Spywares from manufacture companies

I was looking in the start up processes in my Toshiba A100 and i found this one ALCMTR.EXE that is described as:

Realtek AC97 Audio - Event Monitor. "Sypware" file used surreptitiously monitor one's actions. It is not a sinister one, like remote control programs, but it is being used by Realtek to gather data about customers.

on http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=alcmtr

You can post yours that you found

 

There are several others out there that could be loosely defined as spyware though companies like realtek would say that no personally identifiable information is being transmitted. I usually uninstall or deactivate the process and it usually does not affect the underlying operating program. And more often, the better or more consumer sensitive companies would let you opt out such monitoring of user behavior in their options/preference settings. MSN too have a similar feature.

 

Ok then, is there a list somewhere that says what we can delete from a fresh install? I just bought a Toshiba A100-JH2, and I was wondering what processes I could stop, which directory I could delete, etc...

Thanks!

 

This is more common than people think. In fact Dell got in trouble for this a few months ago with MyWay Search Assistant. Plus, the is a games bundle that is also considered "grayware". Most of this actually is spyware, but securtiy companies are afraid to say that. They fear being sued. It is a trade off. By allowing Dell or HP or Sony install this junk, you get a cheaper machine (the companies pay the manufacturer to install it), so with out it prices would be significantly higher I am sure. Still you gotta wonder about the ethics of this. In many cases people don't really own their own machine.

 

Yes there is indeed such a list. I call mine 'Google'...

 

It's like with printed media, for example - you can't buy a newspaper without ads. Since the newspapers, magazines, etc don't make a lot of money off the subscriptions, and most of their revenue is from advertising, the more correct way to look at it is that they are in the business of selling eyeballs. The content is only there to target the type of eyeballs that they attract because targeted eyeballs are worth more to the advertisers.

It's not quite the same with computers, since most of computer companies' money comes from the buyers, but it's a little too close to that for comfort.

Malia

 

Very true. The subscription price of a magazine only covers printing and delivery, no more. I guess my biggest beef is that some companies are worse than others. Apple for instance comes with an MS Office trial and iWork trial, other than that it is clean, and those are programs people will consider anyway. But a Dell or Sony come with so much stuff that is pure junk it is rediculous. But look at Dell's business line, no crap. Maybe a few trials of stuff you might actually buy. For myself I will pay a little more to get rid of that junk and get a real install CD, but many people prefer the savings.

 

That's because you got cash monee

j/k I just couldn't resist!

Malia

 

I use to use Norton Anti-Virus and I tracked several "intrusion attempts". They were all tracked to Cable And Wireless.

I was shocked. Cable and Wireless is a majot telecommunications firm.