Pre-installed software

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Pre-installed software (also known as bundled software)[1] is software already installed and licensed on a computer or smartphone bought from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).[2] The operating system is usually factory-installed, but because it is a general requirement, this term is used for additional software apart from the bare necessary amount, usually from other sources (or the operating system vendor).

cyberattacks that breach the security used in banking and finance websites.[11][12]

Some

unwanted software bundling
that similarly installs unwanted software.

Unwanted software

Often new PCs come with factory-installed software which the manufacturer was paid to include, but is of dubious value to the purchaser. Most of these programs are included without the user's knowledge, and have no instructions on how to opt-out or remove them.[13]

A Microsoft executive mentioned that within the company these applications were dubbed craplets (a

the antitrust case against Microsoft prevented the company from stopping the pre-installation of these programs by OEMs. Walt Mossberg, technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, condemned "craplets" in two columns published in April 2007, and suggested several possible strategies for removing them.[15][16]

The bundling of these unwanted applications is often

Sony Corporation announced a plan to charge end users US$50 for the service; Sony subsequently decided to drop the charge for this service and offer it for free after many users expressed outrage.[6] Microsoft Store similarly offers a range of "Signature Edition" computers sold in a similar state, as well as extended warranty and support packages through Microsoft.[17]

On smartphones

rooting) first.[18][7][19][8]

Some of these apps may run in the background, consuming battery life, and may also duplicate functionality already provided by the phone itself; for example,

text messaging program in lieu of the stock messaging app included within the OS), and VZ Navigator (a subscription service redundant to the free Google Maps service).[8][9] In addition, apps bundled by OEMs may also include special system-level permissions that bypass those normally enforced by the operating system.[20]

Google Play Store during initial device setup instead; they are installed the same way as user-downloaded apps, and can be uninstalled normally.[21]

Although Apple does not allow operators to customize the iPhone in this manner,[19][8] the company has faced criticism for including an increasing number of factory-installed apps in iOS that cannot be removed.[22]

Legal considerations

  • In April 2014, South Korea implemented new regulatory guidelines for the mobile phone industry, requiring non-essential apps bundled on a smartphone to be user-removable.[23]
  • In December 2019, Russia passed a law effective 1 July 2020, which requires that specific types of consumer electronics devices be factory-installed with applications developed by Russian vendors. The goal of this law is to discourage the use of foreign competitors.[24][25]

See also

  • Tying (commerce) – practice of selling one product or service as a mandatory addition to the purchase of a different product or service
    • Product bundling – Offering several products as one
      • Bundled software
         – Offering several products as one
      • wikt:bundleware
  • Shovelware – Poor-quality software collection
  • Application software – Computing software designed to carry out a specific task

References

  1. ^ a b Fisher, Ken (2007-01-11). "$60 to keep crapware off of a Windows PC?". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  2. ^ "Pre-installed on a new computer", a Microsoft article
  3. ^ Melanie Pinola (November 21, 2012). "Here's all the crapware that comes with new Windows 8 PCs". IT World. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  4. ^ Justin James (December 5, 2012). "Five apps for crapware cleanup". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  5. ^ Jared Newman (Jan 15, 2013). "Lucrative Windows crapware market is exactly why we need app stores". PCWorld. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  6. ^ a b Rob Beschizza (2008-03-21). "Breaking: Sony won't charge $50 to remove bloatware". Wired. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  7. ^ a b Ganapati, Priya. "Bloatware Creeps Into Android Phones". Wired. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Friday Rant: The Ever-Sorrier State of Android Bloatware". Time. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "Samsung Galaxy S5 Bloatware Removal Guide". Laptop Magazine. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Here's how Verizon's Android bloatware might become the best ever". BGR. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. government urges Lenovo customers to remove Superfish software". Reuters. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  12. ^ "Alert: Lenovo "Superfish" Adware Vulnerable to HTTPS Spoofing". United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  13. ^ "PUP Criteria". Malwarebytes. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  14. ^ Khan, Saleem (2007-01-10). "'Craplets' could damage Vista launch: Microsoft exec". CBC News. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  15. ^ a b Mossberg, Walter S. (2007-04-05). "Using Even New PCs Is Ruined by a Tangle of Trial Programs, Ads". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  16. ^ Mossberg, Walter S. (2007-04-12). "Ways You Can Avoid Getting Junk Programs on Your New Computer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  17. ^ "Microsoft's Signature Edition laptops deliver the 'clean PC' experience you really want". PC World. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  18. ^ "LG G Vista (Verizon Wireless)". PC Magazine. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  19. ^ a b c "Want to protect your Android phone? Here's how to kill its crapware". IT World. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  20. ^ Cimpanu, Catalin. "50+ orgs ask Google to take a stance against Android bloatware". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  21. ^ "Transcript: Ars talks to Android execs about Lollipop and the Nexuses". Ars Technica. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  22. ^ Barrett, Brian. "Apple Music's Worst Feature? You Can't Delete It". Wired. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  23. ^ "South Korea rules pre-installed phone bloatware must be deletable". ZDNet. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  24. ^ Cimpanu, Catalin. "Phones and PCs sold in Russia will have to come pre-installed with Russian apps". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  25. ^ Porter, Jon (2019-12-03). "Russia passes law forcing manufacturers to install Russian-made software". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
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