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This monetization scheme benefits the botnet controller and the developer who added the SDK and not the user who likely did not realize they signed up to become an exit node.

by charcircuit2 hours ago|

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It allows as free versions of apps to be economically viable and compete with others. It helps users because they don't need to be spied on and shown ads to fund the development of the app.

The existence of an app brings users value, else they wouldn't use it.

by ryandrake1 hours ago|

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Recruiting your users' systems into a botnet is not an acceptable way to make an app "economically viable" any more than, say, installing a rootkit on their systems.

by nemomarx1 hours ago|

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the fsf has never really been concerned with commercial viability. They're the worst audience for this sort of argument.

and I doubt these apps are really Free versions - do they support user modifications and access to the code? If they did support the four freedoms maybe the fsf would have something positive to say to balance it out?

by worik1 hours ago|

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"Monetization". What a horror.

I pay for some software services. The services I pay for have a billing page (or a donation page) and I pay via the banking system

I rigorously block every ad, every tracker, every thing that does "monetization"

The evil period of trying sneaky ways to generate money is, I am optimistic, coming to an end.

If you want my money, ask me. If you must have my money, demand it. If you are sneaking around "monetization" I will do everything I can to stop you.

by FabCH8 minutes ago|

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Yeah but they don’t want your money. They want the botnet users money.

You got a genuinely free, to you, app.