"Wreaking Havoc" - HP Installs System-Slowing Spyware On Its PCs Without Consent | Zero Hedge
Description: On the heels of Lenovo’s massive $3.5 million fine for preinstalling adware on laptops without users‘ consent, Hewlett-Packard is jumping in with both feet when it comes to installing spyware on its PCs without the consumer’s permission.
Keywords: Zero Hedge,Zerohedge,Finance,Economics,Markets,Politics,Analysis
Date: 2013-01-07T00:00:00Z

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# "Wreaking Havoc" - HP Installs System-Slowing Spyware On Its PCs Without Consent

by Tyler Durden
Dec 4, 2017 10:49 AM
0
SHARES

Authored by Mac Slavo via SHTFplan.com,

On the heels of Lenovo’s massive $3.5 million fine for preinstalling adware on laptops without users‘ consent, Hewlett-Packard is jumping in with both feet when it comes to installing spyware on its PCs without the consumer’s permission.

According to numerous reports gathered by Computer World, the brand is deploying a telemetry client (a system data that is uploaded by the Connected User Experience and Telemetry component), on customer computers without asking permission.

The software, which was first identified on November 15 of this year, is called “HP Touchpoint Analytics Service” and appears to replace the self-managed HP Touchpoint Manager solution. According to the official productivity description, it features “the tools you need to ensure all your managed devices’ security — and brings you greater peace of mind”. The problem is, it’s installing itself without permission and is wreaking havoc on customers’ systems.

And the consumers are noticing:

> On 11/18/2017 Hp Touchpoint Analytics Client was installed on my computer without my concent, I’m assuming it was installed in the background as an update to Hp support or framework.

> However it happened I don’t appreciate it’s sneaky take over of my computer’s system resources.

> From yesterday to today it’s been making my computer work so hard I can hear it like cranking away and the light in the back of my computer is flashing rapidly in-tune with the cranking.

> –HP Forum

HP has not released an official response to the complaints either and it’s not yet clear how the new driver is being installed. It may have come with the latest Windows updates, or via HP and its support assistant processes, but regardless, customers aren’t happy. “I understand that it hoovers all sorts of telemetry data — and I am not willing to share too much of it really, definitely not without my knowledge,” says one user on HP’s forums.

There is a speck of good news, however. According to Engadget, the offending driver can be removed relatively quickly and easily, but against a wider backdrop of repeated privacy scandals, that’s hardly the point and only semi-comforting to those affected.

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Gap Admirer Dec 4, 2017 10:51 AM

Please. What do you think Windows 10 is all about? It is spyware central. Microsoft decided to get into the Facebook/Google game by gathering and selling user information to marketers.

Peacefulwarrior Gap Admirer Dec 4, 2017 10:52 AM

Why do think Meg Whitman has "Gone Fishing"

Crisismode Peacefulwarrior Dec 4, 2017 10:58 AM

She went to visit Winston Smith, and ended up in Room 101.

evoila Crisismode Dec 4, 2017 11:10 AM

Ha .... that's why the first thing you do when you buy ANY PC from ANY major manufacturer is to do a clean install...

HillaryOdor evoila Dec 4, 2017 11:48 AM

Most people have no idea how to do that and no desire to learn how a computer actually works. That's why they use Winblows.

The first thing I do is a clean install... of a Unix-like OS, Linux unfortunately being the only decent one at the moment.

Government need... HillaryOdor Dec 4, 2017 12:05 PM

Why the fuss? Winblows 10 includes a keylogger, so 'THEY' can record your every keystroke. Better not shout, better not cry, better now pout, they're goin' in DRY.'

opport.knocks evoila Dec 4, 2017 11:32 AM

The problem now being how to get clean OS software to do a clean install, and then keep it that way.

NoDebt Crisismode Dec 4, 2017 11:12 AM

Holy shit, I was looking at that EXACT piece of software on my Son's (HP/Compaq) laptop last night! I couldn't figure out why it was using so many resources and it doesn't show up in the list of installed software in the Control Panel (no way to remove it). I'm guessing it's built into the other HP "bloatware" applications that are already on the machine. And the resolution is likely going to be to remove everything labeled as being from HP. (I know, I know, I shoulda done that already.)

This was NOT the same HP software that came on the laptop on Day 1. It was part of some automatic update just recently. That's why I went looking- it slowed his laptop down pretty bad all of a sudden a week or two ago.

Fucking dickheads at HP.

Justin Case NoDebt Dec 4, 2017 11:33 AM

If you go into task manager, you can see what process is running and using CPU, Memory, disk, network and GPU. If that process appears in "services", you can then disable it or if it's identified as a software, uninstall ti or delete it. Might have to do a clean boot to delete it if it starts automatically with windoz.

Got The Wrong No Justin Case Dec 4, 2017 11:47 AM

Thanks

earleflorida NoDebt Dec 4, 2017 1:12 PM

same shit here

YUNOSELL Peacefulwarrior Dec 4, 2017 11:00 AM

LOL, $3.5 million is like a bank fine -- absolutely no deterrent as well worth the cost based on all the priceless information they will obtain from the adware. Why even bother to fine them when not at amounts that will deter?

aliens is here YUNOSELL Dec 4, 2017 11:33 AM

For a big company like HP 3.5 million is 3.5 cents to them.

DisorderlyConduct aliens is here Dec 4, 2017 11:46 AM

And to the shit stains that decided to do it - it's nothing. It costs the shareholders, not the decision-makers.

They'll probably get a raise...

shocktherapy Peacefulwarrior Dec 4, 2017 11:50 AM

Why do ZH'ers even care, since ZeroHedge isnt a secure website.

earleflorida shocktherapy Dec 4, 2017 1:19 PM

#1) zerohedge isn't responding ----- close program

BS!!!

BennyBoy Gap Admirer Dec 4, 2017 10:55 AM

I prefer buying all my market reseach data from the NSA.

RedBaron616 Gap Admirer Dec 4, 2017 11:14 AM

This is NOT an article about Windows 10.

You must be a public school product. Can't read an article and comprehend it in order to make a relevant comment.

BarkingCat RedBaron616 Dec 4, 2017 11:40 AM

You are the one with a comprehension problem. The point was made that Windows 10 already does this.

dark fiber Gap Admirer Dec 4, 2017 11:56 AM

Then don't use it. Stop playing victim and do something.

Gap Admirer dark fiber Dec 4, 2017 12:52 PM

Apparently this is retard post day on ZH. Stating the fact that Microsoft got into the spyware game with Windows 10 is not "playing victim."

monero Gap Admirer Dec 4, 2017 1:09 PM

Use Linux

yaright Dec 4, 2017 10:51 AM

Who would buy a HP? PURE junk. Build your own.

wulf yaright Dec 4, 2017 10:58 AM

Build your own and install Linux..

Seriously, who needs windows these days? I can even play CS-GO and many other games on my linux build.

Bigly wulf Dec 4, 2017 11:05 AM

If we are not that smart....win 7 dell, gateway?? what mfr?

Raymond K Hessel Bigly Dec 4, 2017 1:19 PM

Yeah, why not build your own computer. While you’re at it, make yourself a car. And how about learn to cut your own hair? Need medicine? Don’t be a dick and go to the pharmacy! Make your own!

Brilliant!!

atlas_crumbles wulf Dec 4, 2017 11:05 AM

I am a rust addict myself. Your right Linux is the only way these days. However I am concerned about Intel's IME and AMD's equivalent. Not for myself, but for the World in general.

ToSoft4Truth wulf Dec 4, 2017 11:07 AM

If you play online government is analyzing your strategic thinking skills. Tied to your credit card and Red Tube history - they know you.

Fahq Yuhaad wulf Dec 4, 2017 11:17 AM

Linux (e.g. the Mint distribution with the Cinnamon desktop) runs smoothly and is a viable alternative to Windows, but there are undeniable issues*. Often difficult to get functioning hardware drivers. LibreOffice open document file formats are only partially compatible with MS Office, so you could be f****d if your clients have the latter and you only have the former. The Wine emulator for expensive Windows/Mac-only software such as Photoshop has security and performance issues. But on balance it is worth a try IMO.

* http://itvision.altervista.org/why.linux.is.not.ready.for.the.desktop.cu...

HillaryOdor Fahq Yuhaad Dec 4, 2017 12:54 PM

I stopped using Debian based Linux because there were too many issues (this includes mint and ubuntu). Arch Linux is where it's at these days. For a noob I would recomment Antergos and I prefer gnome to cinnamon but you can always try multiple desktop environments and switch between them at login until you find one you really like, but it's true that no Linux is without issues. The entire OS is too spread out among too many development teams. I helped my wife install on her laptop and it's default desktop manager (lightdm) didn't load properly. I walked her through the process of switching getty, stopping the lightdm service, installing gdm instead, and starting the gdm service. Not a big deal, if you know what you're doing. But most people don't, nor will they ever. Most people see a command line prompt and they immediately put up mental barriers. "Oh I can't do this." They have no desire to learn, which is why Linux will never ever take off. The GPL is also holding it back. What sane company wants to get involved with all those legal issues? Unfortunately in computers (and society in general) you are always constrained by what the majority of people want. If you want games you have to use Winblows. If you want Unix-like you basically have to use Linsux or join the Apple cult. I hope one day FreeBSD overtakes them but it's just not ready at the moment for an everyday OS, especially on a Laptop. The driver support just isn't as good. For servers it's unbeatable though. Unfortunately too many people are brainwashed by this GPL pseudo-freedom bullshit so Linux isn't going away any time soon. You will always have companies making OSes derived from BSD, like macOS etc.. I wouldn't be shocked if even Microsoft went this route eventually. Unix is objectively superior in every way. That's why even MS isn't using Windows for their cloud servers. It's crap.

dark fiber Fahq Yuhaad Dec 4, 2017 12:07 PM

There are workarounds to these problems but for 95%of users these are a non issue.

RedBaron616 wulf Dec 4, 2017 11:17 AM

Sure, let me build my own laptop. Everyone does that.

PCs no problem. Laptops, good luck.

HillaryOdor RedBaron616 Dec 4, 2017 12:32 PM

I have Arch Linux as my main OS on my laptop, which is not ancient. It's a Lenovo but I'm sure it's just as easy on HP laptops. It's not some huge hurdle. That's one thing the Linux community does well, keep the drivers working although battery life isn't as optimized as it is in Windows. Too bad they are wasting all that time on Linux instead of BSD though.

RedBaron616 yaright Dec 4, 2017 11:15 AM

Try building your own laptop. Good luck with that.

Jack's Raging B... RedBaron616 Dec 4, 2017 12:42 PM

Building a laptop is only different in that you have more constraints and form factors to deal with. One you have your chasis/mobo selected, assembling it isn't any more difficult than an ordinary desktop PC. It's also very pricey. Unless you need a gaming/3D graphics development laptop, it's not worth the money or effort.

yaright RedBaron616 Dec 4, 2017 1:45 PM

Everything you need https://www.newegg.com/

Plus 1000,s of on line help...Bobby Bushaaa You Can Do It!

shitshitshit Dec 4, 2017 10:51 AM

HP used to be such a fabulous engineering company.

Destroyed by womyn.

Sad.

BullyBearish shitshitshit Dec 4, 2017 10:54 AM

farly criminilla was NOT a woman...

quadraspleen BullyBearish Dec 4, 2017 10:58 AM

HP was destroyed by the very same short-sighted sales channel bullshit that did for Dell. they spent billions of dollars and years of man-hours building up the channel through people like me (i run an IT support company who *used* to sell HP), then canned it all by offering better deals to the end-user

Fuck both of them.

Consuelo shitshitshit Dec 4, 2017 10:59 AM

Look at what they did to Mark Hurd...

Whatever PC touches (pun intended) it F-cks over.

rtalcott shitshitshit Dec 4, 2017 11:03 AM

More accurately it started to go to hell after Bill & Dave left.

onthedeschutes Dec 4, 2017 10:55 AM

This is only news to people that have just awoken from a coma for the past 15 years.

RagaMuffin Dec 4, 2017 10:55 AM

They also recently took over Samsung Printers division............

pigpen Dec 4, 2017 10:56 AM

Citizens, time to destroy these spying tech firms esp the goobook monopolies.

Use brave browser to block advertising, malware and tracking/spying by DEFAULT on any device and operating system.

Peter Thiel funded brave and if government won't punish these firms with meaningful fines and break ups then the citizens must render these business models worthless esp the spying/tracking digital advertising business.

It is my data - why am I not a stakeholder getting paid?

Brave browser - best stocking stuffer - it is free.

Chris,

Pigpen

Justin Case pigpen Dec 4, 2017 11:00 AM

I'll take Tor Browser over any other for surfing.

Jack's Raging B... Justin Case Dec 4, 2017 12:45 PM

Alot of evidence that Tor was created as a honeypot. Even if it wasn't, it has been confirmed that Tor is compromised and doesn't not protect you from NSA. Then again, I doubt Brave does either. Brave is an excellent mobile browser though.

Justin Case Jack's Raging Bile Duct Dec 4, 2017 1:03 PM

Tor uses a ip relay of others that participate. This will show yoar IP from another country and you can change at will. Also the user.js file is modified to disable info about yoar system and other fingerprinting from the browser. I don't know of a better browser for privacy when connected to the internet other than VPN.

I'd enjoy reading the evidence if you could post further information of where that is. Thks.

Tor does not rely on trusting the operators of the exit nodes, and in fact if you comb through the Snowden leaks for the "Tor Stinks!" presentation, the NSA seem to have not found a way to defeat Tor when the tool is used correctly.

It often is not. It is often used configured poorly, with out of date versions, with plug-ins that defeat anonymity, without end-to-end encryption. Any of these, as examples, can give you away.The Tor network was designed from the ground up to resist that -- for the sake of the American military intel guys in field work and special ops who originally designed it and still want to use it undetected by their opposite numbers. Much as some of their cohort at the NSA might resent how that makes their particular jobs…stink.

https://www.quora.com/Is-Tor-essentially-an-NSA-honeypot?share=1

Mat Cauthon pigpen Dec 4, 2017 11:09 AM

I never mind ads on webpages.... ie., Zerohedge etc... they provide free content for us, but its not cheap for them in terms of time and costs.

However the first time I get a pop-up that tries to lock my browser with a 'Security Alert', then all bets are off and into Adaware it goes.

buzzsaw99 Dec 4, 2017 10:56 AM

i have bought my last pc. between windows 10 and the hardware manufacturers i am totally pissed off. pity too because i used to love that shit.

thevekja buzzsaw99 Dec 4, 2017 11:00 AM

Same here, Microsoft is dead to me after abandoning Windows 7, arguably the most stable and optimized OS ever (after XP). The only thing Orwell got wrong was that the plebs will pay thousands of dollars for the spying devices that will enslave them, instead of it being thrust upon them by a totalitarian government.

Evil genius at work

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