antiuninstallation

Antiuninstallation refers to software techniques designed to prevent or hinder a user from uninstalling a program. In practice, the term covers a range of behaviors from protective mechanisms in legitimate IT or security products to deceptive tactics used by some bloatware or malware.

Legitimate uses include protectors for security software, anti-tamper measures for license enforcement, or enterprise deployments that require compliance with uninstall policies. They are often justified by the vendor to ensure protection of critical systems or data, though they must balance user rights and platform guidelines. In contrast, hostile antiuninstallation aims to keep software installed against user wishes, sometimes by tricking users, hiding uninstall options, or re-installing itself after an attempted removal.

Common high-level approaches include requiring elevated privileges for uninstallation, integrating with or replacing OS uninstaller routines, running services or background processes that respawn after termination, and using user interface design that makes the uninstall option harder to find or misleading. Some products also incorporate integrity checks, license validation, or tamper-detection that blocks uninstallation until certain conditions are met. These methods vary widely by platform (Windows, macOS, mobile OS).

Ethical and legal considerations emphasize user autonomy and transparency. Many software platforms and consumer protection laws require that uninstallers be accessible and straightforward. Strongly persistent or deceptive antiuninstall tactics can erode trust, invite regulatory scrutiny, and may be classified as malware behavior if used to bypass user consent.

Alternatives focus on clear uninstall processes, strong user consent, and opt-out licensing with visible, supported pathways to remove software.