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Dell To Techs: Don't Help Customers Remove Spyware

Posted by timothy on from the thanks-mike-thanks-a-bunch dept.

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."

7 of 1,013 comments (clear)

  1. Let me take a crack at this... by LordK3nn3th · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "Dude, you're getting... "

    Uhm.

    Uh...

    Hmm... pell... nell... tell... no, no...

    Well, crap. Anyone else wanna take a shot at this?

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    Never criticize religion on Slashdot. You will be modded down for "Troll" no matter how factual it is.
  2. Re:Dude, by Carmelia · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I'm sorry, but the parent's comment is quite funny.
    He doesn't deserve to be modded down. There, mod me down instead :/

  3. Re:Build one for them.... by Theranthrope · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    From your 60 year-old Grandmother?!

  4. Re:Build one for them.... by PReDiToR · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If she takes her teeth out, why the hell not?

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    Do not meddle in the affairs of geeks for they are subtle and quick to anger
  5. Re:WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN???? by DrMrLordX · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    This post just reinforces my opinion that all the best posts start at -1, or go to -1 very quickly.

    Up with trolls! I want to be ON TEH SPOKE too.

  6. Re:Nasty by devilspgd · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    So basically you're saying you've never had sex.

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    Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day, but teach a man to phish...
  7. Surprised? by Channard · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    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.

    Is this before after you discovered 'her' aim username was 'Ladyboy22'?