Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Autodesk

2026-03-01T18:32:56Z

MrAlex!: Fixed formatting and a bunch of inconsistencies

{{Incomplete}}{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Logo = Autodesk.png
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Public
| Website = https://autodesk.com
| Description = Software company known for various products such as AutoCAD. Modern versions operate via Always-online DRM. Has ended users' lifetime subscriptions.
}}
[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Alex |date=6 Mar 2024 |title=John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174807/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's extensive portfolio of proprietary software enables its programs to interoperate, facilitating cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration among owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date |url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014051/https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install network licensing software |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014417/https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance.

==Consumer impact summary==

==='''User Freedom'''===
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@lenny_1962 |date=3 Feb 2025 |title=HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028 |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174804/https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>; future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear implications for existing installations<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10 |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130015007/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>; refused to honor permanent licenses of Product Design Suite 2013'''<ref name=":3" />'''; is able to detect if pirated versions of their software are installed alongside the official one<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804044043/https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>; sued Timothy Vernor for copyright infringement for selling his physical copy of Autodesk.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk Inc |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210923200001/https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |archive-date=23 Sep 2021 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Justia}}</ref>

In the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Autodesk products, section 9.7 allows Autodesk to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously{{Citation needed}}. Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>

==='''Business Model'''===
Autodesk transitioned their go-to-market model from perpetual licenses to subscriptions and multi-year contracts billed annually<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Autodesk Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Autodesk Investor Relations |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250705192736/https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |archive-date=5 Jul 2025}}</ref>. As noted in their annual proxy statement: <blockquote>Our go-to-market (GTM) model has evolved significantly and purposefully over the years, from the transition to subscription and multi-year contracts billed annually, through self-service enablement, the adoption of direct billing, and more. In fiscal 2025, we completed the launch of our direct billing model (“the new transaction model”) and are now beginning the optimization phase, positioning Autodesk to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and channel partners. This comes from faster and less complex processes and more digital self-service and automation that enable tighter channel partnerships and less duplication of effort. The new transaction model will further unlock long-term value by strengthening our sales and marketing efficiency.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
==='''Market Control'''===
Autodesk is the biggest player in the CAD and BIM software markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoCAD market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Revit market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Market Overview Of BIM And CAD Software Usage Of European Architects |url=https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=USP}}</ref> Autodesk has done many things throughout the years to achieve this market dominance (on top of offering products that many professionals consider to be the best the market has to offer), including:

*Offering licenses to their products free of charge to students and educators. This creates a self perpetuating cycle where people join the labor market already proficient in the tools Autodesk offers which makes companies more likely to adopt those tools so that they are able to hire the best talent, and they'll also be able to replace employees with someone else trained on that same tool more easily. This in turn pushes the education system to keep on training students on these tools since they're in high demand and in turn it will give them their best chance when looking for jobs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk Student and Educator Resources |url=https://www.autodesk.com/in/education/home |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Autodesk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 14th Network Effect: Expertise |url=https://www.nfx.com/post/14th-network-effect-expertise |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Nfx}}</ref>
*Acquisitions. Since its inception Autodesk has made over 50 acquisitions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acquisitions by Autodesk |url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-autodesk/__Kxu4Vt6UZ7eVfgRkhMvgWtudb5ZVezJ52v763sVyeK4 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Tracxn}}</ref> with some sources claiming over 80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/autodesk |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=crunchbase}}</ref> As of 2026 they offer over 100 products.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Ultimate Autodesk Software List: All 112 Products Explained |url=https://quadrasol.co.uk/blog/autodesk-software-collection/ |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Quadra Solutions}}</ref>

Their market dominance allows them continuously raise the prices of the subscriptions for their products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk continues to enshittify Fusion 360 with a 27% price increase |url=https://www.ondsel.com/blog/autodesk-enshittifies-fusion-360/ |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Ondsel}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===HSMWorks end of life===
In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into its own software and cloud services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2012 |title=Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215230602/https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |archive-date=15 Feb 2026 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpetual licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Swan |first=Keli |date=14 Jun 2021 |title=Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I |url=https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/#:~:text=Autodesk%20introduced%20subscription%20plans%20in,previous%20versions%20of%20perpetual%20software. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118133920/https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=scottandscottllp.com}}</ref> In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers, granting them entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Apr 2019 |title=HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116105651/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |archive-date=16 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028, for all subscribers. "''At that point, you will no longer be able to download, access, '''or use''' HSMWorks.''"<ref name=":1" />

Because HSMWorks was subscription-only, or entitlement was only available through a Fusion 360 subscription, from 2016 onward, any person or organization that used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (although unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus, no solution exists to bridge users' data to actively supported software.

==='''Ian Davis ended lifetime subscriptions'''===
In 2023, YouTuber Ian Davis owned a permanent, standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013, which failed to renew. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-06-29 |title=So much for Permanent Standalone licensing... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |publication-place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2023-06-30 |title=Autodesk screws customers by turning lifetime licenses into subscriptions |url=Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-07-03 |title=Thoughts on AutoCad License invalidation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Windows 10 support discontinuation===
In 2024, Autodesk announced that Fusion would no longer support Windows 10 installations after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers, and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unclear whether existing installations will continue to function, especially since the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled" is confusing and leaves questions unanswered.<ref name=":2" />

===Telemetry bugs and harmful fines===
In 2017, consumers reported that the data analytics systems<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS |url=https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210123931/https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |archive-date=10 Dec 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> built into Autodesk's software detected pirated versions of Autodesk products on PCs. This detection would be able to happen even if the pirated software was uninstalled ''before'' purchasing an official license and installing the real product. Autodesk sent large fines as a punishment.<ref name=":5" /> This software has also been reported to malfunction, and Autodesk is allegedly pressuring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/comment/lod8lo2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223030344/https://old.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/lod8lo2/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc.===
In 2007, Timothy Vernor tried to sell his physical copy of Autodesk. Autodesk sued Vernor for copyright infringement in Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc as Vernor's purchase was for a license. The case made its way to the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, where it was decided in Autodesk's favor, limiting the [[first-sale doctrine]]<ref name=":6" />.

==Products==
As of 2026 Autodesk offers over 100 different products,<ref name=":4" /> some of the most notable ones are:
*Autodesk AutoCAD - 2D and 3D CAD software for drafting, design and modelling.
*Autodesk Revit - 3D BIM software for drafting, designing and modelling buildings and structures.
*Autodesk Inventor - 3D CAD software for mechanical design.
*Autodesk Fusion - 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software for product design and manufacturing workflows.
*Autodesk 3ds Max - 3D modelling, animation and rendering software.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Autodesk]]

Autodesk

2026-02-27T18:00:04Z

MrAlex!: Reworked products section

{{Incomplete}}{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Logo = Autodesk.png
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Public
| Website = https://autodesk.com
| Description = Software company known for various products such as AutoCAD. Modern versions operate via Always-online DRM. Has ended users' lifetime subscriptions.
}}
[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Alex |date=6 Mar 2024 |title=John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174807/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's extensive portfolio of proprietary software enables its programs to interoperate, facilitating cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration among owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date |url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014051/https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install network licensing software |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014417/https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance.

==Consumer impact summary==

==='''User Freedom'''===
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable.<ref name=":1" />

Future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear implications for existing installations.<ref name=":2" />

Autodesk refused to honor permanent licenses (e.g., Product Design Suite 2013).'''<ref name=":3" />'''

In the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Autodesk products, section 9.7 allows Autodesk to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously{{Citation needed}}. Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>

==='''Business Model'''===
Autodesk transitioned their go-to-market model from perpetual licenses to subscriptions and multi-year contracts billed annually<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Autodesk Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Autodesk Investor Relations |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250705192736/https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |archive-date=5 Jul 2025}}</ref>. As noted in their annual proxy statement: <blockquote>Our go-to-market (GTM) model has evolved significantly and purposefully over the years, from the transition to subscription and multi-year contracts billed annually, through self-service enablement, the adoption of direct billing, and more. In fiscal 2025, we completed the launch of our direct billing model (“the new transaction model”) and are now beginning the optimization phase, positioning Autodesk to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and channel partners. This comes from faster and less complex processes and more digital self-service and automation that enable tighter channel partnerships and less duplication of effort. The new transaction model will further unlock long-term value by strengthening our sales and marketing efficiency.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
==='''Market Control'''===
Autodesk is the biggest player in the CAD and BIM software markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoCAD market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Revit market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Market Overview Of BIM And CAD Software Usage Of European Architects |url=https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=USP}}</ref> Autodesk has done many things throughout the years to achieve this market dominance (on top of offering products that many professionals consider to be the best the market has to offer):

*Offering licenses to their products free of charge to students and educators. This creates a self perpetuating cycle where people join the labor market already proficient in the tools Autodesk offers which makes companies more likely to adopt those tools so that they are able to hire the best talent, and they'll also be able to replace employees with someone else trained on that same tool more easily. This in turn pushes the education system to keep on training students on these tools so that they'll have their best chance when looking for jobs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk Student and Educator Resources |url=https://www.autodesk.com/in/education/home |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Autodesk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 14th Network Effect: Expertise |url=https://www.nfx.com/post/14th-network-effect-expertise |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Nfx}}</ref>
*Acquisitions. Since its inception Autodesk has made over 50 acquisitions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acquisitions by Autodesk |url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-autodesk/__Kxu4Vt6UZ7eVfgRkhMvgWtudb5ZVezJ52v763sVyeK4 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Tracxn}}</ref> with some sources claiming over 80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/autodesk |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=crunchbase}}</ref> As of 2026 they offer over 100 products.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Ultimate Autodesk Software List: All 112 Products Explained |url=https://quadrasol.co.uk/blog/autodesk-software-collection/ |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Quadra Solutions}}</ref>

Their market dominance allows them continuously raise the prices of the subscriptions of their products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk continues to enshittify Fusion 360 with a 27% price increase |url=https://www.ondsel.com/blog/autodesk-enshittifies-fusion-360/ |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Ondsel}}</ref>

===Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc.===
In 2007, Timothy Vernor tried to sell his physical copy of Autodesk. Autodesk sued Vernor for copyright infringement in Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc as Vernor's purchase was for a license. The case made its way to the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, where it was decided in Autodesk's favor, limiting the [[first-sale doctrine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk Inc |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Justia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210923200001/https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |archive-date=23 Sep 2021}}</ref>.

==Controversies==

===Telemetry bugs and harmful fines===
In 2017, consumers reported that Autodesk's telemetry on paid versions of software detected pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly received<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS |url=https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210123931/https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref> on paid versions of software detecting pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly sent large fines as a punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804044043/https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This software has also been reported to malfunction, and Autodesk is allegedly pressuring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/comment/lod8lo2/ |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223030344/https://old.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/lod8lo2/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==='''Ian Davis ended lifetime subscriptions'''===
'''In 2023, YouTuber Ian Davis owned a permanent, standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013, which failed to renew. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-06-29 |title=So much for Permanent Standalone licensing... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |publication-place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2023-06-30 |title=Autodesk screws customers by turning lifetime licenses into subscriptions |url=Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-07-03 |title=Thoughts on AutoCad License invalidation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Windows 10 support discontinuation===
In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers, and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unclear whether existing installations will continue to function, especially since the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled" is confusing and leaves questions unanswered.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10 |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130015007/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

===HSMWorks end of life===
In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into its own software and cloud services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2012 |title=Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215230602/https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |archive-date=15 Feb 2026 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpetual licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Swan |first=Keli |date=14 Jun 2021 |title=Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I |url=https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/#:~:text=Autodesk%20introduced%20subscription%20plans%20in,previous%20versions%20of%20perpetual%20software. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118133920/https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=scottandscottllp.com}}</ref> In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers, granting them entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Apr 2019 |title=HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116105651/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |archive-date=16 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028, for all subscribers. "''At that point, you will no longer be able to download, access, '''or use''' HSMWorks.''"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@lenny_1962 |date=3 Feb 2025 |title=HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028 |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174804/https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Because HSMWorks was subscription-only, or entitlement was only available through a Fusion 360 subscription, from 2016 onward, any person or organization that used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (although unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus, no solution exists to bridge users' data to actively supported software.

==Products==
As of 2026 Autodesk offers over 100 different products,<ref name=":4" /> some of the most notable ones are:
*Autodesk AutoCAD: 2D and 3D CAD software for drafting, design and modelling.
*Autodesk Revit: 3D BIM software for drafting, designing and modelling buildings and structures.
*Autodesk Inventor - 3D CAD software for mechanical design.
*Autodesk Fusion - 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software for product design and manufacturing workflows.
*Autodesk 3ds Max - 3D modelling, animation and rendering software.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Autodesk]]

Autodesk

2026-02-26T19:26:56Z

MrAlex!: Reworked "market control" section

{{Incomplete}}{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Logo = Autodesk.png
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Public
| Website = https://autodesk.com
| Description = Software company known for various products such as AutoCAD. Modern versions operate via Always-online DRM. Has ended users' lifetime subscriptions.
}}
[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Alex |date=6 Mar 2024 |title=John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174807/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's extensive portfolio of proprietary software enables its programs to interoperate, facilitating cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration among owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date |url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014051/https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install network licensing software |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014417/https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance.

==Consumer impact summary==

==='''User Freedom'''===
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable.<ref name=":1" />

Future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear implications for existing installations.<ref name=":2" />

Autodesk refused to honor permanent licenses (e.g., Product Design Suite 2013).'''<ref name=":3" />'''

In the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Autodesk products, section 9.7 allows Autodesk to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously{{Citation needed}}. Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>

==='''Business Model'''===
Autodesk transitioned their go-to-market model from perpetual licenses to subscriptions and multi-year contracts billed annually<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Autodesk Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Autodesk Investor Relations |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250705192736/https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |archive-date=5 Jul 2025}}</ref>. As noted in their annual proxy statement: <blockquote>Our go-to-market (GTM) model has evolved significantly and purposefully over the years, from the transition to subscription and multi-year contracts billed annually, through self-service enablement, the adoption of direct billing, and more. In fiscal 2025, we completed the launch of our direct billing model (“the new transaction model”) and are now beginning the optimization phase, positioning Autodesk to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and channel partners. This comes from faster and less complex processes and more digital self-service and automation that enable tighter channel partnerships and less duplication of effort. The new transaction model will further unlock long-term value by strengthening our sales and marketing efficiency.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
==='''Market Control'''===
Autodesk is the biggest player in the CAD and BIM software markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoCAD market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/cad-software/autocad-market-share |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Revit market share |url=https://6sense.com/tech/bim-and-architectural-design-software/autodesk-revit-market-share |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=6sense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Market Overview Of BIM And CAD Software Usage Of European Architects |url=https://www.usp-research.com/insights/news/market-overview-of-bim-and-cad-software-usage-of-european-architects/ |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=USP}}</ref> Autodesk has done many things throughout the years to achieve this market dominance (on top of offering products that many professionals consider to be the best the market has to offer):

* Offering licenses to their products free of charge to students and educators. This creates a self perpetuating cycle where people join the labor market already proficient in the tools Autodesk offers which makes companies more likely to adopt those tools so that they are able to hire the best talent, and they'll also be able to replace employees with someone else trained on that same tool more easily. This in turn pushes the education system to keep on training students on these tools so that they'll have their best chance when looking for jobs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk Student and Educator Resources |url=https://www.autodesk.com/in/education/home |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Autodesk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 14th Network Effect: Expertise |url=https://www.nfx.com/post/14th-network-effect-expertise |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Nfx}}</ref>
* Acquisitions. Since its inception Autodesk has made over 50 acquisitions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acquisitions by Autodesk |url=https://tracxn.com/d/acquisitions/acquisitions-by-autodesk/__Kxu4Vt6UZ7eVfgRkhMvgWtudb5ZVezJ52v763sVyeK4 |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Tracxn}}</ref> with some sources claiming over 80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/autodesk |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=crunchbase}}</ref> As of 2026 they offer over 100 products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ultimate Autodesk Software List: All 112 Products Explained |url=https://quadrasol.co.uk/blog/autodesk-software-collection/ |access-date=26 Feb 2026 |website=Quadra Solutions}}</ref>

Their market dominance allows them continuously raise the prices of the subscriptions of their products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk continues to enshittify Fusion 360 with a 27% price increase |url=https://www.ondsel.com/blog/autodesk-enshittifies-fusion-360/ |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Ondsel}}</ref>

===Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc.===
In 2007, Timothy Vernor tried to sell his physical copy of Autodesk. Autodesk sued Vernor for copyright infringement in Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc as Vernor's purchase was for a license. The case made its way to the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, where it was decided in Autodesk's favor, limiting the [[first-sale doctrine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk Inc |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Justia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210923200001/https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |archive-date=23 Sep 2021}}</ref>.

==Controversies==

===Telemetry bugs and harmful fines===
In 2017, consumers reported that Autodesk's telemetry on paid versions of software detected pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly received<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS |url=https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210123931/https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref> on paid versions of software detecting pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly sent large fines as a punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804044043/https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This software has also been reported to malfunction, and Autodesk is allegedly pressuring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/comment/lod8lo2/ |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223030344/https://old.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/lod8lo2/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==='''Ian Davis ended lifetime subscriptions'''===
'''In 2023, YouTuber Ian Davis owned a permanent, standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013, which failed to renew. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-06-29 |title=So much for Permanent Standalone licensing... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |publication-place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2023-06-30 |title=Autodesk screws customers by turning lifetime licenses into subscriptions |url=Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-07-03 |title=Thoughts on AutoCad License invalidation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Windows 10 support discontinuation===
In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers, and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unclear whether existing installations will continue to function, especially since the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled" is confusing and leaves questions unanswered.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10 |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130015007/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

===HSMWorks end of life===
In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into its own software and cloud services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2012 |title=Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215230602/https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |archive-date=15 Feb 2026 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpetual licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Swan |first=Keli |date=14 Jun 2021 |title=Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I |url=https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/#:~:text=Autodesk%20introduced%20subscription%20plans%20in,previous%20versions%20of%20perpetual%20software. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118133920/https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=scottandscottllp.com}}</ref> In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers, granting them entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Apr 2019 |title=HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116105651/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |archive-date=16 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028, for all subscribers. "''At that point, you will no longer be able to download, access, '''or use''' HSMWorks.''"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@lenny_1962 |date=3 Feb 2025 |title=HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028 |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174804/https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Because HSMWorks was subscription-only, or entitlement was only available through a Fusion 360 subscription, from 2016 onward, any person or organization that used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (although unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus, no solution exists to bridge users' data to actively supported software.

==Products==
*AutoCAD - Autodesk's flagship CAD software, used for free-form 2D and 3D design
*Revit - 3D design software that is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures
*Autodesk Inventor - 3D digital modeling
*Autodesk Fusion - 3D digital modeling
*Civil 3D - 3D design focused on civil infrastructure
*3ds Max - 3D Animation
*Maya - 3D Animation
*Mudbox - 3D digital painting and sculpting

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Autodesk]]

Autodesk

2026-02-24T19:51:57Z

MrAlex!: In previous edit: added sources, rearranged consumer impact summary

{{Incomplete}}{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Logo = Autodesk.png
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Public
| Website = https://autodesk.com
| Description = Software company known for various products such as AutoCAD. Modern versions operate via Always-online DRM. Has ended users' lifetime subscriptions.
}}
[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Alex |date=6 Mar 2024 |title=John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174807/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's extensive portfolio of proprietary software enables its programs to interoperate, facilitating cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration among owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date |url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014051/https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install network licensing software |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014417/https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance.

==Consumer impact summary==

==='''User Freedom'''===
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable.<ref name=":1" />

Future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear implications for existing installations.<ref name=":2" />

Autodesk refused to honor permanent licenses (e.g., Product Design Suite 2013).'''<ref name=":3" />'''

In the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Autodesk products, section 9.7 allows Autodesk to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously{{Citation needed}}. Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>

==='''Business Model'''===
Autodesk transitioned their go-to-market model from perpetual licenses to subscriptions and multi-year contracts billed annually<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Autodesk Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Autodesk Investor Relations |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250705192736/https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |archive-date=5 Jul 2025}}</ref>. As noted in their annual proxy statement: <blockquote>Our go-to-market (GTM) model has evolved significantly and purposefully over the years, from the transition to subscription and multi-year contracts billed annually, through self-service enablement, the adoption of direct billing, and more. In fiscal 2025, we completed the launch of our direct billing model (“the new transaction model”) and are now beginning the optimization phase, positioning Autodesk to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and channel partners. This comes from faster and less complex processes and more digital self-service and automation that enable tighter channel partnerships and less duplication of effort. The new transaction model will further unlock long-term value by strengthening our sales and marketing efficiency.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
==='''Market Control'''===
Autodesk holds a majority of the market share on CAD software, especially in the BIM category{{Citation needed}}. This allows Autodesk to significantly raise its prices each year.

===Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc.===
In 2007, Timothy Vernor tried to sell his physical copy of Autodesk. Autodesk sued Vernor for copyright infringement in Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc as Vernor's purchase was for a license. The case made its way to the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, where it was decided in Autodesk's favor, limiting the [[first-sale doctrine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk Inc |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Justia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210923200001/https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |archive-date=23 Sep 2021}}</ref>.

==Controversies==

===Telemetry bugs and harmful fines===
In 2017, consumers reported that Autodesk's telemetry on paid versions of software detected pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly received<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS |url=https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210123931/https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref> on paid versions of software detecting pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly sent large fines as a punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804044043/https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This software has also been reported to malfunction, and Autodesk is allegedly pressuring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/comment/lod8lo2/ |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223030344/https://old.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/lod8lo2/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==='''Ian Davis ended lifetime subscriptions'''===
'''In 2023, YouTuber Ian Davis owned a permanent, standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013, which failed to renew. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-06-29 |title=So much for Permanent Standalone licensing... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |publication-place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2023-06-30 |title=Autodesk screws customers by turning lifetime licenses into subscriptions |url=Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-07-03 |title=Thoughts on AutoCad License invalidation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Windows 10 support discontinuation===
In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers, and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unclear whether existing installations will continue to function, especially since the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled" is confusing and leaves questions unanswered.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10 |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130015007/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

===HSMWorks end of life===
In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into its own software and cloud services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2012 |title=Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215230602/https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |archive-date=15 Feb 2026 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpetual licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Swan |first=Keli |date=14 Jun 2021 |title=Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I |url=https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/#:~:text=Autodesk%20introduced%20subscription%20plans%20in,previous%20versions%20of%20perpetual%20software. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118133920/https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=scottandscottllp.com}}</ref> In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers, granting them entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Apr 2019 |title=HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116105651/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |archive-date=16 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028, for all subscribers. "''At that point, you will no longer be able to download, access, '''or use''' HSMWorks.''"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@lenny_1962 |date=3 Feb 2025 |title=HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028 |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174804/https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Because HSMWorks was subscription-only, or entitlement was only available through a Fusion 360 subscription, from 2016 onward, any person or organization that used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (although unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus, no solution exists to bridge users' data to actively supported software.

==Products==
*AutoCAD - Autodesk's flagship CAD software, used for free-form 2D and 3D design
*Revit - 3D design software that is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures
*Autodesk Inventor - 3D digital modeling
*Autodesk Fusion - 3D digital modeling
*Civil 3D - 3D design focused on civil infrastructure
*3ds Max - 3D Animation
*Maya - 3D Animation
*Mudbox - 3D digital painting and sculpting

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Autodesk]]

Autodesk

2026-02-24T19:46:45Z

MrAlex!:

{{Incomplete}}{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 1982
| Industry = Software
| Logo = Autodesk.png
| ParentCompany =
| Type = Public
| Website = https://autodesk.com
| Description = Software company known for various products such as AutoCAD. Modern versions operate via Always-online DRM. Has ended users' lifetime subscriptions.
}}
[[wikipedia:Autodesk|'''Autodesk, Inc.''']] is an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, that provides software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, who was a co-author of the first versions of AutoCAD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Alex |date=6 Mar 2024 |title=John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708174807/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/technology/john-walker-dead.html |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Autodesk primarily develops and maintains computer-aided design (CAD) software used globally across many engineering and design industries. Autodesk's extensive portfolio of proprietary software enables its programs to interoperate, facilitating cloud-based building information management (BIM) collaboration among owners, architects, engineers, and contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro: Create, collaborate, and stay up to date |url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014051/https://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-collaborate/overview?plc=COLLRP&term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Modern versions of Autodesk Products, such as Inventor or AutoCAD, have been known to operate via [[Digital rights management#Always-online DRM|always-online DRM]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Install network licensing software |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130014417/https://www.autodesk.com/support/download-install/admins/network-deploy/install-licensing-software |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> and have served to provide significant inconvenience for consumers if their internet goes out or their license verification servers are offline for maintenance.

==Consumer impact summary==

==='''User Freedom'''===
Autodesk ceased to sell perpetual licenses for HSMWorks (2016) and will eliminate access altogether (2025–2028), rendering locally stored information unusable.<ref name=":1" />

Future Fusion versions will lack support for Windows 10, with unclear implications for existing installations.<ref name=":2" />

Autodesk refused to honor permanent licenses (e.g., Product Design Suite 2013).'''<ref name=":3" />'''

In the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Autodesk products, section 9.7 allows Autodesk to audit a users premises to verify compliance. If the user or company is found to have overextended licenses, Autodesk requires the user to purchase additional licenses to cover the overextended licenses in question.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AutoDesk License and Services agreement |url=https://download.autodesk.com/us/FY17/Suites/LSA/en-us/lsa.html |access-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> However, the software does not limit the number of machines that can sign in and activate it simultaneously{{Citation needed}}. Autodesk compliance agents threatened to increase fines if legal counsel is hired against Autodesk. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Vondran |first=Steve |date=2023-04-12 |title=Autodesk Internal Getting Very Aggressive in 2023 Beware of Over-Assigning Licenses |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250730215441/https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/autodesk-internal-getting-very-7707218/ |archive-date=2025-07-30 |access-date=2025-10-23}}</ref>

==='''Business Model'''===
Autodesk transitioned their go-to-market model from perpetual licenses to subscriptions and multi-year contracts billed annually<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Autodesk Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Autodesk Investor Relations |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250705192736/https://investors.autodesk.com/static-files/5a13740d-d370-40e9-aeac-8ac257ca85ff |archive-date=5 Jul 2025}}</ref>. As noted in their annual proxy statement: <blockquote>Our go-to-market (GTM) model has evolved significantly and purposefully over the years, from the transition to subscription and multi-year contracts billed annually, through self-service enablement, the adoption of direct billing, and more. In fiscal 2025, we completed the launch of our direct billing model (“the new transaction model”) and are now beginning the optimization phase, positioning Autodesk to better meet the evolving needs of its customers and channel partners. This comes from faster and less complex processes and more digital self-service and automation that enable tighter channel partnerships and less duplication of effort. The new transaction model will further unlock long-term value by strengthening our sales and marketing efficiency.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
==='''Market Control'''===
Autodesk holds a majority of the market share on CAD software, especially in the BIM category{{Citation needed}}. This allows Autodesk to significantly raise its prices each year.

===Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc.===
In 2007, Timothy Vernor tried to sell his physical copy of Autodesk. Autodesk sued Vernor for copyright infringement in Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk, Inc as Vernor's purchase was for a license. The case made its way to the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, where it was decided in Autodesk's favor, limiting the [[first-sale doctrine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timothy Vernor v. Autodesk Inc |url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Justia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210923200001/https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/09-35969 |archive-date=23 Sep 2021}}</ref>.

==Controversies==

===Telemetry bugs and harmful fines===
In 2017, consumers reported that Autodesk's telemetry on paid versions of software detected pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly received<ref>{{Cite web |title=AUTODESK ANALYTICS PROGRAMS |url=https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210123931/https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-analytics |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref> on paid versions of software detecting pirated versions of their software on PCs, and they explicitly sent large fines as a punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804044043/https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This software has also been reported to malfunction, and Autodesk is allegedly pressuring consumers into purchasing expensive versions of their licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autodesk detected pirated programs after purchasing licenses (Reply) |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/comment/lod8lo2/ |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223030344/https://old.reddit.com/r/Architects/comments/1ct8nqd/autodesk_detected_pirated_programs_after/lod8lo2/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

==='''Ian Davis ended lifetime subscriptions'''===
'''In 2023, YouTuber Ian Davis owned a permanent, standalone license for Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate 2013, which failed to renew. Autodesk refused to issue a new license without an additional subscription purchase.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-06-29 |title=So much for Permanent Standalone licensing... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |publication-place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=U4-pp1uKNnM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Rossmann |date=2023-06-30 |title=Autodesk screws customers by turning lifetime licenses into subscriptions |url=Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=OHY9K8X45XA |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ian |first=Davis |date=2023-07-03 |title=Thoughts on AutoCad License invalidation |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=YouTube |place=Ian Davis' personal YouTube channel |type=video |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=7iQP62_X13g |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

===Windows 10 support discontinuation===
In 2024, Autodesk announced that Autodesk Fusion would no longer be supported for Windows 10 users after the start of January 2026. Stated in their support article, "Autodesk will no longer consider Windows 10 for Validation, bug fixing, and product support of future releases." The phrasing has rightfully baffled consumers, and with a lack of elaboration from support teams, it is unclear whether existing installations will continue to function, especially since the line "existing installations cannot be repaired or reinstalled" is confusing and leaves questions unanswered.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=4 Dec 2024 |title=Fusion Announcing End of Support for Windows 10 |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130015007/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Fusion-Announcing-End-of-Support-for-Windows-10.html?_ga=2.208606034.1190329573.1738186074-1680147263.1738186073 |archive-date=30 Jan 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

===HSMWorks end of life===
In 2012, Autodesk acquired HSMWorks, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) product for programming Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, with the intention of integrating the technology into its own software and cloud services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2012 |title=Autodesk Acquires HSMWorks Technology |url=https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260215230602/https://investors.autodesk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/autodesk-acquires-hsmworks-technology |archive-date=15 Feb 2026 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> HSMWorks could continue to be purchased with a perpetual license until 2016, when Autodesk announced that all Autodesk products, including HSMWorks, would transition to a subscription model, ending support and maintenance plans for perpetual licenses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson Swan |first=Keli |date=14 Jun 2021 |title=Recent Developments in Autodesk Licensing and Audits, Part I |url=https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/#:~:text=Autodesk%20introduced%20subscription%20plans%20in,previous%20versions%20of%20perpetual%20software. |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118133920/https://scottandscottllp.com/recent-developments-in-autodesk-licensing-and-audits-part-i/ |archive-date=18 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=scottandscottllp.com}}</ref> In 2019, Autodesk transitioned HSMWorks subscribers to Fusion 360 subscribers, granting them entitlement to download and use HSMWorks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Apr 2019 |title=HSMWorks 2020 now included with Fusion 360 subscriptions |url=https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251116105651/https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/tsarticles/ts/4ZktnaH9yvV8DxOnwA0LCv.html |archive-date=16 Nov 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref> In February 2025, Autodesk sent an email to Fusion 360 subscribers that HSMWorks entitlement would no longer be included on new subscriptions after March 25, 2025. and entitlement would end March 25, 2028, for all subscribers. "''At that point, you will no longer be able to download, access, '''or use''' HSMWorks.''"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@lenny_1962 |date=3 Feb 2025 |title=HSMWorks End Of Life March 25th, 2028 |url=https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174804/https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-support-forum/hsmworks-end-of-life-march-25th-2028/td-p/13297431 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025 |access-date=2 Aug 2025 |website=[[Autodesk]]}}</ref>

Because HSMWorks was subscription-only, or entitlement was only available through a Fusion 360 subscription, from 2016 onward, any person or organization that used up-to-date versions of HSMWorks since then will cease to have access to all data associated with HSMWorks, despite the data being locally stored and HSMWorks being installed (although unusable). HSMWorks data is not compatible with Fusion 360 nor Inventor CAM (products that share some technology with HSMWorks), thus, no solution exists to bridge users' data to actively supported software.

==Products==
*AutoCAD - Autodesk's flagship CAD software, used for free-form 2D and 3D design
*Revit - 3D design software that is primarily used by architects, engineers, and structural designers to design, draft, and model buildings and other structures
*Autodesk Inventor - 3D digital modeling
*Autodesk Fusion - 3D digital modeling
*Civil 3D - 3D design focused on civil infrastructure
*3ds Max - 3D Animation
*Maya - 3D Animation
*Mudbox - 3D digital painting and sculpting

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Autodesk]]

Firefox introduces TOS

2026-02-24T17:36:27Z

MrAlex!: Fixed <ref> error

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mozilla
|StartDate=2025-02-26
|EndDate=2025-06-10
|Status=Resolved
|ProductLine=
|Product=Firefox
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Advertising, Privacy, Terms of Service
|Description=Mozilla introduced a vague terms of service, arousing concerns over the privacy of data and the use of data in advertising.
}}
In February 2025 Mozilla introduced [[Terms of service|terms of service]] (TOS) for the Firefox browser for the first time as well as an updated {{wplink|Privacy policy|privacy policy}}. These terms of service contain a section about the rights and permissions the user gives to Mozilla. This has caused concern among Firefox users due to how this section was initially phrased.

==Background==
On 26 February 2025, Mozilla announced they were introducing terms of service and updating their privacy policy for the Firefox web browser. Until February 2025, Mozilla always relied on Firefox's open source license (the [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/ Mozilla Public License version 2.0]) for the browser and their public commitments. They say that by adding these terms, they want to make their commitments "abundantly clear and accessible."<ref name="tos-announce">{{Cite web |first= Ajit |last= Varma |title= Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox |url= https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/firefox-news/firefox-terms-of-use/ |website= Mozilla blog |date=26 Feb 2025 |access-date=27 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227075559/https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/firefox-news/firefox-terms-of-use/ |archive-date=27 Feb 2025}}</ref>

However, concerns arose regarding whether Firefox itself, rather than just Mozilla's online services (such as Firefox Sync or Mozilla VPN), would be subject to the company's Acceptable Use Policy, which restricts certain types of content. Mozilla's Acceptable Use Policy includes prohibitions on graphic depictions of sexuality, violence, and hate speech, which are standard for services like Firefox Sync but were not previously associated with the Firefox browser itself. While Mozilla later removed references to the Acceptable Use Policy in a revision, this initial concern fueled distrust.<ref name="acceptable-use">{{Cite web |author= |title= Acceptable Use Policy |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/acceptable-use |website= Mozilla |access-date=2 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228075344/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/acceptable-use/ |archive-date=28 Feb 2025
}}</ref>

==Questionable phrasing in the TOS and consumer response==
The new terms contained phrasing that has caused concern by users of Firefox and the reasoning for its inclusion in the privacy focused browser.<ref name="reddit-1">{{Cite web |author= |title= Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1iyzmo6/introducing_a_terms_of_use_and_updated_privacy/ |website= [[Reddit]] |date=26 Feb 2025 |access-date=27 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250314081754/https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1iyzmo6/introducing_a_terms_of_use_and_updated_privacy/ |archive-date=14 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref name="discourse">{{Cite web |author= |title= Why does Mozilla now require a "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" when entering information in Firefox? |url=https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/why-does-mozilla-now-require-a-nonexclusive-royalty-free-worldwide-license-when-entering-information-in-firefox/140700 |website= Mozilla discourse |date=26 Feb 2025 |access-date=27 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227171303/https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/why-does-mozilla-now-require-a-nonexclusive-royalty-free-worldwide-license-when-entering-information-in-firefox/140700 |archive-date=27 Feb 2025}}</ref><ref name="lemmy">{{Cite web |author= |title= Mozilla Introducing 'Terms of Use' to Firefox |url= https://lemmy.world/post/26091770 |website=Lemmy |date=26 Feb 2025 |access-date=27 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227171252/https://lemmy.world/post/26091770 |archive-date=27 Feb 2025}}</ref><ref name="moz-connect">{{Cite web |author=AshleyT |title= Information about the New Terms of Use and Updated Privacy Notice for Firefox |url=https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/information-about-the-new-terms-of-use-and-updated-privacy/m-p/87949/highlight/true#M33725 |website=Mozilla connect |date=26 Feb 2025 |access-date=28 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228135428/https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/information-about-the-new-terms-of-use-and-updated-privacy/m-p/87949/highlight/true#M33725 |archive-date=28 Feb 2025}}</ref> Concerns center especially around the phrasing of terms outlined in the section titled "You Give Mozilla Certain Rights and Permissions".<ref name="TOS">{{Cite web |author= |title= Firefox Terms of Use
|url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |website= Mozilla |date=25 Feb 2025 |access-date=27 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227073459/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=27 Feb 2025}}</ref>

This is what that section originally said:
<blockquote>
You give Mozilla all rights necessary to operate Firefox, including processing data as we describe in the Firefox Privacy Notice, as well as acting on your behalf to help you navigate the internet. When you upload or input information through Firefox, you hereby grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that information to help you navigate, experience, and interact with online content as you indicate with your use of Firefox.
</blockquote>

The vagueness of the terms resulted in users questioning how much of their data they were granting Mozilla a license to use, especially since the company puts a lot of emphasis on transparency and privacy on their manifesto.<ref name="manifesto">{{Cite web |author= |title= The Mozilla Manifesto Addendum; Pledge for a Healthy Internet |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/manifesto/ |website= Mozilla |date=25 Feb 2025 |access-date=27 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227045402/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/manifesto/ |archive-date=27 Feb 2025}}</ref> One notable concern is the possibility that license to user input could be used to train artificial intelligence tools. This became a concern since Mozilla has recently been working on AI tools.<ref name="orbit" />

===AI training concerns===
Mozilla's original TOU could have allowed AI training on user input. Mozilla's wording in their first round of TOS changes granted Mozilla a "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" to "use" user input, without specifying clear limitations.<ref name="connect">{{Cite web |title= Re: Information about the New Terms of Use and Updated Privacy Notice for Firefox |url= https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/information-about-the-new-terms-of-use-and-updated-privacy/m-p/87949/highlight/true |website= Mozilla Connect |date=27 Feb 2025 |access-date=1 Mar 2025
|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118002756/https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/information-about-the-new-terms-of-use-and-updated-privacy/m-p/87949/highlight/true |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref>

Mozillla's vague writing caused concern among Firefox users that their input could be used for artificial intelligence training, especially given Mozilla's AI-related projects.<ref name="orbit">{{Cite web |title= Orbit by Mozilla |url= https://orbitbymozilla.com/ |website= Mozilla AI |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250717125351/https://orbitbymozilla.com:443/ |archive-date=17 Jul 2025}}</ref> After backlash, Mozilla revised the TOU to clarify that data usage is restricted to user-requested actions.<ref name="tos-update">{{Cite web |title= An update on our Terms of Use |url= https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/update-on-terms-of-use/ |website= Mozilla Blog |date=28 Feb 2025 |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250410145724/https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/update-on-terms-of-use/ |archive-date=10 Apr 2025}}</ref>

===Date of effect===
It is also worth noting that the announcement of the introduction of the TOS and new privacy policy was made in a blog post one day after the terms and privacy policy were originally set to take effect.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Firefox Terms of Use - Febuary 28 |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228023710/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ |archive-date=28 Feb 2025 |access-date=28 Feb 2025}}</ref> No other communication was made to users of the browser as of 27 February 2025. The terms of use page was then edited to read "Effective February 28, 2025"<ref name="TOS" /> following the update in the language.

===Change of Firefox's FAQ===
[[File:Firefox faq.png|thumb|Firefox FAQ wording changes]]
Mozilla's Terms of Use no longer explicitly state that the company does not and will never sell user data. Previously, Mozilla's FAQ included the statement, "Nope. Never have, never will," when addressing whether they sell user data. The section promising not to sell personal data<ref name="faq-old">{{Cite web |author= |title= Firefox FAQ |url= https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/faq/ |website= Mozilla |access-date=28 Feb 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227214216/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/faq/
|archive-date=27 Feb 2025}}</ref> was quietly removed from their documentation.<ref name="github-tos">{{Cite web |title= Tos copy updates (fix #16016) (#16018) |url= https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/commit/d459addab846d8144b61939b7f4310eb80c5470e |website= GitHub |date=28 Feb 2025 |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220025231/https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/commit/d459addab846d8144b61939b7f4310eb80c5470e |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Before its removal, the section said:<blockquote>
''Does Firefox sell your personal data?''

''Nope. Never have, never will. And we protect you from many of the advertisers who do. Firefox products are designed to protect your privacy. That's a promise.''
</blockquote>

Another section Mozilla changed was removing part of the answer to the question "Is Firefox free?". This section concluded with the phrase "and we don't sell your personal data.".

Both of these were present in the FAQ until at least January 30th 2025.<ref name="faq">{{Cite web |author= |title= Firefox older FAQ |url= https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/faq/ |website= Mozilla |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130092351/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/faq/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref name="github-faq">{{Cite web |author= |title= Github commit showing TOS FAQ changes |url= https://github.com/mozilla/bedrock/commit/d459addab846d8144b61939b7f4310eb80c5470e |website= Github
|access-date= 1 Mar 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Mozilla justified this change by pointing to evolving legal definitions of "data selling," particularly under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which defines "sale" broadly to include certain data-sharing arrangements. However, the revised Terms of Use do not explicitly prohibit Mozilla from selling user data in the future, leaving open the possibility of future monetization.<ref name="tos-update" />

Mozilla justified this by pointing to broad legal definitions under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which define "selling data" as any transfer of data for "valuable consideration," even if anonymized.<ref name="ccpa">{{Cite web |title= CCPA Full Text |url= https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1798.140.#
|website= Legilature.ca.gov |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123033324/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1798.140. |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref> However, the new Terms of Use do not explicitly prohibit Mozilla from selling user data in the future, meaning they could legally do so if they chose.<ref name="tos-update" />

==Mozilla's response==
[[File:Firefox-privacy-lawful-bases.png|thumb|Partial screenshot of the lawful basis section for data usage from the Firefox privacy policy.]]
Initially, Mozilla added an update to their initial blog post in an attempt to clarify the language of the terms of use.<ref name="tos-announce" />

This is what the update says:
<blockquote>
'''UPDATE''': We've seen a little confusion about the language regarding licenses, so we want to clear that up. We need a license to allow us to make some of the basic functionality of Firefox possible. Without it, we couldn't use information typed into Firefox, for example. It does NOT give us ownership of your data or a right to use it for anything other than what is described in the Privacy Notice.
</blockquote>

Notably, this update doesn't address the concerns relating to the broadness that can be attributed to the wording of the terms.

Mozilla's privacy policy contains fairly extensive and clear statements on how Mozilla uses user data. It does not explicitly mention artificial intelligence tools other than the ability to use third party chat assistants. The privacy policy clarifies that Mozilla has no access to these chats.

On 28 February, Mozilla updated the terms of use to address the concerns people were having. The section about rights and permissions given to Mozilla was reworded to be more clear:
<blockquote>
You give Mozilla the rights necessary to operate Firefox. This includes processing your data as we describe in the Firefox Privacy Notice. It also includes a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license for the purpose of doing as you request with the content you input in Firefox. This does not give Mozilla any ownership in that content.</blockquote>

As well as this, the new terms have removed the reference to the acceptable use policy.

Mozilla has also provided an explanation for why they changed their FAQ.<ref name="tos-update" /> They say this is because different legislation has different definitions of "sale of data"and this makes it uncertain on whether a business is legally considered to be selling data. Mozilla explicitly cites the California Consumer Privacy Act<ref name="ccpa" /> with regards to how existing privacy legislation defines the sale of data.<ref group="footnotes">Mozilla in the version of the CCPA they quoted on their update (see ''[https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/update-on-terms-of-use/ "An update on out terms of use"]'') a draft version of the CCPA. The difference in the definition used is the inclusion of "another business" in the wording. [https://www.quippd.com/social/posts/2025/03/06/mozilla-quoted-an-incorrect-version-of-the-ccpa-in-their-terms-of-use-update.html "Mozilla Quoted an Incorrect Version of the CCPA in their Terms of Use update"].''Youssuff Quips'' ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250410145724/https://blog.mozilla.org/en/products/firefox/update-on-terms-of-use/ Archived])</ref>

==Mozilla's business model and potential CCPA violations==
Before the Terms of Use update, Mozilla publicly stated that it did not and would never sell user data. However, under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), some of Mozilla's existing business practices may have legally qualified as "selling data." While there is no confirmed evidence that Mozilla violated the CCPA, their data-sharing practices placed them in a legally gray area.

===Potential CCPA compliance issues before the TOU update===
The CCPA defines "selling data" as: <blockquote>
'' “Sell,” “selling,” “sale,” or “sold,” means selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating orally, in writing, or by electronic or other means, a consumer’s personal information by the business to a third party for monetary or other valuable consideration.''<ref name="ccpa" />
</blockquote>

*'''Search Engine Partnerships (Google, Bing, Yandex, etc.)''': Mozilla's largest revenue source comes from deals with search engines like Google, which pay Mozilla to be Firefox's default search provider.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Mozilla Foundation and Subsidiaries ; Independent Auditors’ Report, and Consolidated Financial Statement |url=https://assets.mozilla.net/annualreport/2022/mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf |website= Mozilla |access-date=2 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211174819/https://assets.mozilla.net/annualreport/2022/mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf |archive-date=11 Feb 2025}}. [[:File:Mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf|See file on the wiki]]</ref>

These deals involve sending search query data to search partners. Under the CCPA, if Mozilla transmitted search data in exchange for financial compensation, this could be classified as a ''"sale of data."'' This is a practice that Mozilla had already been openly taking part in.

===Mozilla's sponsored ads and potential CCPA implications===

====How Mozilla's sponsored ads work====
Mozilla monetizes Firefox through advertising programs:
*'''Pocket Sponsored Stories''': Mozilla owns Pocket, which provides content recommendations. Mozilla shares aggregated data with ad platforms (such as Adzerk) so advertisers can track engagement.<ref name="pocket-sponsored">{{Cite web |title= Pocket Sponsored Stories on New Tabs |url= https://support.mozilla.org/kb/pocket-sponsored-stories-new-tabs |website= Mozilla Support
|access-date=2 Mar 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223044805/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/pocket-sponsored-stories-new-tabs |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref>

*'''Sponsored Shortcuts''': Mozilla displays paid website shortcuts on the New Tab page. Mozilla gets paid per user click & routes click data through a Mozilla-owned proxy service.<ref name="sponsored-shortcuts">{{Cite web |title= Sponsored Shortcuts on the New Tab Page |url= https://support.mozilla.org/kb/sponsored-shortcuts-new-tab |website= Mozilla Support |access-date=2 Mar 2025}}</ref>

*'''Sponsored Suggestions in Search''': Mozilla processes search queries & shares de-identified interaction data with partners, including search engines and ad networks.<ref name="firefox-privacy" />

Mozilla says all data shared with advertisers is anonymized, aggregated, or de-identified before being disclosed.

====How this relates to Mozilla's privacy policy====
Mozilla's Privacy Policy states that user data is only shared in an aggregated or de-identified form.<ref name="mozilla-privacy">{{Cite web |title= Mozilla Privacy Policy |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/ |website= Mozilla |access-date=2 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213162458/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/ |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> The Firefox Privacy Notice also confirms:
<blockquote>''Mozilla processes interaction data (such as ad clicks) & shares de-identified information with partners. Partners cannot associate these interactions with an individual user.<ref name="firefox-privacy" />''</blockquote>

This lines up with Mozilla's claim that it does not sell personal data under the CCPA.

====Potential CCPA compliance issues====
Mozilla's ad system does not clearly violate the CCPA, but it exists in a gray area because of:
*'''Valuable Consideration Clause:''' Mozilla earns money from clicks on Sponsored Shortcuts, which may be considered a sale under the CCPA if user data has "value."

*'''Lack of a Clear "Do Not Sell" Option:''' The CCPA requires an explicit "Do Not Sell My Data" button, but Mozilla bundles opt-out settings under "technical and interaction data." Mozilla's privacy policy page states ''"You can opt out of having your data processed for personalization or advertising purposes by turning off “technical and interaction data” on Desktop and Mobile at any time".''<ref name="firefox-privacy" /> Firefox does have this option in the privacy and security section of the settings as of version 135 (4 February 2025).<ref>https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-turn-do-not-track-feature?as=u&utm_source=inproduct ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260122040142/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-turn-do-not-track-feature?as=u&utm_source=inproduct Archived])</ref>

*'''Potential Re-identification of Data:''' CCPA states that anonymized data can still be personal information if it can be linked to a user.<ref name="ccpa" />

While Mozilla tells users that advertisers cannot directly identify users, regulators may argue that user interactions still hold monetary value, which could require Mozilla to revise its privacy policy for full compliance.

===Legitimate reasons for Mozilla updating its Terms of Use===
Mozilla's sudden change to its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy can be viewed as hedges to Mozilla's legal risks and exposure under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), rather than an admission of wrongdoing.

*'''Legal Definitions of "Selling Data" Under the CCPA Are Broad:''' As noted above, the CCPA's definition encompasses many data-sharing practices that may not align with common understanding of "selling data".<ref name="ccpa" /> Even if Mozilla was not directly selling user data, its search partnerships, telemetry data sharing, and sponsored content could have been interpreted as data sales if Mozilla received any financial benefit from them, all of which were actions that Mozilla has already been transparent and upfront about.

*'''Mozilla's Search Engine Deals Could Be Considered Data Sales:''' As mentioned earlier, these partnerships could legally qualify as data sales under the CCPA definition, despite being an existing part of Mozilla's business model that consumers are already aware of.<ref name="tos-announce" />

*'''Sponsored Content in Firefox's New Tab Page Involves Data Exchange:''' Mozilla dReferencesisplays sponsored content and ads on the Firefox New Tab page, which may involve user interaction data being shared with advertisers.<ref name="tos-update" /> Even if the data is anonymized, the CCPA considers certain types of aggregated data as personal information if it can be linked back to users.<ref name="ccpa" />

By removing explicit guarantees such as "we never sell your data" and rewriting the Terms of Use, Mozilla eliminated legal ambiguity while maintaining its existing business model.

While the new terms of use does not confirm that Mozilla intends to sell user data, and puts its current practices in-line with California's Consumer Privacy Act, it no longer explicitly prohibits it, leaving open the possibility for future monetization.

==Community concerns and digging into the validity of them==
Mozilla's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy update led to loud public protest over them. Here is an analysis of the primary concerns raised by the Firefox community:

===Valid concerns===
====Vague licensing language in the TOU====
Initially, Mozilla's TOU granted the company a "nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" to user input, which raised concerns about potential data ownership and usage rights.<ref name="connect">{{Cite web |title= Re: Information about the New Terms of Use and Updated Privacy Notice for Firefox |url= https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/information-about-the-new-terms-of-use-and-updated-privacy/m-p/87949/highlight/true |website= Mozilla Connect |date=27 Feb 2025 |access-date=1 Mar 2025
|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251118002756/https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/information-about-the-new-terms-of-use-and-updated-privacy/m-p/87949/highlight/true |archive-date=18 Nov 2025}}</ref> This was later revised after backlash.<ref name="tos-update" />

====Mozilla removed explicit language about not selling user data====
Mozilla's FAQ previously stated, "We don't and never will sell your personal data," but this was quietly removed from its website and documentation.<ref name="github-tos" /> Mozilla later stated that different legal jurisdictions, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), had vague definitions of "data selling," which led them to revise this wording.<ref name="tos-update" />

====Users were not notified before the TOU changes took effect====
Mozilla announced the new terms on 26 February 2025, but they had already taken effect by 25 February 2025.<ref name="tos-announce" />

====Lack of clarity on why Mozilla needs a license to user input====
Users questioned why Mozilla needed licensing rights over user input when browsers have worked for 25+ years without these terms.<ref name="connect" /> While the new TOU does not confirm that Mozilla intends to sell user data, it no longer explicitly prohibits it, leaving open the possibility for future monetization.

===Concerns likely based on misinterpretation===
====Mozilla will log and track all user browsing data====
Some users assumed the TOU granted Mozilla unlimited access to browsing history.<ref name="connect" /> However, Mozilla's privacy policy still states that it does not store user browsing history or personal data beyond necessary telemetry.<ref name="tos-announce" />

====Mozilla's telemetry data collection doesn't seem to constitute a "sale" under the CCPA====
Firefox collects telemetry data by default, including interaction metrics (such as the number of open tabs, visited webpages, & search partner referrals) & technical data (such as OS version, hardware specs, and crash reports).<ref name="telemetry">{{Cite web |title=Telemetry collection and deletion |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/telemetry-clientid |website= Mozilla Support |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250228192345/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/telemetry-clientid |archive-date=28 Feb 2025}}</ref> However, Mozilla clearly says that this data is only sent to Mozilla and does not explicitly mention sharing this with third parties<ref name="firefox-privacy">{{Cite web |title= Firefox Privacy Notice |url= https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/firefox/#notice |website= Mozilla |access-date=1 Mar 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213162458/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/ |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), a "sale" requires data to be transferred to a third party in exchange for monetary or other valuable consideration.<ref name="ccpa" /> Since Mozilla does not explicitly transfer telemetry data to third parties, it is unlikely to be classified as a "sale" under the CCPA. Users can opt out of telemetry data collection, and Mozilla deletes previously collected data within 30 days of opting out.<ref name="telemetry" />

Mozilla tried to clarify where they stand on data privacy, but the way they've written their terms as well as the manner in which they communicated them has resulted in user protest and distrust.

==Mozilla removes controversial license from Firefox's ToS (June 2025)==
On 10 June 2025, [[Mozilla]] changed their [[firefox]]'s [[terms of service]] for unknown reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla Firefox Terms of Service |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/#you-give-mozilla-certain-rights-and-permissions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007184549/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/#you-give-mozilla-certain-rights-and-permissions |archive-date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=22 Oct 2025 |website=Mozilla.org}}</ref> There were no announcements nor coverage on this matter. The motives and the reason why it is removed are currently unclear as of writing. The [https://web.archive.org/web/20250227004713/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ original] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20250328021454/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/legal/terms/firefox/ fixed] versions were last seen before 10 June 2025.

==See also==
*[[Mozilla]]

==Footnotes==
<references group="footnotes" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Incidents]]
[[Category:Firefox]]

Talk:NordVPN

2026-02-23T17:57:36Z

MrAlex!: /* Product section is inconsistent */ Reply

==Product section is inconsistent==

Technically, the products listed in the product section are *not* products made by NordVPN but by Nord Security (NordVPN's parent company). I propose removing it alltogether since this is an article on NordVPN specifically (most consistent option), alternatively actually list all of the products that Nord Security offers (since NordLayer and NordStellar are missing) [[User:MrAlex!|MrAlex!]] ([[User talk:MrAlex!|talk]]) 17:54, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

:On the same note I propose removing "password manager" and "cloud storage" under the "consumer friendly alternatives" section. [[User:MrAlex!|MrAlex!]] ([[User talk:MrAlex!|talk]]) 17:57, 23 February 2026 (UTC)

Talk:NordVPN

2026-02-23T17:54:19Z

MrAlex!: /* Product section is inconsistent */ new section

NordVPN

2026-02-23T17:44:37Z

MrAlex!: Fixed typo

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Lithuanian virtual private network provider.
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks
|Logo=NordVPN logo.svg
|ParentCompany=Nord Security
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nordvpn.com
}}

'''{{wplink|NordVPN}}''' is a {{wplink|virtual private network}} (VPN) service provider owned by Nord Security. NordVPN heavily advertises their products on popular YouTube channels. NordVPN operates worldwide, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United States, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User freedom:''' A class action lawsuit was proposed accusing NordVPN of unlawful subscription renewal practices.
*'''User privacy:''' Internet traffic that exits the US border is subject to interception by US intelligence agencies (not limited to NordVPN); tracking services have been found within NordVPN's mobile app; has suffered a breach of one of their data centers that was only disclosed more than a year after the incident.
*'''Business model:''' Sells subscription services that mainly include their VPN product, but higher tiers can also have add-ons such as their identity protection service ''NordProtect'', their cloud storage service ''NordLocker'' and their password manager ''NordPass'' as well as others.
*'''Market competition:''' Plenty of popular brands (i.e. [https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN], [https://mullvad.net/en Mullvad], ...).

==Incidents==

===Subscription Renewal Practices===

A class action lawsuit has been proposed on November 19, 2024 accusing NordVPN and its developer Nord Security of using deceptive and illegal subscription renewal practices.<ref>Rizzi, C. (2024, November 20). NordVPN lawsuit filed over allegedly illegal automatic subscription renewal practices. ClassAction.org. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250720090038/https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices Archived])</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

Due to current laws, United States intelligence agencies are prohibited from spying on American citizens' communications, including internet traffic (with some expanding exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) |url=https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Office of Justice Programs |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124102522/https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref> However, internet traffic that exits the country is legally subject to interception and decryption. This includes VPN providers that route traffic outside the United States. As a result, using a VPN may inadvertently expose users to surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. No international VPN providers disclose this risk to their customers. It is entirely legal for U.S. intelligence agencies to break encryption, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or employ other methods to weaken encryption on data crossing international borders.

If data passes international borders it is subject to "bulk collection" by the Intelligence Community because of Executive Order 12333.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goitein |first=Elizabeth |date=2022-02-15 |title=How the CIA Is Acting Outside the Law to Spy on Americans |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Brennan Center |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210020204/https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref>

===Tracking inside App===
An analysis by German privacy blogger and activist Mike Kuketz found third party tracking services embedded into the apps of five different VPN services, including three in NordVPN's app (AppsFlyer, Google Crashlytics, and Google Firebase Analytics).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-09-29 |title=VPN-Apps: Wenn »Sicherheits-Apps« selbst zum Risiko werden [VPN-Apps: When "Security-Apps" themselves become a risk] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/vpn-apps-wenn-sicherheits-apps-selbst-zum-risiko-werden/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

When confronted with the allegations, NordVPN denied the allegations, answering with statements about the website instead of the smarphone app. Kuketz then conducted his own in-depth analysis of the app's traffic (his initial analysis was based on data from the [https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ Exodus Privacy Project]), revealing that at least two of the trackers were indeed present.

Confronted with the results, the company spoke of a "misunderstanding", which Kuketz describes as "not very convincing".

He further notes that NordVPN's PR manager is using a NordVPN e-mail address which is hosted by Google, meaning any e-mail communication with the company over the same channels would be fully exposed to the advertising giant's data collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-10-20 |title=NordVPN bestreitet den Einsatz von Trackern – Doch ein App-Mitschnitt zeigt ein anderes Bild [NordVPN denies use of trackers – but an analysis of the app's traffic paints a different picture] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nordvpn-bestreitet-den-einsatz-von-trackern-doch-ein-app-mitschnitt-zeigt-ein-anderes-bild/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

===Data center breach===
In March 2018 one of NordVPN's third party servers located in Finland was breached. According to official accounts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-10-21 |title=Why the NordVPN network is safe after a third-party provider breach |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacenter-breach/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=NordVPN}}</ref> the attacker gained access to the server thanks to poor management on the data center part, which shortly after patched the issue but failed to make NordVPN aware of the breach until April 13, 2018.

No sensitive user data was stolen, but the attacker did get access to TLS keys which ''"under extraordinary circumstances, could be used to attack a single user on the web using a specifically targeted and highly sophisticated MITM attack"''.<ref name=":0" /> Said TLS keys were made public by the attacker on the website 8chan together with information relating to breaches of other VPN providers such as TorGuard and VikingVPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-23 |title=NordVPN Hack – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Cyber Insider |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131112151/https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref>

NordVPN released an official statement more than a year later, only after a researcher on [https://x.com/ X] revealed that NordVPN ''"was compromised at some point"''.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2019-10-20 |title=So apparently NordVPN was compromised at some point |url=https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=x.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250823025908/https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |archive-date=23 Aug 2025}}</ref> This was followed by significant turmoil within the community, as individuals remained uninformed for all of this time. According to NordVPN, the delay was justified by an internal audit they were executing of all of their servers which they wanted to complete before notifying the public, making sure that the attack could not be replicated.<ref name=":0" />

NordVPN has since taken down the affected server and terminated the contract with the data center. A security plan was later announced as well.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2019-10-26 |title=How NordVPN will become more secure than ever |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-plan/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=NordVPN}}</ref>

==Products==

*NordVPN
*NordPass
*NordLocker
*NordProtect
*Saily

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

==='''VPN:'''===
*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]

==='''Password manager:'''===

*[https://bitwarden.com/ Bitwarden]

===Cloud storage:===

*

==See also==

*[[VPN Secure]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:NordVPN]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]

NordVPN

2026-02-23T17:43:54Z

MrAlex!: Added parent company name to cargo

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Lithuanian virtual private network provider.
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks
|Logo=NordVPN logo.svg
|ParentCompany=Nord Security
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nordvpn.com
}}

'''{{wplink|NordVPN}}''' is a {{wplink|virtual private network}} (VPN) service provider owned by Nord Security. NordVPN heavily advertises their products on popular YouTube channels. NordVPN operates worldwide, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United States, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.

==Consumer-impact summary==

*'''User freedom:''' A class action lawsuit was proposed accusing NordVPN of unlawful subscription renewal practices.
*'''User privacy:''' Internet traffic that exits the US border is subject to interception by US intelligence agencies (not limited to NordVPN); tracking services have been found within NordVPN's mobile app; has suffered a breach of one of their data centers that was only disclosed more than a year after the incident.
*'''Business model:''' Sells subscription services that mainly include their VPN product, but higher tiers can also have add-ons such as their identity protection service ''NordProtect'', their could storage service ''NordLocker'' and their password manager ''NordPass'' as well as others.
*'''Market competition:''' Plenty of popular brands (i.e. [https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN], [https://mullvad.net/en Mullvad], ...).

==Incidents==

===Subscription Renewal Practices===

A class action lawsuit has been proposed on November 19, 2024 accusing NordVPN and its developer Nord Security of using deceptive and illegal subscription renewal practices.<ref>Rizzi, C. (2024, November 20). NordVPN lawsuit filed over allegedly illegal automatic subscription renewal practices. ClassAction.org. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250720090038/https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices Archived])</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

Due to current laws, United States intelligence agencies are prohibited from spying on American citizens' communications, including internet traffic (with some expanding exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) |url=https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Office of Justice Programs |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124102522/https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref> However, internet traffic that exits the country is legally subject to interception and decryption. This includes VPN providers that route traffic outside the United States. As a result, using a VPN may inadvertently expose users to surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. No international VPN providers disclose this risk to their customers. It is entirely legal for U.S. intelligence agencies to break encryption, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or employ other methods to weaken encryption on data crossing international borders.

If data passes international borders it is subject to "bulk collection" by the Intelligence Community because of Executive Order 12333.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goitein |first=Elizabeth |date=2022-02-15 |title=How the CIA Is Acting Outside the Law to Spy on Americans |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |url-status=live |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Brennan Center |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210020204/https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref>

===Tracking inside App===
An analysis by German privacy blogger and activist Mike Kuketz found third party tracking services embedded into the apps of five different VPN services, including three in NordVPN's app (AppsFlyer, Google Crashlytics, and Google Firebase Analytics).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-09-29 |title=VPN-Apps: Wenn »Sicherheits-Apps« selbst zum Risiko werden [VPN-Apps: When "Security-Apps" themselves become a risk] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/vpn-apps-wenn-sicherheits-apps-selbst-zum-risiko-werden/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

When confronted with the allegations, NordVPN denied the allegations, answering with statements about the website instead of the smarphone app. Kuketz then conducted his own in-depth analysis of the app's traffic (his initial analysis was based on data from the [https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ Exodus Privacy Project]), revealing that at least two of the trackers were indeed present.

Confronted with the results, the company spoke of a "misunderstanding", which Kuketz describes as "not very convincing".

He further notes that NordVPN's PR manager is using a NordVPN e-mail address which is hosted by Google, meaning any e-mail communication with the company over the same channels would be fully exposed to the advertising giant's data collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-10-20 |title=NordVPN bestreitet den Einsatz von Trackern – Doch ein App-Mitschnitt zeigt ein anderes Bild [NordVPN denies use of trackers – but an analysis of the app's traffic paints a different picture] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nordvpn-bestreitet-den-einsatz-von-trackern-doch-ein-app-mitschnitt-zeigt-ein-anderes-bild/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

===Data center breach===
In March 2018 one of NordVPN's third party servers located in Finland was breached. According to official accounts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-10-21 |title=Why the NordVPN network is safe after a third-party provider breach |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacenter-breach/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=NordVPN}}</ref> the attacker gained access to the server thanks to poor management on the data center part, which shortly after patched the issue but failed to make NordVPN aware of the breach until April 13, 2018.

No sensitive user data was stolen, but the attacker did get access to TLS keys which ''"under extraordinary circumstances, could be used to attack a single user on the web using a specifically targeted and highly sophisticated MITM attack"''.<ref name=":0" /> Said TLS keys were made public by the attacker on the website 8chan together with information relating to breaches of other VPN providers such as TorGuard and VikingVPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-23 |title=NordVPN Hack – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Cyber Insider |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131112151/https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |archive-date=31 Jan 2026}}</ref>

NordVPN released an official statement more than a year later, only after a researcher on [https://x.com/ X] revealed that NordVPN ''"was compromised at some point"''.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2019-10-20 |title=So apparently NordVPN was compromised at some point |url=https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=x.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250823025908/https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |archive-date=23 Aug 2025}}</ref> This was followed by significant turmoil within the community, as individuals remained uninformed for all of this time. According to NordVPN, the delay was justified by an internal audit they were executing of all of their servers which they wanted to complete before notifying the public, making sure that the attack could not be replicated.<ref name=":0" />

NordVPN has since taken down the affected server and terminated the contract with the data center. A security plan was later announced as well.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2019-10-26 |title=How NordVPN will become more secure than ever |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-plan/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=NordVPN}}</ref>

==Products==

*NordVPN
*NordPass
*NordLocker
*NordProtect
*Saily

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

==='''VPN:'''===
*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]

==='''Password manager:'''===

*[https://bitwarden.com/ Bitwarden]

===Cloud storage:===

*

==See also==

*[[VPN Secure]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:NordVPN]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]

NordVPN

2026-02-22T15:03:11Z

MrAlex!: Created consumer-impact summary

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Lithuanian virtual private network provider.
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks
|Logo=NordVPN logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nordvpn.com
}}
'''{{wplink|NordVPN}}''' is a {{wplink|virtual private network}} (VPN) service provider owned by Nord Security. NordVPN heavily advertises their products on popular YouTube channels. NordVPN operates worldwide, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United States, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.

==Consumer-impact summary==

* '''User freedom:''' A class action lawsuit was proposed accusing NordVPN of unlawful subscription renewal practices.
* '''User privacy:''' Internet traffic that exits the US border is subject to interception by US intelligence agencies (not limited to NordVPN); tracking services have been found within NordVPN's mobile app; has suffered a breach of one of their data centers that was only disclosed more than a year after the incident.
* '''Business model:''' Sells subscription services that mainly include their VPN product, but higher tiers can also have add-ons such as their identity protection service ''NordProtect'', their could storage service ''NordLocker'' and their password manager ''NordPass'' as well as others.
* '''Market competition:''' Plenty of popular brands (i.e. [https://www.expressvpn.com/ ExpressVPN], [https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN], [https://mullvad.net/en Mullvad], ...).

==Incidents==

===Subscription Renewal Practices===

A class action lawsuit has been proposed on November 19, 2024 accusing NordVPN and its developer Nord Security of using deceptive and illegal subscription renewal practices.<ref>Rizzi, C. (2024, November 20). NordVPN lawsuit filed over allegedly illegal automatic subscription renewal practices. ClassAction.org. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

Due to current laws, United States intelligence agencies are prohibited from spying on American citizens' communications, including internet traffic (with some expanding exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) |url=https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=Office of Justice Programs}}</ref> However, internet traffic that exits the country is legally subject to interception and decryption. This includes VPN providers that route traffic outside the United States. As a result, using a VPN may inadvertently expose users to surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. No international VPN providers disclose this risk to their customers. It is entirely legal for U.S. intelligence agencies to break encryption, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or employ other methods to weaken encryption on data crossing international borders.

If data passes international borders it is subject to "bulk collection" by the Intelligence Community because of Executive Order 12333.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goitein |first=Elizabeth |date=15 Feb 2022 |title=How the CIA Is Acting Outside the Law to Spy on Americans |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2025 |website=Brennan Center}}</ref>

===Tracking inside App===
An analysis by German privacy blogger and activist Mike Kuketz found third party tracking services embedded into the apps of five different VPN services, including three in NordVPN's app (AppsFlyer, Google Crashlytics, and Google Firebase Analytics).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-09-29 |title=VPN-Apps: Wenn »Sicherheits-Apps« selbst zum Risiko werden [VPN-Apps: When "Security-Apps" themselves become a risk] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/vpn-apps-wenn-sicherheits-apps-selbst-zum-risiko-werden/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

When confronted with the allegations, NordVPN denied the allegations, answering with statements about the website instead of the smarphone app. Kuketz then conducted his own in-depth analysis of the app's traffic (his initial analysis was based on data from the [https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ Exodus Privacy Project]), revealing that at least two of the trackers were indeed present.

Confronted with the results, the company spoke of a "misunderstanding", which Kuketz describes as "not very convincing".

He further notes that NordVPN's PR manager is using a NordVPN e-mail address which is hosted by Google, meaning any e-mail communication with the company over the same channels would be fully exposed to the advertising giant's data collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-10-20 |title=NordVPN bestreitet den Einsatz von Trackern – Doch ein App-Mitschnitt zeigt ein anderes Bild [NordVPN denies use of trackers – but an analysis of the app's traffic paints a different picture] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nordvpn-bestreitet-den-einsatz-von-trackern-doch-ein-app-mitschnitt-zeigt-ein-anderes-bild/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

===Data center breach===
In March 2018 one of NordVPN's third party servers located in Finland was breached. According to official accounts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Why the NordVPN network is safe after a third-party provider breach |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacenter-breach/ |access-date=21 Oct 2019 |website=NordVPN}}</ref> the attacker gained access to the server thanks to poor management on the data center part, which shortly after patched the issue but failed to make NordVPN aware of the breach until April 13, 2018.

No sensitive user data was stolen, but the attacker did get access to TLS keys which ''"under extraordinary circumstances, could be used to attack a single user on the web using a specifically targeted and highly sophisticated MITM attack"''.<ref name=":0" /> Said TLS keys were made public by the attacker on the website 8chan together with information relating to breaches of other VPN providers such as TorGuard and VikingVPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=NordVPN Hack – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |access-date=23 Oct 2019 |website=Cyber Insider}}</ref>

NordVPN released an official statement more than a year later, only after a researcher on [https://x.com/ X] revealed that NordVPN ''"was compromised at some point"''.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date= |title=So apparently NordVPN was compromised at some point |url=https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |access-date=20 Oct 2019 |website=x.com}}</ref> This was followed by significant turmoil within the community, as individuals remained uninformed for all of this time. According to NordVPN, the delay was justified by an internal audit they were executing of all of their servers which they wanted to complete before notifying the public, making sure that the attack could not be replicated.<ref name=":0" />

NordVPN has since taken down the affected server and terminated the contract with the data center. A security plan was later announced as well.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date= |title=How NordVPN will become more secure than ever |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-plan/ |access-date=26 Oct 2019 |website=NordVPN}}</ref>

==Products==

*NordVPN
*NordPass
*NordLocker
*NordProtect
*Saily

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

==='''VPN:'''===
*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]

==='''Password manager:'''===

*[https://bitwarden.com/ Bitwarden]

===Cloud storage:===

*

==See also==

*[[VPN Secure]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:NordVPN]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]

NordVPN

2026-02-22T14:20:07Z

MrAlex!: Added website titles to references

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Lithuanian virtual private network provider.
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks
|Logo=NordVPN logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nordvpn.com
}}
'''{{wplink|NordVPN}}''' is a {{wplink|virtual private network}} (VPN) service provider owned by Nord Security. NordVPN heavily advertises their products on popular YouTube channels. NordVPN operates worldwide, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United States, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}

==Incidents==

===Subscription Renewal Practices===

A class action lawsuit has been proposed on November 19, 2024 accusing NordVPN and its developer Nord Security of using deceptive and illegal subscription renewal practices.<ref>Rizzi, C. (2024, November 20). NordVPN lawsuit filed over allegedly illegal automatic subscription renewal practices. ClassAction.org. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

Due to current laws, United States intelligence agencies are prohibited from spying on American citizens' communications, including internet traffic (with some expanding exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) |url=https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=Office of Justice Programs}}</ref> However, internet traffic that exits the country is legally subject to interception and decryption. This includes VPN providers that route traffic outside the United States. As a result, using a VPN may inadvertently expose users to surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. No international VPN providers disclose this risk to their customers. It is entirely legal for U.S. intelligence agencies to break encryption, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or employ other methods to weaken encryption on data crossing international borders.

If data passes international borders it is subject to "bulk collection" by the Intelligence Community because of Executive Order 12333.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goitein |first=Elizabeth |date=15 Feb 2022 |title=How the CIA Is Acting Outside the Law to Spy on Americans |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2025 |website=Brennan Center}}</ref>

===Tracking inside App===
An analysis by German privacy blogger and activist Mike Kuketz found third party tracking services embedded into the apps of five different VPN services, including three in NordVPN's app (AppsFlyer, Google Crashlytics, and Google Firebase Analytics).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-09-29 |title=VPN-Apps: Wenn »Sicherheits-Apps« selbst zum Risiko werden [VPN-Apps: When "Security-Apps" themselves become a risk] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/vpn-apps-wenn-sicherheits-apps-selbst-zum-risiko-werden/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

When confronted with the allegations, NordVPN denied the allegations, answering with statements about the website instead of the smarphone app. Kuketz then conducted his own in-depth analysis of the app's traffic (his initial analysis was based on data from the [https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ Exodus Privacy Project]), revealing that at least two of the trackers were indeed present.

Confronted with the results, the company spoke of a "misunderstanding", which Kuketz describes as "not very convincing".

He further notes that NordVPN's PR manager is using a NordVPN e-mail address which is hosted by Google, meaning any e-mail communication with the company over the same channels would be fully exposed to the advertising giant's data collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-10-20 |title=NordVPN bestreitet den Einsatz von Trackern – Doch ein App-Mitschnitt zeigt ein anderes Bild [NordVPN denies use of trackers – but an analysis of the app's traffic paints a different picture] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nordvpn-bestreitet-den-einsatz-von-trackern-doch-ein-app-mitschnitt-zeigt-ein-anderes-bild/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

===Data center breach===
In March 2018 one of NordVPN's third party servers located in Finland was breached. According to official accounts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Why the NordVPN network is safe after a third-party provider breach |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacenter-breach/ |access-date=21 Oct 2019 |website=NordVPN}}</ref> the attacker gained access to the server thanks to poor management on the data center part, which shortly after patched the issue but failed to make NordVPN aware of the breach until April 13, 2018.

No sensitive user data was stolen, but the attacker did get access to TLS keys which ''"under extraordinary circumstances, could be used to attack a single user on the web using a specifically targeted and highly sophisticated MITM attack"''.<ref name=":0" /> Said TLS keys were made public by the attacker on the website 8chan together with information relating to breaches of other VPN providers such as TorGuard and VikingVPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=NordVPN Hack – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |access-date=23 Oct 2019 |website=Cyber Insider}}</ref>

NordVPN released an official statement more than a year later, only after a researcher on [https://x.com/ X] revealed that NordVPN ''"was compromised at some point"''.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date= |title=So apparently NordVPN was compromised at some point |url=https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |access-date=20 Oct 2019 |website=x.com}}</ref> This was followed by significant turmoil within the community, as individuals remained uninformed for all of this time. According to NordVPN, the delay was justified by an internal audit they were executing of all of their servers which they wanted to complete before notifying the public, making sure that the attack could not be replicated.<ref name=":0" />

NordVPN has since taken down the affected server and terminated the contract with the data center. A security plan was later announced as well.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date= |title=How NordVPN will become more secure than ever |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-plan/ |access-date=26 Oct 2019 |website=NordVPN}}</ref>

==Products==

*NordVPN
*NordPass
*NordLocker
*NordProtect
*Saily

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

==='''VPN:'''===
*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]

==='''Password manager:'''===

*[https://bitwarden.com/ Bitwarden]

===Cloud storage:===

*

==See also==

*[[VPN Secure]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:NordVPN]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]

NordVPN

2026-02-22T14:17:06Z

MrAlex!: Made the format of the dates of references consistent

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Lithuanian virtual private network provider.
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks
|Logo=NordVPN logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nordvpn.com
}}
'''{{wplink|NordVPN}}''' is a {{wplink|virtual private network}} (VPN) service provider owned by Nord Security. NordVPN heavily advertises their products on popular YouTube channels. NordVPN operates worldwide, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United States, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.

==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}

==Incidents==

===Subscription Renewal Practices===

A class action lawsuit has been proposed on November 19, 2024 accusing NordVPN and its developer Nord Security of using deceptive and illegal subscription renewal practices.<ref>Rizzi, C. (2024, November 20). NordVPN lawsuit filed over allegedly illegal automatic subscription renewal practices. ClassAction.org. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

Due to current laws, United States intelligence agencies are prohibited from spying on American citizens' communications, including internet traffic (with some expanding exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) |url=https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=Office of Justice Programs}}</ref> However, internet traffic that exits the country is legally subject to interception and decryption. This includes VPN providers that route traffic outside the United States. As a result, using a VPN may inadvertently expose users to surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. No international VPN providers disclose this risk to their customers. It is entirely legal for U.S. intelligence agencies to break encryption, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or employ other methods to weaken encryption on data crossing international borders.

If data passes international borders it is subject to "bulk collection" by the Intelligence Community because of Executive Order 12333.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goitein |first=Elizabeth |date=15 Feb 2022 |title=How the CIA Is Acting Outside the Law to Spy on Americans |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2025 |website=Brennan Center}}</ref>

===Tracking inside App===
An analysis by German privacy blogger and activist Mike Kuketz found third party tracking services embedded into the apps of five different VPN services, including three in NordVPN's app (AppsFlyer, Google Crashlytics, and Google Firebase Analytics).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-09-29 |title=VPN-Apps: Wenn »Sicherheits-Apps« selbst zum Risiko werden [VPN-Apps: When "Security-Apps" themselves become a risk] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/vpn-apps-wenn-sicherheits-apps-selbst-zum-risiko-werden/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

When confronted with the allegations, NordVPN denied the allegations, answering with statements about the website instead of the smarphone app. Kuketz then conducted his own in-depth analysis of the app's traffic (his initial analysis was based on data from the [https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ Exodus Privacy Project]), revealing that at least two of the trackers were indeed present.

Confronted with the results, the company spoke of a "misunderstanding", which Kuketz describes as "not very convincing".

He further notes that NordVPN's PR manager is using a NordVPN e-mail address which is hosted by Google, meaning any e-mail communication with the company over the same channels would be fully exposed to the advertising giant's data collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-10-20 |title=NordVPN bestreitet den Einsatz von Trackern – Doch ein App-Mitschnitt zeigt ein anderes Bild [NordVPN denies use of trackers – but an analysis of the app's traffic paints a different picture] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nordvpn-bestreitet-den-einsatz-von-trackern-doch-ein-app-mitschnitt-zeigt-ein-anderes-bild/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

===Data center breach===
In March 2018 one of NordVPN's third party servers located in Finland was breached. According to official accounts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Why the NordVPN network is safe after a third-party provider breach |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacenter-breach/ |access-date=21 Oct 2019 |website=NordVPN}}</ref> the attacker gained access to the server thanks to poor management on the data center part, which shortly after patched the issue but failed to make NordVPN aware of the breach until April 13, 2018.

No sensitive user data was stolen, but the attacker did get access to TLS keys which ''"under extraordinary circumstances, could be used to attack a single user on the web using a specifically targeted and highly sophisticated MITM attack"''.<ref name=":0" /> Said TLS keys were made public by the attacker on the website 8chan together with information relating to breaches of other VPN providers such as TorGuard and VikingVPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=NordVPN Hack – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/ |access-date=23 Oct 2019}}</ref>

NordVPN released an official statement more than a year later, only after a researcher on [https://x.com/ X] revealed that NordVPN ''"was compromised at some point"''.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date= |title=So apparently NordVPN was compromised at some point |url=https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891 |access-date=20 Oct 2019}}</ref> This was followed by significant turmoil within the community, as individuals remained uninformed for all of this time. According to NordVPN, the delay was justified by an internal audit they were executing of all of their servers which they wanted to complete before notifying the public, making sure that the attack could not be replicated.<ref name=":0" />

NordVPN has since taken down the affected server and terminated the contract with the data center. A security plan was later announced as well.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=How NordVPN will become more secure than ever |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-plan/ |access-date=26 Oct 2019}}</ref>

==Products==

*NordVPN
*NordPass
*NordLocker
*NordProtect
*Saily

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

==='''VPN:'''===
*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]

==='''Password manager:'''===

*[https://bitwarden.com/ Bitwarden]

===Cloud storage:===

*

==See also==

*[[VPN Secure]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:NordVPN]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]

NordVPN

2026-02-21T15:48:59Z

MrAlex!: Added information about the Finland data center breach

{{StubNotice}}
{{CompanyCargo
|Description=Lithuanian virtual private network provider.
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Cybersecurity, Virtual Private Networks
|Logo=NordVPN logo.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Private
|Website=https://nordvpn.com
}}
'''[[wikipedia:NordVPN|NordVPN]]''' is a Virtual Private Network service provider owned by [https://nordsecurity.com Nord Security]. NordVPN heavily advertises on popular tech YouTube channels. NordVPN operates worldwide, with offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the United States, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.

==Controversies==

===Subscription Renewal Practices===

A class action lawsuit has been proposed on November 19, 2024 accusing NordVPN and its developer Nord Security of using deceptive and illegal subscription renewal practices.<ref>Rizzi, C. (2024, November 20). NordVPN lawsuit filed over allegedly illegal automatic subscription renewal practices. ClassAction.org. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from https://www.classaction.org/news/nordvpn-lawsuit-filed-over-allegedly-illegal-automatic-subscription-renewal-practices</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

Due to current laws, United States intelligence agencies are prohibited from spying on American citizens' communications, including internet traffic (with some expanding exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) |url=https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1285 |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=Office of Justice Programs}}</ref> However, internet traffic that exits the country is legally subject to interception and decryption. This includes VPN providers that route traffic outside the United States. As a result, using a VPN may inadvertently expose users to surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies. No international VPN providers disclose this risk to their customers. It is entirely legal for U.S. intelligence agencies to break encryption, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or employ other methods to weaken encryption on data crossing international borders.

If data passes international borders it is subject to "bulk collection" by the Intelligence Community because of Executive Order 12333.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goitein |first=Elizabeth |date=15 Feb 2022 |title=How the CIA Is Acting Outside the Law to Spy on Americans |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-cia-acting-outside-law-spy-americans |url-status=live |access-date=26 Mar 2025 |website=Brennan Center}}</ref>

===Tracking inside App===
An analysis by German privacy blogger and activist Mike Kuketz found third party tracking services embedded into the apps of five different VPN services, including three in NordVPN's app (AppsFlyer, Google Crashlytics, and Google Firebase Analytics).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-09-29 |title=VPN-Apps: Wenn »Sicherheits-Apps« selbst zum Risiko werden [VPN-Apps: When "Security-Apps" themselves become a risk] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/vpn-apps-wenn-sicherheits-apps-selbst-zum-risiko-werden/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

When confronted with the allegations, NordVPN denied the allegations, answering with statements about the website instead of the smarphone app. Kuketz then conducted his own in-depth analysis of the app's traffic (his initial analysis was based on data from the [https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ Exodus Privacy Project]), revealing that at least two of the trackers were indeed present.

Confronted with the results, the company spoke of a "misunderstanding", which Kuketz describes as "not very convincing".

He further notes that NordVPN's PR manager is using a NordVPN e-mail address which is hosted by Google, meaning any e-mail communication with the company over the same channels would be fully exposed to the advertising giant's data collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuketz |first=Mike |date=2025-10-20 |title=NordVPN bestreitet den Einsatz von Trackern – Doch ein App-Mitschnitt zeigt ein anderes Bild [NordVPN denies use of trackers – but an analysis of the app's traffic paints a different picture] |url=https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nordvpn-bestreitet-den-einsatz-von-trackern-doch-ein-app-mitschnitt-zeigt-ein-anderes-bild/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Kuketz IT-Security}}</ref>

=== Data center breach ===
In March 2018 one of NordVPN's third party servers located in Finland was breached. According to official accounts<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Why the NordVPN network is safe after a third-party provider breach |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/official-response-datacenter-breach/ |website=NordVPN}}</ref> the attacker gained access to the server thanks to poor management on the data center part, which shortly after patched the issue but failed to make NordVPN aware of the breach until April 13, 2018.

No sensitive user data was stolen, but the attacker did get access to TLS keys which ''"under extraordinary circumstances, could be used to attack a single user on the web using a specifically targeted and highly sophisticated MITM attack"''.<ref name=":0" /> Said TLS keys were made public by the attacker on the website 8chan together with information relating to breaches of other VPN providers such as TorGuard and VikingVPN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Oct 2019 |title=NordVPN Hack – Everything You Need to Know |url=https://cyberinsider.com/nordvpn-hack/}}</ref>

NordVPN released an official statement more than a year later, only after a researcher on [https://x.com/ X] revealed that NordVPN ''"was compromised at some point"''.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=20 Oct 2019 |title=So apparently NordVPN was compromised at some point |url=https://x.com/hexdefined/status/1185864801261477891}}</ref> This was followed by significant turmoil within the community, as individuals remained uninformed for all of this time. According to NordVPN, the delay was justified by an internal audit they were executing of all of their servers which they wanted to complete before notifying the public, making sure that the attack could not be replicated.<ref name=":0" />

NordVPN has since taken down the affected server and terminated the contract with the data center. A security plan was later announced as well.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=How NordVPN will become more secure than ever |url=https://nordvpn.com/blog/security-plan/}}</ref>

==Consumer friendly alternatives==

*[https://mullvad.net/vpn Mullvad VPN]
*[https://protonvpn.com/ ProtonVPN]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:NordVPN]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity companies]]

2026-02-20T10:48:22Z

MrAlex!: Added context to the 2018 data breach and added reference to official statement from Reddit

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American social media platform based around news aggregation and forum-like "subreddits".
|Founded=2005
|Industry=Social Media
|Logo=Reddit_logo_2023.svg.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://reddit.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Reddit|'''Reddit''']] is an American social media network for social-news aggregation, content rating, and forums. As of December 2024, Reddit is the eighth most-visited website in the world. It was founded in 2005 by University of Virginia roommates Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, as well as Aaron Swartz.

==Consumer Impact Summary==

*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Huffman |first=Steve |date=9 Jun 2023 |title=Addressing the community about changes to our API |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=1 Aug 2018 |title=We had a security incident. Here's what you need to know. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/93qnm5/we_had_a_security_incident_heres_what_you_need_to/ |website=Reddit}}</ref>
*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]

==Incidents==
===Hiding individual upvotes and downvotes, June 2014===
Since June 2014, individual upvote and downvote counts on posts are no longer publicly visible. Only the sum of votes and the percentage of upvotes are publicly visible.<ref>[https://archive.today/2015.06.01-192314/https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/28hjga/reddit_changes_individual_updown_vote_counts_no/ reddit changes: individual up/down vote counts no longer visible, "% like it" closer to reality, major improvements to "controversial" sorting : announcements] - Reddit</ref>

===Hiding sticky comment vote counts, January 2016===
Since January 2016, vote counts on comments pinned by Reddit moderators are hidden from public view and only visible to moderators of the same subreddit. This prevents the public from knowing whether moderator decisions were widely agreed upon.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.06.30-222930/https://www.reddit.com/r/ideasfortheadmins/comments/400on6/remove_karma_display_from_stickied_comments/ Remove Karma Display from Stickied Comments : ideasfortheadmins]</ref>

===Going closed source, September 2017===
In September 2017, Reddit reverted on their open source policy and archived their public repositories, citing difficulty to stealth launch features and desire to move away from a monorepo architecture. Users responded by noting that neither of these reasons require being closed source, and that Reddit had been slowly becoming less transparent over time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An update on the state of the reddit/reddit and reddit/reddit-mobile repositories |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Data breach, August 2018===
In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included an old database containing usernames, emails, encrypted passwords, public posts and private messages from Reddit's launch date in 2005, through to May 2007. Additionally usernames and email addresses from users that received daily digests (emails containing post suggestions) sent between June 3 and June 17 2018 were also leaked.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1 Aug 2018 |title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

===Blocking expansions, January 2022===
Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog)</ref>

Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.01.29-193057/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport] - Reddit</ref>

===API paywall, June 2023===
In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.

Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which subreddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy "2023 Reddit API controversy"] - Wikipedia </ref> 

===VPN blockage, December 2023===
In December 2023, Reddit began blocking VPN access to users not logged in to the site.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2023 |title=Tell HN: Just noticed Reddit blocking VPN traffic. Old subdomain still works |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=news.ycombinator.com}}</ref>

===Advertisement deception, March 2024===
In March 2024, Reddit rolled out a feature that made ads look like they came from real users (and by extent, were "upvoted" by real users). Reddit boasted that these ads had a 28% higher click-through rate than regular ads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=4 Mar 2024 |title=Reddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>

===Users can hide their contribution history, June 2025===
Since June 2025, Reddit has given its users the ability to hide their posting and commenting history from public view. If this setting is enabled, the posts and comments only remain visible through subreddit pages, not profile pages. Only the account owner themselves and moderators of subreddits they have interacted with during the last 28 days can view the posting and commenting history.<ref>[https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ You can now hide your Reddit posts and comments from your profile - Neowin]</ref>

This is different from "private profiles" on some other social media services like Twitter, where setting ones' profile to private would hide both ones profile and posts in discussion threads, limiting interaction to ones' followers.

An argument cited for private profiles is discussing sensitive topics.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ You can now hide your post history on Reddit : privacy] - Reddit</ref> It should however be noted that Reddit already allowed people to participate on separate accounts for discussing sensitive topics that they did not wish to associate with their existing account.<ref>[https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Is it ok to create multiple accounts? – Reddit Help]</ref>

According to TechCrunch, a possible reason for this change to have user data like engagement and interests associated with a single user account, making it easier for Reddit to target advertisements.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile] - TechCrunch</ref>

===Blocking the Internet Archive, August 2025===
In 2025, Reddit announced it would block the indexing of its pages by the [https://archive.org Internet Archive]. This means users will no longer be able to access deleted Reddit threads.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=“New age of internet censorship”: Reddit to block the Internet Archive from indexing its site. Here’s why it matters |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ |website=Daily Dot}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==See also==
*[[Lemmy]]
[[Category:Reddit]]

2026-02-19T14:49:59Z

MrAlex!: Correction: API usage requires subscription only if high usage is required

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American social media platform based around news aggregation and forum-like "subreddits".
|Founded=2005
|Industry=Social Media
|Logo=Reddit_logo_2023.svg.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://reddit.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Reddit|'''Reddit''']] is an American social media network for social-news aggregation, content rating, and forums. As of December 2024, Reddit is the eighth most-visited website in the world. It was founded in 2005 by University of Virginia roommates Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, as well as Aaron Swartz.

==Consumer Impact Summary==

*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> limited free API use<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Huffman |first=Steve |date=9 Jun 2023 |title=Addressing the community about changes to our API |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />
*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,requires paying for elevated API usage since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]

==Incidents==
===Hiding individual upvotes and downvotes, June 2014===
Since June 2014, individual upvote and downvote counts on posts are no longer publicly visible. Only the sum of votes and the percentage of upvotes are publicly visible.<ref>[https://archive.today/2015.06.01-192314/https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/28hjga/reddit_changes_individual_updown_vote_counts_no/ reddit changes: individual up/down vote counts no longer visible, "% like it" closer to reality, major improvements to "controversial" sorting : announcements] - Reddit</ref>

===Hiding sticky comment vote counts, January 2016===
Since January 2016, vote counts on comments pinned by Reddit moderators are hidden from public view and only visible to moderators of the same subreddit. This prevents the public from knowing whether moderator decisions were widely agreed upon.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.06.30-222930/https://www.reddit.com/r/ideasfortheadmins/comments/400on6/remove_karma_display_from_stickied_comments/ Remove Karma Display from Stickied Comments : ideasfortheadmins]</ref>

===Going closed source, September 2017===
In September 2017, Reddit reverted on their open source policy and archived their public repositories, citing difficulty to stealth launch features and desire to move away from a monorepo architecture. Users responded by noting that neither of these reasons require being closed source, and that Reddit had been slowly becoming less transparent over time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An update on the state of the reddit/reddit and reddit/reddit-mobile repositories |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Data breach, August 2018===
In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included old hashed passwords and private messages from before 2007.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1 Aug 2018 |title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref>

===Blocking expansions, January 2022===
Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog)</ref>

Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.01.29-193057/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport] - Reddit</ref>

===API paywall, June 2023===
In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.

Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which subreddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy "2023 Reddit API controversy"] - Wikipedia </ref> 

===VPN blockage, December 2023===
In December 2023, Reddit began blocking VPN access to users not logged in to the site.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2023 |title=Tell HN: Just noticed Reddit blocking VPN traffic. Old subdomain still works |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=news.ycombinator.com}}</ref>

===Advertisement deception, March 2024===
In March 2024, Reddit rolled out a feature that made ads look like they came from real users (and by extent, were "upvoted" by real users). Reddit boasted that these ads had a 28% higher click-through rate than regular ads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=4 Mar 2024 |title=Reddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>

===Users can hide their contribution history, June 2025===
Since June 2025, Reddit has given its users the ability to hide their posting and commenting history from public view. If this setting is enabled, the posts and comments only remain visible through subreddit pages, not profile pages. Only the account owner themselves and moderators of subreddits they have interacted with during the last 28 days can view the posting and commenting history.<ref>[https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ You can now hide your Reddit posts and comments from your profile - Neowin]</ref>

This is different from "private profiles" on some other social media services like Twitter, where setting ones' profile to private would hide both ones profile and posts in discussion threads, limiting interaction to ones' followers.

An argument cited for private profiles is discussing sensitive topics.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ You can now hide your post history on Reddit : privacy] - Reddit</ref> It should however be noted that Reddit already allowed people to participate on separate accounts for discussing sensitive topics that they did not wish to associate with their existing account.<ref>[https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Is it ok to create multiple accounts? – Reddit Help]</ref>

According to TechCrunch, a possible reason for this change to have user data like engagement and interests associated with a single user account, making it easier for Reddit to target advertisements.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile] - TechCrunch</ref>

===Blocking the Internet Archive, August 2025===
In 2025, Reddit announced it would block the indexing of its pages by the [https://archive.org Internet Archive]. This means users will no longer be able to access deleted Reddit threads.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=“New age of internet censorship”: Reddit to block the Internet Archive from indexing its site. Here’s why it matters |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ |website=Daily Dot}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==See also==
*[[Lemmy]]
[[Category:Reddit]]

2026-02-19T14:39:02Z

MrAlex!: Removed "citation needed" (related to previous edit)

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American social media platform based around news aggregation and forum-like "subreddits".
|Founded=2005
|Industry=Social Media
|Logo=Reddit_logo_2023.svg.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://reddit.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Reddit|'''Reddit''']] is an American social media network for social-news aggregation, content rating, and forums. As of December 2024, Reddit is the eighth most-visited website in the world. It was founded in 2005 by University of Virginia roommates Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, as well as Aaron Swartz.

==Consumer Impact Summary==

*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> paywalled the API<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Huffman |first=Steve |date=9 Jun 2023 |title=Addressing the community about changes to our API |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />
*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,requires paying to use the API since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]

==Incidents==
===Hiding individual upvotes and downvotes, June 2014===
Since June 2014, individual upvote and downvote counts on posts are no longer publicly visible. Only the sum of votes and the percentage of upvotes are publicly visible.<ref>[https://archive.today/2015.06.01-192314/https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/28hjga/reddit_changes_individual_updown_vote_counts_no/ reddit changes: individual up/down vote counts no longer visible, "% like it" closer to reality, major improvements to "controversial" sorting : announcements] - Reddit</ref>

===Hiding sticky comment vote counts, January 2016===
Since January 2016, vote counts on comments pinned by Reddit moderators are hidden from public view and only visible to moderators of the same subreddit. This prevents the public from knowing whether moderator decisions were widely agreed upon.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.06.30-222930/https://www.reddit.com/r/ideasfortheadmins/comments/400on6/remove_karma_display_from_stickied_comments/ Remove Karma Display from Stickied Comments : ideasfortheadmins]</ref>

===Going closed source, September 2017===
In September 2017, Reddit reverted on their open source policy and archived their public repositories, citing difficulty to stealth launch features and desire to move away from a monorepo architecture. Users responded by noting that neither of these reasons require being closed source, and that Reddit had been slowly becoming less transparent over time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An update on the state of the reddit/reddit and reddit/reddit-mobile repositories |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Data breach, August 2018===
In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included old hashed passwords and private messages from before 2007.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1 Aug 2018 |title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref>

===Blocking expansions, January 2022===
Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog)</ref>

Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.01.29-193057/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport] - Reddit</ref>

===API paywall, June 2023===
In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.

Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which subreddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy "2023 Reddit API controversy"] - Wikipedia </ref> 

===VPN blockage, December 2023===
In December 2023, Reddit began blocking VPN access to users not logged in to the site.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2023 |title=Tell HN: Just noticed Reddit blocking VPN traffic. Old subdomain still works |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=news.ycombinator.com}}</ref>

===Advertisement deception, March 2024===
In March 2024, Reddit rolled out a feature that made ads look like they came from real users (and by extent, were "upvoted" by real users). Reddit boasted that these ads had a 28% higher click-through rate than regular ads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=4 Mar 2024 |title=Reddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>

===Users can hide their contribution history, June 2025===
Since June 2025, Reddit has given its users the ability to hide their posting and commenting history from public view. If this setting is enabled, the posts and comments only remain visible through subreddit pages, not profile pages. Only the account owner themselves and moderators of subreddits they have interacted with during the last 28 days can view the posting and commenting history.<ref>[https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ You can now hide your Reddit posts and comments from your profile - Neowin]</ref>

This is different from "private profiles" on some other social media services like Twitter, where setting ones' profile to private would hide both ones profile and posts in discussion threads, limiting interaction to ones' followers.

An argument cited for private profiles is discussing sensitive topics.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ You can now hide your post history on Reddit : privacy] - Reddit</ref> It should however be noted that Reddit already allowed people to participate on separate accounts for discussing sensitive topics that they did not wish to associate with their existing account.<ref>[https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Is it ok to create multiple accounts? – Reddit Help]</ref>

According to TechCrunch, a possible reason for this change to have user data like engagement and interests associated with a single user account, making it easier for Reddit to target advertisements.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile] - TechCrunch</ref>

===Blocking the Internet Archive, August 2025===
In 2025, Reddit announced it would block the indexing of its pages by the [https://archive.org Internet Archive]. This means users will no longer be able to access deleted Reddit threads.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=“New age of internet censorship”: Reddit to block the Internet Archive from indexing its site. Here’s why it matters |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ |website=Daily Dot}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==See also==
*[[Lemmy]]
[[Category:Reddit]]

2026-02-19T14:36:54Z

MrAlex!: Added source for restricted API use by free users

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=American social media platform based around news aggregation and forum-like "subreddits".
|Founded=2005
|Industry=Social Media
|Logo=Reddit_logo_2023.svg.png
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://reddit.com/
}}
[[wikipedia:Reddit|'''Reddit''']] is an American social media network for social-news aggregation, content rating, and forums. As of December 2024, Reddit is the eighth most-visited website in the world. It was founded in 2005 by University of Virginia roommates Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, as well as Aaron Swartz.

==Consumer Impact Summary==

*'''User freedom:''' Went closed-source in 2017,<ref name=":0" /> paywalled the API<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Huffman |first=Steve |date=9 Jun 2023 |title=Addressing the community about changes to our API |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/ |website=Old Reddit}}</ref> and blocked anonymous users on VPNs in 2023,{{Citation needed}}<ref name=":1" /> halted archiving posts via the Internet Archive due to "AI scraping concerns"<ref name=":2" />
*'''User Privacy:''' Had a data breach in 2018.<ref name=":3" />
*'''Business model:''' Primarily funded through advertisements, has a premium subscription,requires paying to use the API since 2023.<ref name=":4" />
*'''Market competition:''' Plenty; [[Imgur]], [[Facebook]], [[X Corp|X]] (formerly [[Twitter]]), [[Instagram]]

==Incidents==
===Hiding individual upvotes and downvotes, June 2014===
Since June 2014, individual upvote and downvote counts on posts are no longer publicly visible. Only the sum of votes and the percentage of upvotes are publicly visible.<ref>[https://archive.today/2015.06.01-192314/https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/28hjga/reddit_changes_individual_updown_vote_counts_no/ reddit changes: individual up/down vote counts no longer visible, "% like it" closer to reality, major improvements to "controversial" sorting : announcements] - Reddit</ref>

===Hiding sticky comment vote counts, January 2016===
Since January 2016, vote counts on comments pinned by Reddit moderators are hidden from public view and only visible to moderators of the same subreddit. This prevents the public from knowing whether moderator decisions were widely agreed upon.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.06.30-222930/https://www.reddit.com/r/ideasfortheadmins/comments/400on6/remove_karma_display_from_stickied_comments/ Remove Karma Display from Stickied Comments : ideasfortheadmins]</ref>

===Going closed source, September 2017===
In September 2017, Reddit reverted on their open source policy and archived their public repositories, citing difficulty to stealth launch features and desire to move away from a monorepo architecture. Users responded by noting that neither of these reasons require being closed source, and that Reddit had been slowly becoming less transparent over time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An update on the state of the reddit/reddit and reddit/reddit-mobile repositories |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/6xfyfg/an_update_on_the_state_of_the_redditreddit_and/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Data breach, August 2018===
In August 2018, Reddit suffered a data breach due to employees using SMS two-factor authentication (2FA). Leaked data included old hashed passwords and private messages from before 2007.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1 Aug 2018 |title=Reddit Breach Highlights Limits of SMS-Based Authentication |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/08/reddit-breach-highlights-limits-of-sms-based-authentication/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=krebsonsecurity.com}}</ref>

===Blocking expansions, January 2022===
Since January 2022, users can block each other from commenting on their posts or comments. Before, blocking would only hide a blocked user's content from oneself and prevent a blocked user from appearing in ones notifications. Since this change, users can prevent others from commenting valid criticism and refutative arguments that would have added value to a discussion.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/blog/comments/s71g03/announcing_blocking_updates/ht701m9/ Announcing Blocking Updates] (reddit.com/r/blog)</ref>

Shortly after this change, reports piled up of the new blocking feature being used to prevent others from counter-arguing in discussions. It was also noted that preventing unwanted participants is already the purpose of communities' moderation teams, not individual users, meaning the new blocking feature gives normal users almost moderator-like powers within their own submissions. To these concerns, a Reddit administrator (employee) responded with "we're working to make sure people feel safe using our site without unduly preventing others from participating".<ref>[https://archive.today/2022.01.29-193057/https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/sd7zsa/we_need_to_talk_about_people_weaponizing_the/ We need to talk about people weaponizing the block feature. : ModSupport] - Reddit</ref>

===API paywall, June 2023===
In April 2023, Reddit announced that they would be locking API features and functionality previously accessible to its users behind a paywall, citing concerns about user generated content being trained on AI. This resulted in a backlash in the community, as alternative apps utilizing Reddit's API such as Apollo would be rendered completely useless as a result of this decision. While some users held out hope that app developers could pay this fee to keep their user base, Apollo developer Christian Selig crushed any hope of this idea, explaining that the cost of this API fee was too high and that he would be ceasing development for the foreseeable future.

Users expressed concerns that this wasn't because of AI, but rather, due to greed and an attempt to monopolize information, as Reddit is often cited as many people's go to resource for almost any topic. This sentiment resulted in one of the largest internet protests known as the Reddit Blackout. The Reddit Blackout was an event in which subreddits were closed, marked as NSFW to prevent advertisements from being displayed on them, or flooded with posts shaming Reddit's CEO, Steve Huffman. Users also edited their posts, deleted them, or deleted their Reddit accounts to shame Huffman in an attempt to reduce the value of the information.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Reddit_API_controversy "2023 Reddit API controversy"] - Wikipedia </ref> 

===VPN blockage, December 2023===
In December 2023, Reddit began blocking VPN access to users not logged in to the site.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2023 |title=Tell HN: Just noticed Reddit blocking VPN traffic. Old subdomain still works |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38666028 |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=news.ycombinator.com}}</ref>

===Advertisement deception, March 2024===
In March 2024, Reddit rolled out a feature that made ads look like they came from real users (and by extent, were "upvoted" by real users). Reddit boasted that these ads had a 28% higher click-through rate than regular ads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Aisha |date=4 Mar 2024 |title=Reddit introduces a new ad format that looks similar to posts made by users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/14/reddit-introduces-a-new-ad-format-that-looks-similar-to-posts-made-by-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>

===Users can hide their contribution history, June 2025===
Since June 2025, Reddit has given its users the ability to hide their posting and commenting history from public view. If this setting is enabled, the posts and comments only remain visible through subreddit pages, not profile pages. Only the account owner themselves and moderators of subreddits they have interacted with during the last 28 days can view the posting and commenting history.<ref>[https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-now-hide-your-reddit-posts-and-comments-from-your-profile/ You can now hide your Reddit posts and comments from your profile - Neowin]</ref>

This is different from "private profiles" on some other social media services like Twitter, where setting ones' profile to private would hide both ones profile and posts in discussion threads, limiting interaction to ones' followers.

An argument cited for private profiles is discussing sensitive topics.<ref>[https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1mioibb/you_can_now_hide_your_post_history_on_reddit/ You can now hide your post history on Reddit : privacy] - Reddit</ref> It should however be noted that Reddit already allowed people to participate on separate accounts for discussing sensitive topics that they did not wish to associate with their existing account.<ref>[https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/204535759-Is-it-ok-to-create-multiple-accounts Is it ok to create multiple accounts? – Reddit Help]</ref>

According to TechCrunch, a possible reason for this change to have user data like engagement and interests associated with a single user account, making it easier for Reddit to target advertisements.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/reddit-now-lets-you-hide-content-like-posts-and-comments-from-your-user-profile/ Reddit now lets you hide content, like posts and comments, from your user profile] - TechCrunch</ref>

===Blocking the Internet Archive, August 2025===
In 2025, Reddit announced it would block the indexing of its pages by the [https://archive.org Internet Archive]. This means users will no longer be able to access deleted Reddit threads.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=“New age of internet censorship”: Reddit to block the Internet Archive from indexing its site. Here’s why it matters |url=https://www.dailydot.com/news/reddit-to-block-the-internet-archive-from-indexing-the-site/ |website=Daily Dot}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==See also==
*[[Lemmy]]
[[Category:Reddit]]