Editing Tencent QQ (section)

==Controversies and criticisms==

===Coral QQ===

Coral QQ, a modification of Tencent QQ, is another add-on for the software, providing free access to some of the services and blocking Tencent's advertisements. In 2006, Tencent filed a copyright lawsuit against Chen Shoufu (aka Soft), the author of Coral QQ, after his distribution of a modified Tencent QQ was ruled illegal. Chen then published his modification as a separate add-on. On 16 August 2007, Chen was detained again for allegedly making profits off of his ad-blocking add-on.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119629787148507282 | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=Debate Over IM Add-Ons in China | first=Juliet | last=Ye | date=2007-11-29 | access-date=2017-08-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809173016/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119629787148507282 | archive-date=2017-08-09 | url-status=live }}</ref> The case resulted in a three-year prison sentence for Shoufu.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/11/26/8093-coral-qq-infringement-case-ends-with-prison-for-chen-shoufu | work=ChinaTechNews | title=Coral QQ Infringement Case Ends With Prison For Chen Shoufu | date=2008-11-26 | access-date=2021-01-25 | archive-date=2020-09-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928145720/https://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/11/26/8093-coral-qq-infringement-case-ends-with-prison-for-chen-shoufu | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Dispute with Qihoo 360===
{{main|360 v. Tencent}}
In 2010, Chinese anti-virus company, [[Qihoo 360]], analyzed the QQ protocol and accused QQ of automatically scanning users' computers and uploading their personal information to QQ's servers without the users' consent. In response, Tencent called 360 a [[malware]] and denied users of installing 360 access to some of the QQ's services. The Chinese [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Industry and Information]] reprimanded both companies for "improper competition" and ordered them to come to an agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e0e12040-f5ab-11df-99d6-00144feab49a.html|title=Beijing probes Tencent and Qihoo 360|first=Kathrin|last=Hille|location=Beijing|date=2010-11-21|access-date=2011-01-09|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906011600/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e0e12040-f5ab-11df-99d6-00144feab49a.html|archive-date=2011-09-06|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Government surveillance===
Some observers have criticized QQ's compliance in the Chinese government's [[Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China|Internet surveillance and censorship]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/world/asia/08censor.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=technology| title=China's Censors Tackle and Trip Over the Internet| work=The New York Times| first1=Michael| last1=Wines| first2=Sharon| last2=Lafraniere| first3=Jonathan| last3=Ansfield| date=2010-04-07| access-date=2017-02-25| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222000346/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/world/asia/08censor.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=technology| archive-date=2019-02-22| url-status=live}}</ref> A 2013 report by [[Reporters Without Borders]] specifically mentioned QQ as allowing authorities to monitor online conversations for keywords or phrases and track participants by their user number.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://surveillance.rsf.org/en/china/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316125952/http://surveillance.rsf.org/en/china/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-03-16|title=China - The Enemies of Internet|publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]]|access-date=2012-04-14}}</ref>

===Adware controversy===
The Chinese version of QQ makes use of embedded advertisements. Older versions of the client have been branded as malicious [[adware]] by some antivirus and anti-spyware vendors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenebril.com/src/info.php?id=441301950 |title=Spyware Research Center - Tencent QQ |publisher=Tenebril |date=2004-10-27 |access-date=2011-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229113529/http://www.tenebril.com/src/info.php?id=441301950 |archive-date=2010-12-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453083549 |title=Tencent QQ |publisher=Ca.com |date=2004-08-16 |access-date=2011-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017095717/http://ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453083549 |archive-date=2007-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.securemost.com/articles/rm_tencent_qq.htm |title=Remove Tencent QQ - Spyware / Adware Uninstall Instruction |publisher=Securemost.com |access-date=2011-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719133746/http://www.securemost.com/articles/rm_tencent_qq.htm |archive-date=2010-07-19 }}</ref>

Both the Chinese and International versions of QQ had been tested in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/9200a4eecf93f07855c90cbdefe44620bed8b04a3720d09cee69247382282a0e/analysis/|title=Virustotal Report for QQ 2013|publisher=Virustotal.com|access-date=2013-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031230713/https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/9200a4eecf93f07855c90cbdefe44620bed8b04a3720d09cee69247382282a0e/analysis/|archive-date=2013-10-31|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/e6ea06f11f7eee56a67f7471ea1a5925209550dc3beb0959228e98b94c5b5f8d/analysis/|title=Virustotal Report for QQ International|publisher=Virustotal.com|access-date=2013-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031225515/https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/e6ea06f11f7eee56a67f7471ea1a5925209550dc3beb0959228e98b94c5b5f8d/analysis/|archive-date=2013-10-31|url-status=live}}</ref> Currently it is identified as malware by DrWeb, Zillya, NANO-Antivirus, and VBA32 give positive results, most of which identify it as a trojan.<ref name=in2020>{{cite web|url=https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/9200a4eecf93f07855c90cbdefe44620bed8b04a3720d09cee69247382282a0e/analysis/|title=Virustotal Report for QQ 2020|publisher=Virustotal.com|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2013-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031230713/https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/9200a4eecf93f07855c90cbdefe44620bed8b04a3720d09cee69247382282a0e/analysis/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/e6ea06f11f7eee56a67f7471ea1a5925209550dc3beb0959228e98b94c5b5f8d/analysis/|title=Virustotal Report for QQ International|publisher=Virustotal.com|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2013-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031225515/https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/e6ea06f11f7eee56a67f7471ea1a5925209550dc3beb0959228e98b94c5b5f8d/analysis/|url-status=live}}</ref>