Much abrupt as the question looks at first, still the answer is also pertinent : are you disregardless for your software security? Sure enough you are! That is, unless you are one of the 0.1 % of users who do skim the End User License Agreement (EULA, also known as software license). Else, well, then you sign contracts blindly because that box filled with juristic patois when setting up a computer program is a contract indeed!
Recall 5 years ago when Gator produced a violent storm of objection. Its GAIN Publishing End User License Agreement (EULA aka software license) said the user was automatically according in also installing their GAIN AdServer software if consenting the EULA. So, the software license handed the company permission to set up software that collected particular identifiable info about computer utilisation and web surfing. This software came straightaway along with the alleged freeware and was installed in the same process. At the end, this resulted in a display of all sorts of ads.
Several software licenses go exceedingly far. The EULA from Gator even unauthorized the use of popular uninstallers on which countless people trusted to remove this undesirable material. Users were prohibited from using devices like web supervising programs on the GAIN AdServer, hence rejecting all possible control. Obviously, that is no longer associated to software protection against cracking and was more than a bridge too far for many users.
Hence, if all is specified in the software license, then that is as well what can aid decide about what you may desire to have installed, or not! Indeed, especially the software balancing at the border of juristic edges will try to tidy what is not all right. And you guessed it correctly: that is most often uncovered in the EULA.
Thus far, all may appear rather normal, however, the software license is ill-famed for bearing stealthy articles defending preposterous restrictions on the behaviour of software users whilst providing the software programmer or seller with unproportionally intrusive forces. E.g., Microsoft software licenses reach the company the power to gather info about the user's system and its use and to furnish this info to different companies. They also grant Microsoft the right to make changes to the user's computer without calling for permission. Now, don't be misguided by supposing this is a Microsoft-only thing, software licenses often have a clause that allows vendors to realize changes to users' systems without notifying nor calling for the user.
One could get the feeling little can combat a negative EULA or TOS. Well, that is not wholly true, recently there have been cases where popular services have adjusted their terms of service because of the user's aversion for a couple too striking terms. So, protesting works!
An example is Facebook who adjusted its TOS back to the old one after immense complaints that the terms of use suddenly pronounced that Facebook retained all rights to the user's content, even if he canceled his account.
A primary idea behind the EULA is rather commonsense: to protect the seller from cracking and reversing. But the trouble is that software licenses are getting increasingly restrictive. E.g. Microsoft began with vista's EULA to interdict the installment the operating system in virtual machines though this is precisely what researchers and reviewers are utilizing for their job.
It is lawyer stuff but you may question whether such licenses are legal. Corresponding to attorneys though, most of them do hold up in tribunal, the exception being if the text is not reasonably comprehensible. A second exception are children who are more often than not freed for the agreements established this way.
The fact that a EULA might not be legitimately enforceable - for whatever cause - is no consolation because it is being enforced on you whether you wish it or not. The damage is done as soon as the software is installed on your machine and it doesn't even weigh if the ratified contract were lawfully invalid. Already simply by using the computer, the user is sustaining his part of the contract.
The basic thought behind the software license - creating a lucid legal defense against illegal software cracking - has long been bypassed indeed. Better, be aware that a click of the computer mouse could raise a firm deal of inconvenience. So, only one advice can be given: throw away the blindfold, do skim the end user license agreements, and that is not intended for freeware only!
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