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HP is rolling out "HP Touchpoint Analytics Service" onto computers without user consent:
Lenovo has only just settled a massive $3.5 million fine for preinstalling adware on laptops without users' consent, and now it seems HP is getting in on the stealth installation action, too. According to numerous reports gathered by Computer World, the brand is deploying a telemetry client on customer computers without asking permission.
The software -- first identified on November 15 -- 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.
Also at Computerworld and gHacks.
(Score: 2) by melikamp on Wednesday November 29 2017, @04:22AM (3 children)
3.5 million is peanuts, just the cost of doing business, which is spying on computer renters, the poor suckers who are deluded into thinking they are buying, because they are paying the price of manufacturing. The resulting data products are then sold high and low, so unless these fines go up x10 times at least, they won't do jack shit.
Note also, as always, absolutely no criminal charges will be brought against anyone, even though these were premeditated computer crimes affecting anywhere from thousands to millions of consumers. This is while a poor basement dweller cracking one virtual web host and defacing a web page for lulz gets a prison term, and security researchers are facing jail time.
(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Wednesday November 29 2017, @09:19AM (1 child)
I agree, $3.5m is a slap on the wrist for lenovo. More than likely it is less than what money lenovo received from the 3rd parties for installing the spyware to begin with.
Until these fines become damaging to the company, they will never stop these shady deals.
Hit them with fines that removes all profit from every machine they sold with the spyware; and then add 5-10% more as a punitive measure.
Yes, this may sound excessively harsh, and it will severely impact their stock price. However, that is what you need to do to stop this crap... Frighten the investors away from companies with shady practices. The lowered stock price will also negatively impact the executives who will feel their wallet hit. Possibly then will the executives be held accountable and not consider things like this in the first place.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by Lester on Wednesday November 29 2017, @11:21AM
Moreover. It hasn't been punished by consumers.
No serious fines, no backslash from consumers. Let's do it again!!
Look at Lenovo!! No serious fines, no backslash from consumers. Let's do it too!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 01 2017, @08:38PM
"massive" indeed. Engadget seems like a quality rag. (what a surprise)
Some Lenovo stats, year 2016, from Wikipedia
Revenue US$43.03 billion
Net income US$535 million
I'm sure Lenovo's in great pain now...