FOSSPicks

FOSSPicks

Article from Issue 303/2026
Author(s):

Nate explores the top FOSS including the latest version of Waterfox Browser, an image metadata removal tool, a lightweight media player, and the latest LibreQuake beta.

Looking for FOSS in All the Wrong Places

I recently stumbled across a news story on It's FOSS claiming that Flathub is currently ranking on Google for Pornhub downloads. The official web-based store for Flatpak packages is a boon to Linux users everywhere because of how easy it makes installing new programs on popular distros such as Linux Mint. I, myself, love the New section when trying to find exciting new programs to discuss for FOSSPicks. Unfortunately, it seems an unscrupulous developer is behind this unwanted publicity, posting downloader applications on Flathub.

Aside from sharing the same creator, these three programs all had tags containing NSFW terms and were proprietary software. This rather cynical attempt to garner more downloads by piggybacking on Flathub's popularity was almost certainly a moneymaking endeavor, given that all of these programs offer premium versions for which users have to pay. Though Flathub could attempt to restrict certain tags, this would likely prove futile as developers invent new workarounds. Alternatively, Flathub could agree to host only free and open source software. That way there'd be no easy way for anyone to ride on the coattails of the store's success to push proprietary products.

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