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lojack-BIOS-malware computrace/by absolute.com


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sandor54

sandor54

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PROBLEM: lojack (maybe this stands for "locate and hijack")...also called "computrace" made by absolute software
BIOS - based software used with "persistence" (disappears after de-activation) in service manager and rpcnetp .dll and .exe in /system32 . Sold (without knowledge of buyer) to most: dell, toshiba, asus, etc.... It is loaded in BIOS, using the processing power we paid for and (when activated) capable of sending dir. info(and what else?) and blocking directories. See advertised capabilities on absolute.com.
I ran into that problem because my computer became "suspicious", and lojack was activated - I bought my toshiba in the US but was using it in Europe. Nobody could have complained since it is hardware bought and used by me alone. Other forums i found said cops were happy with it for helping locate stolen hardware; some companies paid computrace for blocking/locating/retrieval... The only working advice (from a "thief") was to dump, re-write and reload BIOS - risky, even for geeks...
SOLUTION: PLEASE come up with a safe BIOS rework solution; PLEASE copy this to the internet rights group you think most appropriate dealing with the right to use /resell hardware. All lojacks use our hardware, but when activated - for example because of suspicion of illegal use of information, you are denied the use of ANY and ALL hard /soft, be that by government, a private company or any thief, because what one man can encode another can decode (and the BIOS resident entry point is already in your hardware!) - just ONE disgruntled absolute employee is enough to put at risk ALL those brand name computers already sold!!! If, without knowing, i already paid for lojack, let me have the right to remove it(i don't want to be at risk)! Those who need it(and judge it safe enough), can keep it and/or pay for it!
NOTE: true: absolute.com will de-activate lojack if you suppply them with proof of purchase(but can't/won't remove it from BIOS), but what about a "net-terrorist" or a blackmailer or someone with a grudge?

Edited by sandor54, 11 October 2012 - 02:43 AM.

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