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Dell To Techs: Don't Help Customers Remove Spyware
Alien54 writes "Well, more exactly, be advised that if you are giving a Dell for Xmas, not only will it probably come preloaded with spyware, but their tech support lines will refuse to tell users how to remove it, and will not give people advice on where to find some good tools to remove it. As seen in the latest newsletter from SpyWareInfo, Dell sent an internal memo to its tech support minions which says in part: 'NOTICE: Use of spyware removal software may conflict with user license agreements of other applications installed on your system. Please consult your user license agreements for further information. Dell does not endorse the use of spyware removal software and cannot provide support on these products.' This means we do not take callers to download.com or doxdesk.com, nor do we recommend spyware removal programs, nor do we advise callers on the use of spyware removal programs. This includes using phrases "We don't support the removal of spyware, but I use..."'" (Read on below.Update: 12/03 06:36 GMT by T : And for an update, too.)
"Now isn't that just nifty. Several folks in the antispyware/antivirus community have signed an open letter to Dell Inc. asking them to retract this possibly foolish and misguided policy. That letter is located at here." Update: 12/03 06:36 GMT Mike Healan, editor of spywareinfo.com, writes "The original posting is misleading.
Dell is absolutely not installing or preinstalling spyware and the
headline gives the impression that it is."
Dell is complete shit. They used to be THE shit, now they are just shit. I know way to many people who have had nothing but problems with the company itself and their support, which brings us to the "e" in Dell. It's crooked just like the employees.. beware.
Got a new Dell desktop box at work yesterday. Whizzy 2.2 gigahertz CPU and 512MB RAM.
Today I booted up XP to make sure the hardware worked. First time I ever used XP. Almost got sick.
Case opened without removing any screws. Removed cables from HD but left drive in place. Inserted HD that I brought from home. Dell even supplied extra rails inside the case to make it easy to install the drive.
Installed Mandrake 9.2. No more spyware or nasty XP.
If the suits insist on XP I just have to move the cables back to the original HD.
Ya, I know that I can multiboot, but this way I don't risk frying the XP drive if I'm never gonna touch it. Better to keep it safely unplugged.
Those of you who haven't ever worked in customer service don't understand how a customers mind works. If they are on the phone with you and their cat pisses into their computer, and the computer starts on fire, it is your fault, simply because you were trying to help them to do something that they do not understand. If you claim anything otherwise, they will tell everybody they know how your company screwed them over. It is not being unhelpful to tell a customer that you are not able to help them remove spyware, it is simply a knee-jerk reaction to getting it up the butt everytime you do help them.
People don't come looking for me when their computers fuck. Because I've built a reputation of "accidentally" spilling copious quantities of beer inside keyboards, booting a system with a Linux CD in the drive and "accidentally" hitting enter multiple times and starting the installation process, and "accidentally" kicking the living shit out of their equipment to give them a clue that I am NOT interested in being their tech support drone. Of course, if the person doing the favour asking is a hot little Asian friend, I absolutely do my best to fix up her problem and then get her into the sack, where I then fuck the living shit out of her and spooge my spunk all over her face.
I wish you were my friend!
Actually, I understand where you're coming from. People often ask me for computer help. If they're white, I help them. If they're a nigger or a chink, I tell them to get lost.