Archive for: theft
If you thought no one could possibly be as stupid as Sony was several years back when it was found that they purposely distributed CDs that would install rootkits on customers’ computers, think again. Samsung is in the house with a new, even further reaching action — pre-installing keylogging software on new computers.
An article by Eset highlights a 2 – part story which involves a Norwich University graduate, Mohamed Hassan, who discovered a key logger on two brand new Samsung laptops. What’s startling is that the keylogger in question (dubbed “StarLogger”) records text and takes screenshots of the screen, making it even harmful than Sony’s rootkit of the early 2000′s.
Hassan reports that he found StarLogger first on a Samsung R525, and at a later date an R540 from a completely different store. When Mr. Hassan contacted Samsung, he was at first met with several denials and shrugging shoulders. But with a little persistance, Samsung CS finally broke down; they installed the keyloggers to gain customer usage information. Concerned consumers can easily and quickly determine if their computer is infected by checking the C drive for a folder called “SL”, specifically “c:\windows\SL”.
Under no circumstances is a keylogger pre-installed by the manufacturer (or anyone for that matter) ok or necessary. Back in ’04, Sony ended up paying almost $600 million out in fines and compensation. With technology becoming even more important in an increasing number of peoples’ lives and Samsung’s own digital infection potentially more harmful to customers, we could easily see Samsung break Sony’s record. Of course that is assuming a class action lawsuit is filed against Samsung. For the safety of technology users around the world, we certainly hope such a thing happens.
The other much less disastrous scenario (for Samsung, anyway) is if this keylogger is being installed by some disgruntled employee that is directly/indirectly involved in the manufacturer and shipping of Samsung’s laptops. Either way, expect to hear more about this in the coming hours and days.
Update
Congrats to Samsung for not doing a Sony (and ignoring this for days to weeks) and tackling this claim from the get go. After a thorough and very quick investigation, Samsung has responded on their official Korean blog:
The statements that Samsung installs keylogger on R525 and R540 laptop computers are false.
Our findings indicate that the person mentioned in the article used a security program called VIPRE that mistook a folder created by Microsoft’s Live Application for a key logging software, during a virus scan.
The confusion arose because VIPRE mistook Microsoft’s Live Application multi-language support folder, “SL” folder, as StarLogger.
(Depending on the language, under C:\windows folders “SL” for Slovene, “KO” for Korean, “EN” for English are created.)
Samsung will continue to respect customer needs by providing the highest quality products and services.
**See image below: Vipre (premium) run after creating an empty “SL” folder in the C:\ folder.
Mark your calendars GTA junkies for March 30th is your day to rejoice. It is on this day that Microsoft loses their exclusivity and GTA’s wildly popular expansion packs — “The Lost And Dammed” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony” — can finally be released to other systems. It is on that day that the PS3 and PC gaming world will finally be able to wrap their heads around the vast expanses the two extra packs add to the overall amazingness that is GTA.
Similar to the Xbox 360 versions, if you’ve already purchased GTA: IV, you can forgo buying new discs again and simply download the expansion packs from either the PlayStation Network or Games for Windows Live.
Price isn’t quite set in store yet. But honestly, if you’re as much of a GTA junkie as I am, the price won’t even matter. Anyone out there in non-Xbox 360 land going to pick up one or both?
ElectricPig
- January 18, 2010 10:52 am
Call me a renegade, an outlaw, or someone who simply doesn’t like authority — I love the Grand Theft Auto series. It isn’t so much the killing innocent civillians, destroying cars, or shooting up random things as it is more the freedom to do whatever and go wherever I want. It is that unbound gameplay that truly draws me in. Of course, blowing up an intersection full of cars is always fun too.
Apple markets the iPhone/Touch as “the” mobile gaming platform. And in most aspects, it is. No mobile platform has as many games as the iPhone does. The diversity and visual candy that is finally coming forth from the iPhone is quite impressive indeed.
WIth all of that said, you can imagine I’m just a liiiitle bit excited with the release of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the iPhone. Finally, the game that has been rumored and leaked for many months is finally here. Mind you, we’ve been spoiled for some time now with PS2/3 and Xbox 360 graphics in the newer ull 3D style of gameplay. The iPhone, as capable as it is, is still a mobile device. Top down gaming is back. Well, it’s sort of a blend of top down and a more modern full 3D experience.
In short: It’s a lot of fun. Though one thing does get highlighted again — the lack of any physical gaming buttons will keep this from being the best it could be. The onscreen soft buttons are some of the best in the iPhone gaming league. But at the end of the day, you simply can’t beat a good old fashioned controller/physical buttons for gaming.
I’ve done enough chattering. Mosey on over to the App Store and pick up your copy of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the low price of $9.99. Considering the price of GTA on any other console, $9.99 is a steal. Wouldn’t you say?
[GTA: Chinatown Wars (iTunes Link)]
TechDigest
- November 17, 2009 10:07 am
The Pirate Bay trackers may be down for the count, but that infamous sailing ship will live on, plastered against countless clothing items from t-shirts and hoodies to sweatbands and underwear. In an odd turn of events, that iconic logo used by The Pirate Bay is in the process of becoming patented. Yes, patented. But it isn’t by founding members or anyone related to the company. Instead, a Swedish clothing and technology retailer called Sandryds Handel is taking it upon themselves to claim ownership. The founding members, with their pretty blanket feels frowning on private ownership, see this as an abomination and have stated that they feel the logo should remain in the public domain — which is the reason they never patented the logo themselves. What’s bringing me to a hearty chuckle is that this company believes a mass following of pirates — who don’t pay up front for stuff — are going to begin throwing money out for gimmicky products trying to cash in on TPB name. We’ll see how well that goes…
Now some other company is going to pick up the pieces of TPB and make some money off of their name. Pretty sad and shady if you ask me. Though from a business stand point, why not rip off someone elses logo and brand image to turn a dollar on your own time? The TPB logo has just been shat upon. Perhaps Sandryds Handel should spend a few dollars designing their own logo hmm?
What do you have to say?
Wired
Remember high school and all of the various fads and gimmicks that flowed like water out of dam? Ya, it was that evident. Such a comparison can be made with the latest digital rip off titled (politically correct title that is) “Blu-ray Managed Copies”. Essentially it is another way movie studios and labels somehow get away with controlling how we use our purchased content. The way this service works is when copying a Blue-ray disc, the player sends out a signal to the “mother ship” via the internet. That mother ship/server will then relay back to your player the specifics to make the copy and authorize it. Sounds like a legitimate solution that should appease both sides right? Wrong. Epic failure in fact.
- November 3, 2009 10:13 am
I’m not going to sugar coat this subject at all. When will carriers such as Orange stop fucking customers over? Case in point, just look at their BS excuse for an iPhone agreement…
Not to be used for other activities (eg using your handset as a modem, non-Orange internet based streaming services, voice or video over the internet, instant messaging, peer to peer file sharing, non-Orange internet based video). Should such use be detected notice may be given and Network protection controls applied to all services which Orange does not believe constitutes mobile browsing.”
I’d advise anyone even thinking of giving orange your money to not do so. Falsely marketing an unlimited plans that is unlimited is crap. If you’re going to cap it and restrict certain features, then market it as such — a 750MB data plan — not unlimited. Further adding insult to injury as well as more reasons to stay far form this epic failure is that most of the iPhone’s features that make the iPhone what it is are strictly forbidden. Such simple and mundane things as IM, any msuic streaming apps like Slacker, Last.fm, Spotify, video streaming of any kind, and generally any other useful apps one could think of using are officially “illegal” according to Orange’s ToS.
Why even bother releasing an iPhone if your going to outlaw 95% of what the phone is designed and marketed to do? To steal money from you, plain and simple. If they can play off of your emotions by sucking you in with a nice shiny toy, they’ve got you hooked. Do yourself a favor, call up Orange Exec’s/carpet bomb HQ with strong words of disapproval. So how many potential and current Orange users are feeling throughly angered by Orange?
If Orange really wants to cash in on the iPhone craze, false advertising and trying to trick and corner customers is generally not the best policy…
Geeky-Gadgets > BBC
Employee wireless discounts are the herald of employment for some. Having the ability to carry around snazzy phone that comes with all the bells and whistles included in the service is great. Having your employer foot the bill is even better. AT&T simply can’t stand the whole niceness image apparently and would much rather have you hate them. The latest ding against America’s favorite-to-hate carrier centers around their AT&T Premier Sponsorship Program. This program will charge you $72 (over the course of a 2-year plan) simply to use the discount. Paying off that stolen $72 will take roughly 6-8 months depending on your plan and account. Not quite the deal it’s marketed as is it? Even if you don’t use this service, are you tired of all of their behind-the-scenes policies and downright sh**** service?
Source: Consumerist, AT&T Sponsorship Program, Image Source
While the title may seem a bit dramatic, essentially it can be taken this way. New news trickling out regarding the Palm Pre has some pretty eye raising tid bits attached to it. For starters, Best Buy stores across the country will have whopping 4,500 Pres to share. 4,500! That’s it?! Also, it appears that 1 and 2 year pricing will be $299 and $199 respectively. However, the real slap in the face is the outright laughable and “sure not to sell” price of $1,000 for a Palm Pre without any discount whatsoever. *extreme gut busting laughter* Now I completely understand that everyone has their own opinions and loves/dislikes, however one thousand dollars for the Pre is pure greed/ridiculousness. Why? Phones such as the iPhone, Blackberry Bold, and Nokia N97 among others are what I consider to be much more capable phones, and even those aren’t close to $1,000 outright. Again, personal preference will decide who pays what for a smartphone and I’m sure there are many Palm loyalists who are quite happy and ready to plop down a grand for Palm’s latest. But, it just makes you wonder what is running through Palm’s corporate head. With shortages and an outright price that is border line theft, are they trying to sell in small numbers. One would think they would be trying to make way like the iPhone and have millions upon millions of users. Apparently that isn’t the case. Thoughts? Concerns?
Source: Boy Genius, Image Source
