Blacklist

This serves as a master list of banned software that we do not permit in the community.

EOL OS

Any EOL OS is unsupported, it does not need to be listed here, but here are some examples

Windows

Name	Notes
Win9x
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 10	Any version prior to 22H2 is no longer supported. You can type `winver` into the start menu to see your current version.
Windows 11	See here to check which versions are currently supported. You can type `winver` into the start menu to see your current version.

Linux

Please check with the distro provider for the exact times. All versions of Linux prior to their 2012 release are considered unsupported.

Name	Notes
Ubuntu 12.04 and before
Fedora Linux 25 and before	Please see here for unsupported Fedora versions

Unsupported OS

Any custom Windows ISO is unsupported. They are not endorsed by Microsoft and often remove or cripple important Windows features like Windows Update and Windows Defender. The developers of these ISOs can also decide whether or not to implement malware and put the user in danger. These unsupported OSs are not limited to but include the ones listed below.

AtlasOS
ReviOS
Tiny10
Tiny11

Debloaters

These break machines and are black boxes for troubleshooting. If you have an issue with an OS don’t use it. Do not break it then expect help.

Name	Notes
Win10Debloater	Sycnex
Win10Script	ChrisTitusTech
Debloat-Windows-10	W4RH4WK
Tron Script	bmrf

Browsers

Any browsers listed below are blacklisted. Apart from the main 3: Chrome (including Edge, Opera, Vivaldi), Firefox and Safari, any other browser should be used with extreme caution. Browsers included with antivirus are blacklisted no matter what.

Name	Notes
AVG Secure Browser
Avast Secure Browser
UC Browser
Baidu Browser
Torch Browser
Yandex	Uses its own DNS

Benchmark tools

Name	Notes
UserBenchMark	UserBenchMark is biased and untrusted

Driver finders

See here for our stance and instructions on drivers. Driver finders are most times malware. All driver finders are blacklisted, it doesn’t have to be listed here.

SnappyDriver Installer
IObit DriverBooster
DriverEasy

Activation Scripts

Do not use activation scripts. They breach Microsoft’s terms of service. We do not endorse piracy.

Please purchase your own Windows copy

All activators are blacklisted regardless of trust; it does not have to be listed here.

Name	Notes
KMSPico	Many malicious copies of this software exist.
AAct	Bundled with many malicious Office installers
MAS (Microsoft Activation Scripts)	Is against Microsoft’s terms of service

Freeware/Shareware sites

This isn’t software but the software on these website is almost always malicious. Any software downloaded from these websites are blacklisted.

These websites are notorious for installing malware and PUPs on your device. You should always download software directly from the manufacturer or provider.

We never recommend freeware sites. They are all blacklisted even if they’re not present on this list.

Name	Notes
Softonic (*.softonic.com)
CNET (*.cnet.com)	News articles present on its subdomains are most of the time bogus and fake
FileHippo (*.filehippo.com)
Filehorse (*.filehorse.com)
Softpedia (*.softpedia.com)
Software informer (*.software.informer.com)	News articles present on its subdomains are most of the time bogus and fake

System cleaners/optimizers

Cleaners have a long record of use in the Windows community but often times are abused, leading to broken systems and many wasted writes on an SSD.

System cleaners or optimizers often do more harm then good, and don’t solve issues. Always determine your real issue and solve it with a more direct method.

All cleaners/optimizers are blacklisted, it doesn’t have to be listed here.

Name	Notes
Advanced SystemCare	IOBit
Ccleaner	Piriform
iolo System Mechanic	iolo
Outbyte PC Repair	Outbyte

Audio manipulation programs

Programs that use virtual cables sometimes permanently damage Windows audio systems. Sometimes software like this is required and is not always dangerous; just be careful with the knobs and buttons.

Voicemod
Voicemeeter
Clownfish

Third-party AVs

See here for our stance on AV Tools. It doesn’t have to be listed here to be blacklisted. Most antiviruses are considered PUPs.

Name	Notes
Avast
AVG
Comodo
Kaspersky	Banned in a few countries across the world
McAfee	Bundled with malicious software and is a common topic for malicious websites
Norton	360 versions are known cryptominers
Webroot

Precompiled Windows PE

Various PE distributions are illegal for various reasons such as distributing pirated/TOS breaking applications or requiring de facto payment prior to download.

Hirens
Gandalf

Vendors

This list of vendors offer nothing to the community or make multiple products that are considered PUPs/Malware.

Name	Notes
IOBit	All products

Powershell Oneliners

Any powershell script that uses the following format is blacklisted:

irm <url> | iex

iwr <url> | iex

It does not have to be listed here to be blacklisted. Below are some notable examples.

Name	Notes
get.activated.win
*.keytool.cc	Malicious
*.wslm.net
Many others