Privacy: A LibreOffice advantage

Microsoft has always limited the number of computers it allows you to install on, and it has always used the internet to check and verify these copies.

This reduces the amount of piracy, but through a Microsoft account, the software giant has a greater ability to collect data about its users. The privacy policy linked to in the Help ribbon of its applications state that it collects data. One reason it gives is to improve and develop its products.

Data is collected through interactions with the company and through its products. Most software companies operate this way.

Microsoft also offers a version of its suite that you pay for once and can use it on one Mac or Windows 10 machine. It, however, also needs to be downloaded to install it. Even if it is purchased from a store, all the packaging contains is a keycard that gives you access to the download.

This is a version of Office that was designed for people who don’t want to pay a monthly or annual fee. It does not let them get out of needing a Microsoft account, however.

The Document Foundation, the organization behind LibreOffice, and other FOSS developers take a different approach. There are no restrictions on how many computers a user installs it on and no need to register the software.

Interestingly enough, privacy and anonymity come with this freedom. Users simply obtain a copy of it and use it. They can either download it from libreoffice.org, install it from a DVD or USB stick they purchased or were given, or download it from another Website. One copy of installation file can be used to install LibreOffice on every computer in the office.

There is even a version that you can install on a USB stick and take computer to computer without installing it.

The Document Foundation doesn’t really know who is using its applications. The number of users can only be estimated. Inability to accurately track users, increases their privacy.

While The Document Foundation leaves you alone for the most part, its application communicate with the organization’s servers some what. They inform you when an update is available. This notification, however, can be deactived through the Options window.
1. Click Tools (LibreOffice menu in Mac)
2. Click the Options item (Preferences in Mac)
3. Click the Online Updates tab
4. Change the settings in the tab.

The Check for updates item the Help menu checks for the update. However, it directs you to libreoffice.org to download the latest version. This is much less invasive than the automatic downloads that Office 365 requires.

In the Help menu, there is also an item for getting help online. Clicking this sends you to the ask.libreoffice.org Website in your default browser. This is much less direct than the Contact support in Office 365.