietary software, also called nonfree software, means software that doesn't respect users' freedom and community. This means that its developer or owner has power over its users. This power is itself an injustice.

azdewars:

Below is a link to GNU/Linux free software home page.
http://www.gnu.org/

You are right John . I am also an advocate of these programs . My post is off topic . For lack of a better place to post it . One can look at it is as " definitely nonfree software ".Just an alternative . Another approach . As all should be available to chose from . I apologize for hitchhiking on your thread .