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{{InfoboxCompany
{{Stub}}{{CompanyCargo
| Name = Canonical Ltd.
|Description=British software company known for developing Ubuntu.
| Type = Private company limited by shares
|Founded=2004
| Founded = 2004
|Industry=Computing
| Industry = Computer Software
|Logo=Canonical logo 2023.svg
| Official Website = https://www.canonical.com/
|ParentCompany=
| Logo = Canonical logo 2023.svg
|Type=Private
|Website=https://www.canonical.com/
}}
}}


[[wikipedia:Canonical_(company)|'''Canonical''']] is software company best known for creating Ubuntu. It is largely funded by South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.
'''{{Wplink|Canonical (company)|Canonical}}''' is a software company best known for creating {{Wplink|Ubuntu}}, an operating system based on {{Wplink|Linux kernel|Linux}}. It is largely funded by South African billionaire {{Wplink|Mark Shuttleworth}}.


==Upstreaming==
==Consumer impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}


Alongside Red Hat and Google, Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,<ref>https://apparmor.net/</ref> a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,<ref>https://snapcraft.io/</ref> a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,<ref>https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html</ref> a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.
==Positives==
===Upstreaming in the Linux ecosystem===
Alongside Red Hat and [[Google]], Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=AppArmor |url=https://apparmor.net/ |website=AppArmor |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316220151/https://apparmor.net/ |archive-date=16 Mar 2025}}</ref> a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=The app store for Linux |url=https://snapcraft.io/ |website=Snapcraft |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316210326/https://snapcraft.io/ |archive-date=16 Mar 2025}}</ref> a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Livepatch |url=https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |website=Livepatch |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403104219/https://docs.kernel.org/livepatch/livepatch.html |archive-date=3 Apr 2025}}</ref> a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.


==Tracking==
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


Canonical is collecting user telemetry from Snap,<ref>https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics</ref> which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.<ref>https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu</ref>
===Tracking===
Canonical collects user telemetry from Snap,<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Snap Store metrics |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |website=Snapcraft |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305174544/https://snapcraft.io/docs/snap-store-metrics |archive-date=5 Mar 2025}}</ref> which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Installing snap on Ubuntu |url=https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |website=Snapcraft |date= |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303224655/https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-ubuntu |archive-date=3 Mar 2025}}</ref>


Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on Amazon.<ref>https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do</ref> In 2014, this feature was removed.<ref>https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html</ref>
Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on [[Amazon]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stallman |first=Richard |title=Ubuntu Spyware: What to do? |url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |website=Free Software Foundation |date=12 Jul 2012 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317144129/https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do |archive-date=17 Mar 2025}}</ref> In 2014, this feature was removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Chris |title=Ubuntu’s Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search ‘spyware’ |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |website=PCWorld |date=29 Oct 2014 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311164248/https://www.pcworld.com/article/436097/ubuntus-unity-8-desktop-removes-the-amazon-search-spyware.html |archive-date=11 Mar 2025}}</ref>


In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes has been added in an opt-out model.<ref>https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic</ref>
In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes were added in an opt-out model.<ref>{{Cite web |author=allo |title=How to opt-out usage data collection in Ubuntu 18.04 (bionic)? |url=https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic |website=superuser |date=6 Apr 2018 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230212/https://superuser.com/questions/1311588/how-to-opt-out-usage-data-collection-in-ubuntu-18-04-bionic |archive-date=6 Apr 2018}}</ref>
 
===Ad for Ubuntu Pro when using APT (''2022—'')===
[[File:Ubuntu terminal ad for Pro.png|thumb|alt=Running APT update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro.|Running APT update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro.]]
In September 2022, Canonical started adding opt-out<ref>{{Cite web |author=Scotty_Trees |title=How to get rid of Ubuntu Pro advertisement when updating apt? |url=https://askubuntu.com/questions/1434512/how-to-get-rid-of-ubuntu-pro-advertisement-when-updating-apt |website=Ask Ubuntu |date=9 Oct 2022 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009180059/https://askubuntu.com/questions/1434512/how-to-get-rid-of-ubuntu-pro-advertisement-when-updating-apt |archive-date=9 Oct 2022}}</ref> ads for their Ubuntu Pro service when using APT.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey |title=Ubuntu's New Terminal 'Ad' is Angering Users |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/10/ubuntu-pro-terminal-ad |website=OMG! Ubuntu |date=26 Jan 2023 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013141920/https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/10/ubuntu-pro-terminal-ad |archive-date=13 Oct 2022}}</ref>
 
==Products==
*Ubuntu
 
==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}


==References==
==References==
<references />
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Linux]]

Latest revision as of 13:28, 17 April 2026

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Canonical
Basic information
Founded 2004
Legal Structure Private
Industry Computing
Also known as
Official website https://www.canonical.com/

Canonical is a software company best known for creating Ubuntu, an operating system based on Linux. It is largely funded by South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth.

Consumer impact summary

[edit | edit source]

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Positives

[edit | edit source]

Upstreaming in the Linux ecosystem

[edit | edit source]

Alongside Red Hat and Google, Canonical makes up a substantial portion of upstream security patches in the Linux ecosystem. They maintain AppArmor,[1] a Linux security system that proactively manages threats, Snap,[2] a Linux appstore with sandbox support, and Livepatch,[3] a system to patch the Linux kernel without needing to reboot.

Incidents

[edit | edit source]

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Canonical category.

Tracking

[edit | edit source]

Canonical collects user telemetry from Snap,[4] which is shipped by default in Ubuntu.[5]

Previously, Canonical sent local file search queries to their own servers, which were used to recommend ads on Amazon.[6] In 2014, this feature was removed.[7]

In 2018, telemetry tracking for hardware components, software configuration, and crashes were added in an opt-out model.[8]

Ad for Ubuntu Pro when using APT (2022—)

[edit | edit source]
Running APT update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro.
Running APT update in the terminal shows an ad for Ubuntu Pro.

In September 2022, Canonical started adding opt-out[9] ads for their Ubuntu Pro service when using APT.[10]

Products

[edit | edit source]
  • Ubuntu

See also

[edit | edit source]

Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ "AppArmor". AppArmor. Archived from the original on 16 Mar 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  2. ↑ "The app store for Linux". Snapcraft. Archived from the original on 16 Mar 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  3. ↑ "Livepatch". Livepatch. Archived from the original on 3 Apr 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  4. ↑ "Snap Store metrics". Snapcraft. Archived from the original on 5 Mar 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  5. ↑ "Installing snap on Ubuntu". Snapcraft. Archived from the original on 3 Mar 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  6. ↑ Stallman, Richard (12 Jul 2012). "Ubuntu Spyware: What to do?". Free Software Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 Mar 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  7. ↑ Hoffman, Chris (29 Oct 2014). "Ubuntu's Unity 8 desktop will remove the Amazon search 'spyware'". PCWorld. Archived from the original on 11 Mar 2025. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.
  8. ↑ allo (6 Apr 2018). "How to opt-out usage data collection in Ubuntu 18.04 (bionic)?". superuser. Archived from the original on 6 Apr 2018. Retrieved 24 Mar 2026.
  9. ↑ Scotty_Trees (9 Oct 2022). "How to get rid of Ubuntu Pro advertisement when updating apt?". Ask Ubuntu. Archived from the original on 9 Oct 2022. Retrieved 24 Mar 2026.
  10. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (26 Jan 2023). "Ubuntu's New Terminal 'Ad' is Angering Users". OMG! Ubuntu. Archived from the original on 13 Oct 2022. Retrieved 24 Mar 2026.
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