{
  "slug": "rufus",
  "category": "os-installers",
  "name": "Rufus",
  "description": "A Windows utility that formats USB drives and writes bootable USB media from ISO and disk images, and can download Windows ISOs.",
  "website": "https://rufus.ie",
  "source": "https://github.com/pbatard/rufus",
  "license": "GPL-3.0",
  "platforms": [
    "windows"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": null,
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 30,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Rufus scores 30 out of 100 (grade F) on the OS downloaders and bootable USB tools criteria. It meets 1 of 4 criteria: open source. It does not meet no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and independent audit.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/os-installers/rufus/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/os-installers/rufus/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/blob/master/LICENSE.txt",
      "note": "GPL-3.0."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/wiki/FAQ#Rufus_connects_to_the_internet_but_I_never_allowed_it_to__why",
      "note": "The rufus.ie website loads Google Analytics and Google AdSense. The app's update check asks first, unless the executable is named rufus.exe, and can be turned off."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/wiki/FAQ#I_have_seen_some_deceptive_ads_on_your_website_How_dare_you",
      "note": "The rufus.ie website shows Google AdSense ads. The app itself has no ads."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:01:49.502Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}