HP laptops has a bug that records everything you type

bssunilreddy

Chosen of the Omnissiah
HP laptops has a bug that records everything you type
A security researcher discovered a vulnerability in a common piece of software that comes pre-installed on several laptop brands and models.

This specific bug was discovered in the Synaptics software that controls keyboard and trackpad inputs on 460 different HPlaptop models, including various versions of the HP Pavilion, the HP EliteBook and the HP ProBook.

The bug is referred to as a "keylogger," which can record your keystrokes. A keylogger can be dangerous in the hands of a hacker, as it can record and send your keystrokes to potentially reveal sensitive information, like your passwords.

Thankfully, the keylogger in the Synaptics software on HP laptops is disabled by default, and a hacker would need alaptop's administrative rights to enable it. That means a hacker would need physical access to an affected HP laptop to enable the keylogger.

"Neither Synaptics nor HP has access to customer data as a result of this issue," HP said on its support page.

Still, it's worth covering all your bases and taking action. HP has issued a list of the affected laptop models , as well as software updates to install and fix the bug. If you don't know your HP laptop's model, you can check for a sticker underneath the laptop that might contain the model number.

It was not immediately clear whether the bug was due to a flaw in Synaptics' software or in the way that the Synaptics technology was integrated into HP laptops.

HP's special support page about the situation mentions that the bug can affect " all Synaptics OEM partners," which suggests that any laptop brand that uses Synaptics for keyboard and trackpad control can be affected.


Synaptics shares were down 1.8% at $38.22 in regular trading on Monday, while HP shares were up nearly 1%.

Synaptics and HP did not immediately return requests for comment.

Source:HP laptops has bug that records everything you type - ETtech
 

billubakra

Conversation Architect
Expected this kind of crap from the one of the worst brands ever Harassment-Packard.
@bssunilreddy Where is the link for the software update or how to simply disable this thing?
 
OP
bssunilreddy

bssunilreddy

Chosen of the Omnissiah
Expected this kind of crap from the one of the worst brands ever Harassment-Packard.
@bssunilreddy Where is the link for the software update or how to simply disable this thing?
HP said that nearly 500 different laptop models have a dangerous bug that can record everything you type
maybe @Nerevarine can throw some knowledge on this. :ashamed:
HP issues update to remove 'accidental' keylogger from laptop driver | TheINQUIRER
HPSBHF03564 rev 2 - Synaptics Touchpad Driver Potential, Local Loss of Confidentiality | HP® Customer Support
 

meetdilip

Computer Addict
This is not the first time a PC vendor is accused of spyware preloaded. There is something similar 2-3 years back. Was it Lenovo ?
 

Gollum

Collector
The key logger was a part of debugging by Synaptics and the information is not accessible to anyone and is removed on each reboot. That's all I know. Synaptics is stupid for letting a part of debugging remain in the production model of the driver.
 

kg11sgbg

Indian Railways - The Vibrant and Moving INDIA
That would be huge risk for the Dell users..
Very true Friend.
Being a Dell Inspiron user myself,I am very,very skeptical about the security and privacy issues that are plaguing worldwide.
The recent news about the flaw within the chip design of Intel CPU's has made us fearful to reckon about the vulnerability it poses. Vulnerability of security due to this flaw in Intel CPU is GLOBAL.
 
OP
bssunilreddy

bssunilreddy

Chosen of the Omnissiah
HP laptop battery alert: We're recalling these models due to overheating fears

HP recalls more PCs after a small number of reports of overheating batteries and a user burning their hand.

HP is recalling some laptop batteries due to concerns that overheating could cause fires and inflict burns.

The company issued the worldwide recall on Thursday, urging customers to check batteries in several laptop and mobile workstation models sold between December 2015 and December 2017.

The affected batteries shipped with certain HP ProBook 64x (G2 and G3), HP ProBook 65x (G2 and G3), HP x360 310 G2, HP Envy m6, HP Pavilion x360, HP 11 notebooks, and HP ZBook (17 G3, 17 G4, and Studio G3) mobile workstations. Some of the affected batteries were also sold as replacements.

In many cases customers won't be able to replace the batteries themselves since the power cells are internal, so HP is covering the cost of installing a replacement via an authorized technician.

The recall affects around 0.1 percent of HP systems sold globally over the past two years, HP told ZDNet sister site CNET.

The US Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) says about 50,000 units are affected.

"HP has received eight reports of battery packs overheating, melting, or charring, including three reports of property damage totaling $4,500, with one report of a minor injury involving a first-degree burn to the hand," CSPC said in a statement.

HP ended 2017 as the world's largest PC vendor by shipments and the only vendor that actually increased shipments amid shrinking sales across the industry.

HP said it's providing BIOS update to put affected batteries in Battery Safety Mode, which discharges the battery and prevents it from charging until Battery Safety Mode is disabled. Users will still be able to use the device but only when connected to an HP power adapter.

To check whether a battery is affected, HP owners will need to download HP's battery validation utility, which runs the check in about 30 seconds.

This time last year HP recalled 100,000 computers due to overheating batteries, which expanded a previous recall of 41,000 units over the same issues.

PREVIOUS AND RELATED COVERAGE

HP expands battery recall to 101,000 more laptops

The latest recall is due to "fire and burn hazards" and is in addition to a 41,000-battery recall in June.

Why smartphone and laptop batteries explode, and what can you do to protect yourself

Make no mistake, a faulty lithium-ion battery is incredibly dangerous, and it can explode. Thankfully, explosions and fires don't happen all that often.


Source:HP laptop battery alert: We're recalling these models due to overheating fears | ZDNet
 

billubakra

Conversation Architect
HP laptop battery alert: We're recalling these models due to overheating fears

HP recalls more PCs after a small number of reports of overheating batteries and a user burning their hand.

HP is recalling some laptop batteries due to concerns that overheating could cause fires and inflict burns.

The company issued the worldwide recall on Thursday, urging customers to check batteries in several laptop and mobile workstation models sold between December 2015 and December 2017.

The affected batteries shipped with certain HP ProBook 64x (G2 and G3), HP ProBook 65x (G2 and G3), HP x360 310 G2, HP Envy m6, HP Pavilion x360, HP 11 notebooks, and HP ZBook (17 G3, 17 G4, and Studio G3) mobile workstations. Some of the affected batteries were also sold as replacements.

In many cases customers won't be able to replace the batteries themselves since the power cells are internal, so HP is covering the cost of installing a replacement via an authorized technician.

The recall affects around 0.1 percent of HP systems sold globally over the past two years, HP told ZDNet sister site CNET.

The US Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) says about 50,000 units are affected.

"HP has received eight reports of battery packs overheating, melting, or charring, including three reports of property damage totaling $4,500, with one report of a minor injury involving a first-degree burn to the hand," CSPC said in a statement.

HP ended 2017 as the world's largest PC vendor by shipments and the only vendor that actually increased shipments amid shrinking sales across the industry.

HP said it's providing BIOS update to put affected batteries in Battery Safety Mode, which discharges the battery and prevents it from charging until Battery Safety Mode is disabled. Users will still be able to use the device but only when connected to an HP power adapter.

To check whether a battery is affected, HP owners will need to download HP's battery validation utility, which runs the check in about 30 seconds.

This time last year HP recalled 100,000 computers due to overheating batteries, which expanded a previous recall of 41,000 units over the same issues.

PREVIOUS AND RELATED COVERAGE

HP expands battery recall to 101,000 more laptops

The latest recall is due to "fire and burn hazards" and is in addition to a 41,000-battery recall in June.

Why smartphone and laptop batteries explode, and what can you do to protect yourself

Make no mistake, a faulty lithium-ion battery is incredibly dangerous, and it can explode. Thankfully, explosions and fires don't happen all that often.


Source:HP laptop battery alert: We're recalling these models due to overheating fears | ZDNet

The battery utility is telling me web service is not available, please check back later. Any other utility to check for the same, WORST company ever Harassment-Packard.
 

whitestar_999

Super Moderator
Staff member
Is your laptop model among the above mentioned models(HP ProBook 64x (G2 and G3), HP ProBook 65x (G2 and G3), HP x360 310 G2, HP Envy m6, HP Pavilion x360, HP 11 notebooks, and HP ZBook (17 G3, 17 G4, and Studio G3) mobile workstations),if not then maybe utility won't even start checking?
 

billubakra

Conversation Architect
Is your laptop model among the above mentioned models(HP ProBook 64x (G2 and G3), HP ProBook 65x (G2 and G3), HP x360 310 G2, HP Envy m6, HP Pavilion x360, HP 11 notebooks, and HP ZBook (17 G3, 17 G4, and Studio G3) mobile workstations),if not then maybe utility won't even start checking?
Mine's not but checking in my friends probook that he got from the US.
 
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