Dell laptop computers have key loggers inside?

[J.W.]

Check out this site as the information is compelling: http://ivlad.unixgods.net/lj/keylog/klog.htm?wacko

[David Merrill]

I have seen this article before and it was quickly determined to be a hoax.

I would open my computer and look to see before believing the article. However I do believe it is quite possible to do this and you are probably looking at a valid keylogger in the photographs. I do not believe they are manufacturing product with the feature until it is proven.

The photographs do look different than I remember so this may be an independent report; indicating some validity to the rumor. However I will not act on anything that falls short of rules of evidence.

As for the letter from Homeland Security, that could be responding to about any request under the sun. Whoever supplied it should have left the name and number to contact with questions. Then I could give them a call and ask if the FOIA request was about built-in keyloggers at least.


Regards,

David Merrill.

[Glenn]

David;

You can think what you wish but I have removed them and from machines other that Dell.

Glenn

[David Merrill]

Yes thank you. On closer look this is the same article that was debunked as a hoax on another thread or site. However I will check into it further, especially next time I am in my computer. Maybe I will take my computer to a shop where they work on Dell and other notebooks regularly and ask them about it first. But I need to get in there and repair a couple minor things anyway.

But you know me; I will produce a graphic report and post it if I open it up at all.

[charlesa6]

Good info, I have to check my computer too, to make sure there is no keyloggers attach to it.

[traynor]

As long as your machine is not on a network, or more specifically, on a network connected to the internet, a keylogger is useless.

That is, until they physically connect to your machine somehow and download the log.

Really, though, I'd say there's not much privacy left these days anyway.

[David Merrill]

Originally Posted by traynor

As long as your machine is not on a network, or more specifically, on a network connected to the internet, a keylogger is useless.

That is, until they physically connect to your machine somehow and download the log.

Really, though, I'd say there's not much privacy left these days anyway.

Until 1999 you could (in the corporate State of Colorado anyway) directly file a criminal complaint and it would be reviewed by the District Attorney's office. Fine. The point is that it would already be filed into the county court as a criminal complaint.

Now you can only file a civil complaint (against Dell). The DA can review it and decide whether or not he will get involved; or just leave you there trying to settle with Dell over it, argueing with the finest Dell can afford.

This Resignation of Judiciary was the administrative process exhausted over the theft of my motorscooter in 2000, just after the statute was repealed. The clerk of court was not yet familiar with the repealed statute but was advised by the Attorney General not to entertain the theft as a criminal matter. When the clerk moved my court to rescind the Notice of Resignation of Judiciary the attorneys issued a verbal gag order for him to never file papers with my clerk (county clerk and recorder) again.

If any of you understand that administrative remedy and are typically "in the System" as citizens of the US and voters or whatever, should you find a device like this in your computer you might document the keylogger with a couple witnesses and file a civil suit against Dell. Word it with violation of criminal statutes and hand-deliver a copy of the filing to the DA or Attorney General's office. If you are running a court of competent jurisdiction, the failure to act once Information is properly served, is valid testimony ripe for Judgment.



Regards,

David Merrill.

[charlesa6]

[quote=traynor]

Really, though, I'd say there's not much privacy left these days anyway.

That's the bottom line.

[David Merrill]

Originally Posted by Glenn

David;

You can think what you wish but I have removed them and from machines other that Dell.

Glenn

Thanks again Glenn;

It is simply in my career, drafting remedy I really need what I think to be in agreement with reality.


Like I indicated before, this rumor was quickly debunked on another website a year or so back and I recall upon inspection this is the same report from the same electrical engineer.

I went to two small computer repair shops and Bob and Computer Renaissance abruptly informed me, "That is completely and utterly untrue." - adding, "Dell would get sued! And Dell is having enough of other problems. They would never risk doing that."

Bob had several notebooks open in his shop and assured me he had never seen anything like what I described from the report. However he admitted that (software) keyloggers can be accidentally downloaded.

Dave at APCO Computers had simply never heard of such a thing, attributing it to Internet Paranoia. He has never seen any such device in all the notebooks he has been into and is convinced all keyloggers are software, not firmware or hardware.

However in order to keep the surveillance discreet from internal records such a device may have been added to this electrical engineer's notebook. It would have been installed not from Dell during manufacture but specifically targeting the reporter or maybe a previous owner of the notebook. Something like that? I wish he or she had inspected the varnish carefully to determine if it was add-on after manufacture. Usually there is some indicator in solder flux or solder joint characteristics that can be seen with an experienced eye.

If I get into my computer anytime soon I will show you photos. And Bob's comments agree with what I said above; If you find one of these things and it is clearly a manufacturer's engineering invasion of privacy by Dell or any other computer manufacturer you may well have a winner suit $$$$ on your hands.


Regards,

David Merrill.

[Glenn]

David;

I am sorry I misunderstood what I thought I read. It is my mistake, again, I am sorry.

Glenn