Pre-installed software

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).

Unwanted factory-installed software (also known as crapware[3][4][5] or bloatware[6][7][8][9][10]) can include major security vulnerabilities, like Superfish, which installs a root certificate to inject advertising into encrypted Google search pages, but leaves computers vulnerable to serious cyberattacks that breach the security used in banking and finance websites.[11][12]

Some mirror sites for freeware use unwanted software bundling that similarly installs unwanted software.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference arstechnica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.
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  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference wired-androidbloatware was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference bgr-g3verizon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.