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bugeye_bob |
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bugeye_bob World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 Sep 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 12:46 - 12 May 2017 Post subject: HP laptops secretly recording user keystrokes |
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https://news.sky.com/story/hp-laptops-secretly-recording-user-keystrokes-10873634
The company says it is "aware of the keylogger issue" which was accidental, and promises fixes will be available shortly.
Security researchers have discovered that a feature installed in a number of HP laptops is recording all of the keystrokes that the laptop users make.
In capturing everything users press on their keyboards the software is recording sensitive information, and by saving that information in an easily accessible file the researchers claim that it is potentially exposing users' passwords to attackers.
According to the Swiss cybersecurity group behind the research, Modzero, the feature wasn't designed to spy on users - but it was implemented in such a way that it records everything users type.
This means that from the moment a user logs into Windows on affected HP laptops, every key they press, including to enter passphrases for online banking and email accounts, is recorded and stored.
The security firm claims that this "leads to a high risk of leaking sensitive user input".
"Users are not aware that every keystroke made while entering sensitive information - such as passphrases (or) passwords on local or remote systems - are captured by (the software)," the security advisory continued.
The researchers complained that they first reported the issue to HP on 28 April, but decided to publish their security advisory yesterday because HP had failed to respond to them.
Speaking to Sky News, a spokesperson for HP said the company was "aware of the keylogger issue on select HP PCs."
HP told Sky News: "Our supplier partner developed software to test audio functionality prior to product launch and it should not have been included in the final shipped version. Fixes will be available shortly via HP.com."
28 models of HP laptops running either Windows 7 or Windows 10 are affected, the full list of which is available on Modzero's advisory notice. HP declined to inform Sky News of how many customers it believes may be affected by the issue.
According to market analysis by Gartner, HP's machines accounted for 19.5% of worldwide personal computer shipments during the first quarter of this year, with over 12 million units being shipped. |
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 19:48 - 12 May 2017 Post subject: |
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Obligatory: 'The software said "Requires Windows 7 or better," so I installed Linux.' ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Karma :
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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M.C |
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M.C Super Spammer
Joined: 29 Sep 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 11:29 - 13 May 2017 Post subject: |
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A linux system would be almost completely useless for me, I do audio production, 3D modelling and yes gaming I built a Hackintosh with a view to switching but even that has proved to be fairly useless. I'm not a Windows fanboy at all it's just the range of software can't be beat. |
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 12:49 - 13 May 2017 Post subject: |
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Sure, I keep a Windows box in the corner because sometimes you just have to. The rest of the stable are Lunix though, and I'd encourage people to keep an open mind. ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Karma :
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 09:20 - 14 May 2017 Post subject: |
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I had high hopes for SteamOS, but it looks like Valve have messed it up.
Lower (sometimes much lower) frame rates than Window on the same hardware, even for flagship Valve titles optimised for lunix.
And it turns your expensive PC hardware into a very limited games machine playing a small number of Steam games, while ironically, dedicated games consoles are now full media centres, and cheaper to boot.
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse/discussions/1/154645497345312174/
https://mspoweruser.com/alienware-says-windows-10-killing-steamos-whole-story/
I wonder how long Valve - and system vendors - will bother to continue with it. ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Karma :
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 340 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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