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.

^ Cite error: The named reference arstechnica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Pre-installed on a new computer", a Microsoft article
^ Melanie Pinola (November 21, 2012). "Here's all the crapware that comes with new Windows 8 PCs". IT World. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
^ Justin James (December 5, 2012). "Five apps for crapware cleanup". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
^ Jared Newman (Jan 15, 2013). "Lucrative Windows crapware market is exactly why we need app stores". PCWorld. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
^ Cite error: The named reference wired was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference wired-androidbloatware was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference time-sorrierstate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference laptop-s5remove was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference bgr-g3verizon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "U.S. government urges Lenovo customers to remove Superfish software". Reuters. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
^ "Alert: Lenovo "Superfish" Adware Vulnerable to HTTPS Spoofing". United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.

[arstechnica-1] Cite error: The named reference arstechnica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[ms-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.

[wired-6] Cite error: The named reference wired was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[wired-androidbloatware-7] Cite error: The named reference wired-androidbloatware was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[time-sorrierstate-8] Cite error: The named reference time-sorrierstate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[laptop-s5remove-9] Cite error: The named reference laptop-s5remove was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[bgr-g3verizon-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.

[:0-12] "Alert: Lenovo "Superfish" Adware Vulnerable to HTTPS Spoofing". United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.

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