[Zambyte]

> I think we’re all used to user-hostile software these days [...]

Malware. Call it what it is. Software that intentionally subverts and acts against the user’s intent is malware. It’s important to call malware what it is because people don’t even realize they shouldn’t use it when it’s not called malware. Instead, they get "used to" using malware.

[tardedmeme]

Do casual computer users use the word "malware"? I think people only know the term "virus" but when I say "windows is a computer virus" everyone thinks I'm insane.

[Zambyte]

"Computer virus" is the wrong term, because it (neither Windows nor Gmail) does not spread and replicate itself through technical means. Computer viruses are a subset of malware, and it is more correct to say the general term in this case.

[tardedmeme]

Thanks captain pedantic

[Dylan16807]

Between it being a website and harassment being the only harm, I don't think the term "malware" fits.

[baggy_trough]

Please do not call it malware, because it is not. It is just bad software UI.

[3form]

It's _badly intentioned_ (and not just UI). Blackmailing you with losing labelling, which worked fine before all that is a clear proof. So "malware" is not really so far off the point.

[j_maffe]

Not sure what you mean by blackmailing but it can't be the right word here.

[3form]

Feature A exists for years. New feature B enters. If you want to opt out of feature B, you now need to opt out of feature A as well, which you probably liked much more.

I don't know a better term than blackmail to describe this. Thesaurus seems to imply blackmail is for money, but so is extortion, and it doesn't give me good suggestions.

EDIT: Coercion is more correct, but it's way too mild in my perception.

[baggy_trough]

That sounds extremely dramatic when what we're talking about is features in a mail program.

[Zambyte]

A little malware is still malware.

[aprentic]

Why not?

It's a software feature designed to benefit Google at the expense of the user.

[baggy_trough]

Because that is not what malware is.

[aprentic]

It might not meet some pedantic definition of "Malware (tm)" but, for all intents and purposes, it fits perfectly.

[xerox13ster]

ok then.

Malformed Software. or, malware.

[Zambyte]

Malicious, not malformed. Malformed would include buggy software, which is not right. Malware intentionally acts against the users will. Buggy software unintentionally acts against the users will.