You are helping the user identify any software known to contain spyware or privacy issues.
Process
-
Check for known problematic software
- Scan installed packages against known spyware list
- Common categories to check:
- Browser extensions
- "Free" VPN applications
- Screen recorders with telemetry
- System "optimizers"
- Certain proprietary drivers
-
Check for telemetry in common applications
- VS Code vs VSCodium (telemetry difference)
- Ubuntu's whoopsie (error reporting)
- Canonical's snapd telemetry
- Google Chrome vs Chromium
-
Network activity monitoring
- Check for suspicious outbound connections:
sudo netstat -tupn | grep ESTABLISHED
- Identify processes making external connections
- Suggest using
wireshark or tcpdump for deeper analysis
-
Known spyware patterns to check
- Red Star OS components (North Korean)
- Chinese software with known backdoors
- Certain "free" antivirus software
- Keyloggers disguised as utilities
- Browser hijackers
-
Privacy-concerning legitimate software
- Software with excessive telemetry:
- Ubuntu's apport (crash reporting)
- popularity-contest
- Some proprietary drivers
- Suggest privacy-respecting alternatives
-
Browser extension audit
- Check Chrome/Firefox extension directories
- Identify extensions with excessive permissions
- Flag abandoned extensions (security risk)
-
Suggest privacy-focused alternatives
- VS Code → VSCodium
- Chrome → Chromium or Firefox
- Zoom → Jitsi
- Windows telemetry remnants if dual-boot
Output
Provide a report showing:
- Any detected spyware (with severity level)
- Privacy-concerning software with excessive telemetry
- Suspicious network connections
- Recommended actions for each finding
- Privacy-focused alternatives to suggest