At What Point Does a Service Become Spyware?

Vector illustration (EPS 10,includes transparency and mesh) Eyeball spy character

Spyware, like other malware, is a problem for any organization. Since your business generates, collects, and uses considerable amounts of data, there are plenty of organizations that want to get their hands on it. You spend so much time and money protecting your data against threats on the Internet, but what if the spyware were to just come standard on the computer you just bought?

HP, one of the most reliable names in business and consumer hardware, has seemingly been doing exactly that, adding a software, HP Touchpoint Analytics, into their Windows Update. The software, which typically is part of the larger HP Touchpoint Manager, regularly sends a random cache of data from the device. The rationale HP gave for this decision was to relieve “time-consuming tasks of device support and lifecycle management.”

Given that explanation, most wouldn’t bat an eye, but HP does this with data that belongs to users, without the user’s consent, and for some, that is a major problem. If you are the skeptical type, and would prefer to not have a program with such liberties working on your organization’s computers, consider bringing this up to your IT professional and they can ensure any software that isn’t vital is removed, and working properly.

If you’d like to try your hand at disabling it you need to search Windows Services and disable “HP Touchpoint Analytics Client”, then uninstall it from your installed software list in Windows 10.

If you want to talk about a software strategy that truly suits your business, call SemTech IT Solutions today at 407-830-1434.