alt Hacker News>Popa botnet
It's no more of a botnet than ProtonVPN for example. Apps intentionally added the Popa SDK to their apps as a monetization method. This allows apps without ads and tracking to be financially viable. I would expect FSF to support apps being able to move off of monetization schemes that depend on tracking people so it is disappointing for them to put such alternative monetization technologies in a negative light.
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thomzane • today at 6:06 PM
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.
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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.