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HP Recovery Files Include Spyware

By Ed Foster, Section Gripes
Posted on Sun Mar 21, 2004 at 04:51:22 PM PDT

A reader writes:

I have had it with HP. I recently had to reinstall the OS on a Hewlett Packard Pavilion XT983 computer. I was already ticked with HP concerning the non-existent recovery CDs but became extremely so after I saw the spyware that is installed on these PCs by HP. At least two of the programs installed, Wild Tangent and the Backweb client, are identified by the spyware trackers. Every HP I reinstall is the same way, too. Where does HP get off sticking us with this stuff?

< Legal Spam | Reader Voices: Antivirus Disease >


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HP Recovery Files Include Spyware | 17 comments (17 topical) | Post A Comment
So what else is new?[ Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#1)
by Anonymous User on Tue Mar 23, 2004 at 12:41:41 PM PDT

It's called "advertiser-supported software". HP installed the stuff at the factory, and that is why it's on the recovery discs. If you restore the computer back to factory specs, then the spyware comes back with it.

Whenever I buy a new commercial PC (Compaq, eMachines, Gateway, HP, IBM, etc.), the first things that I do is to "delouse" it of all the spyware and unwanted apps. One of the benefits of building your own PCs is that you don't have to deal with this crud.

[ Reply to This ]


So what else is new? HP installs SPyware[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#2)
by Anonymous User on Thu Apr 08, 2004 at 09:00:46 AM PDT

I had set up a friends Compaq Presario Desktop and spent of couple of hours cleaning these pests out. On my new Compaq Presario Laptop I did not find this garbarge. It would appear this done to the Desktop units only as these are more likely to be hooked up to broadband internet.

[ Parent | Reply to This ]


HP Spyware[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#8)
by Anonymous User on Sat May 28, 2005 at 07:35:35 AM PDT

By Hazmeister:

I did a spyware scan with Spybot Search & Destroy (and both downloadable updates) the other day and found 57 entries of Backweb supposededly put their by HP.  It was ridiculous!  I suspect it probably added some of the other bits there as well.  What's even annoying is that the information doesn't even seem to go to HP.  It goes to some company called Cameocast.  It doesn't seem to be on all PCs (my nan's PC is clean), perhaps other people could check their own PCs and get back to me.  I wonder if they added it when I sent it into repair (They definitly used a different recovery image).  This is kind of ironic as HP have this new course on protecting your PC from spyware.  By the way Microsoft Anti Spyware is useless at finding this stuff.   See links Below:

HP AntiSpware Course
HP.http://hplearningcenter.com/courses/overview.jsp?courseId=3193&hplcpsession=55f8770e221cf4eedf52 ea90cdc3

About Back web
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/177.html


[ Parent | Reply to This ]



Update:[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#10)
by Anonymous User on Wed Jun 08, 2005 at 12:24:45 AM PDT

By Hazmeister:

Cameocast has been bought and turned into one of those annoying pages that poses as a search engine and attempts to install a ton of crap on your computer

[ Parent | Reply to This ]



What is new?[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#19)
by Anonymous User on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:45:43 AM PDT

I had set up a friends Compaq Presario Desktop and spent of couple of hours cleaning these pests out. order viagra , cheap viagra On my new Compaq Presario Laptop I did not find this garbarge. It would appear this done to the Desktop units only as these are more likely to be hooked up to broadband internet.

[ Parent | Reply to This ]


Possible slight over statement[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#11)
by Hazmeister on Thu Jun 16, 2005 at 03:59:38 AM PDT

Spybot seems to be designed for Windows 2000 and isn't always consistant, but is still a valuable tool.  You can use it to block bad ports on your PC to stop more rubbish getting on.

[ Parent | Reply to This ]


HP is clever in their Spyware[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#13)
by Anonymous User on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 05:47:00 PM PDT

It is not an easy thing to go against a giant. HP & the big MS .Net Framework. I was unable to install the HP software until I edited my registries keys to give them access. HP claimed it was a .Net error, just remove .Net frameworks and then reinstall using their .Net included on the CD! When this did not resolve the error, I was able to do a search on google and found that if I open up some keys and give HP access to them, then everything was fine... So now next time I need ink, will I be directed to office depot or staples. I guess who ever paid them for the privileged of being allowed access to my computer via HP! Thanks HP for your continued effort to subvert the dollar to sweeten your pocket!

[ Parent | Reply to This ]


Spybot[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#18)
by Anonymous User on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:43:40 AM PDT

Spybot seems to be designed for Windows 2000 and isn't always consistant, but is still a valuable tool. xenical , levitra , clomid , buy viagra online You can use it to block bad ports on your PC to stop more rubbish getting on.

[ Parent | Reply to This ]


Re: Arcade Fire on SNL[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#16)
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[ Parent | Reply to This ]


Anti Piracy [ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#17)
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[ Parent | Reply to This ]


Vendor Garbage Programs[ Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#3)
by Anonymous User on Tue Apr 27, 2004 at 10:44:39 AM PDT

We take it even one step further. We use a tool to wipe and reformat the hard drive on all new machines. We then use our Microsoft Select original CDs to install Windows and the applicaitons we are licensed for. These clean machines run so much better than ones that come from the manufacturers and doing the add/remove programs routine takes more time AND does not get everything off the machine. This is the only way to deal with this junk - start fresh with known good software which does NOT have the extras.

[ Reply to This ]


Reformatting[ Parent | Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#9)
by Anonymous User on Wed Jun 08, 2005 at 12:19:05 AM PDT

By Hazmeister

For those of you who don't know, you can ask for the Windows XP CD when you buy a new PC.  You are well within your rights.  Beware!! You'll have to find the drivers on the internet yourself.  HP only put the updates on their website.

[ Parent | Reply to This ]



"Dangerous computer programs..."[ Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#4)
by trashpicker on Wed Apr 28, 2004 at 07:49:52 AM PDT

This article on WSJ highlights the new wave of spyware intended to protect you from ... spyware.

What's That Sneaking Into Your Computer?

[ Reply to This ]



HP spyware---continued[ Reply to This ] (none / 0) (#12)
by Anonymous User on Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 11:50:56 AM PDT

I just discovered the "essential program" hpWebHelp, which HP quickly removed(actually I downloaded a remover for it... to terminate the bug-fix and log file they had in my box). A log of my internet activity!

[ Reply to This ]


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    HP Recovery Files Include Spyware | 17 comments (17 topical) | Post A Comment
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