HP quick Launch Threat

I come across an article on my PCWorld Magazine. March 08

Quote:

More than 80 models of HP laptops have security glitch in the included HP software for letting you configure quick launch buttons. The flaws could allow an attacker to complete control of your PC, it you tricked into visiting the bad guy's web site first. HP released an update that disable the quick launch software, called Info Center. Until the compcany issue a more complete fix, you can't use the buttons, but at least you'll be protected. You must manually download and install the updates, if your laptop has HP Info center got to find.pcworld.com/59506

Here is the direct website if you don't trust PCworld
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...ob-56385-1&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&&dlc=en&lang=en


Im not sure what they mean 80 models they must be specific. So it means that all of our PC is vulnerable to the attack

 

Basically ANY PC that uses the HP Info Center is at risk.

 

And they've already released a security update for it that actually lets you use the buttons now, also.

Just look it up on the HP drivers page for your laptop.

 

March 08th was a year ago.

 

no this is just more recent, they only released the fixed drivers for this last december

 

???????????????????????????????????

Are you saying there is another security update after 12-12-07 that shuts the buttons off?

 

Yes, it should be working now

 

???? Wadadadaya mean??? Where do you live??? Are you on year 2009 by now damn your fast

 

ummm....reformatted to 64bit vista...haven't installed the quicklaunch software or the infocenter/updater utility thing...am i at risk as well?

 

Just download the latest 64bit drivers from hp and youll be protected.

I never even installed the info center/update utility. This is considered bloatware. Windows update does the same thing

 

this is the latest i see


HP Quick Launch Buttons Critical Security Update 1.00 A
12 Dec 2007
it disables the info centre

are they going to fix the info center ? mine still does not work

 

It is fixed, they probably just havent updated the drivers on the website. Try using a different models drivers. Type in dv2637tx on the support page and look through the drivers.

 

As of right now, there are two different HP Quick Launch Buttons drivers available for my dv6000t: 6.40 B from 2007-12-19 and 6.30 J from 2008-01-28. Strange that a more recent driver release has an earlier version number. 6.40 B is labeled as the critical security upgrade -- so which one should we be using?

 

Id go with 6.40B mainly cause it states the security fix and it is a higher version number compared to 6.30J. Not sure why the 6:30J's release date is incorrect

Try both if you have to

 

After typing my post, I did try 6.30J. It turns out that this is an earlier version, so I had to manually uninstall 6.40B in order to install 6.30J. Once I installed it, I noticed that I had slower startups and problems getting online. When I went back to 6.40B, it installed directly as an upgrade, and I haven't had any problems since.

I'm not sure if my experience is typical, but I'll definitely stick with 6.40B until HP releases something with an updated version number...

My question is: what was the point of releasing 6.30J a month after 6.40B?