Malware is a type of program designed to harm you.
Proprietary software is just software you’re not licenced to modify or redistribute.
Not having the ability to control the software doesn’t equate to it being harmful.
In the world there will be many situations where you do not have absolute freedom. If you’re not a child, this isn’t a particularly surprising nor bad fact of life. You’re NOT free to dump 35 kgs of uranium into a river, much like you’re not free to drive on the opposite side of the road, and you’re not free to modify and redistribute Microsoft Paint.
Well the sun and your cells aren’t controlled by anyone, there is no one taking your choices away and profitting from that.
I see your point with offline games, I also wouldn’t consider them as malware.
I had regular programs in mind you use on a pc or smartphone
Malware is a type of program designed to harm you.
Proprietary software is just software you’re not licenced to modify or redistribute.
Not having the ability to control the software doesn’t equate to it being harmful.
In the world there will be many situations where you do not have absolute freedom. If you’re not a child, this isn’t a particularly surprising nor bad fact of life. You’re NOT free to dump 35 kgs of uranium into a river, much like you’re not free to drive on the opposite side of the road, and you’re not free to modify and redistribute Microsoft Paint.
I don’t think restriction in society IRL is comparable to digital restriction. But we don’t have to agree.