Asus Ships Cracking Software On Recovery DVD

Barence writes "Asus is accidentally shipping software crackers and confidential documents on the recovery DVDs that come with its laptops. The startling discovery was made by a PC Pro reader whose antivirus software was triggered by a key cracker for the WinRAR compression software, which was located on the recovery DVD for his Asus laptop. Along with the key cracker the disc also contained confidential Asus documents including a PowerPoint presentation that details 'major problems' identified by the company, including application compatibility issues. The UK reader is not alone, either — several users in the US and Australia have also found suspicious files on Asus discs."

Comments

Software Crackers?

[TheNecromancer]

Do they come with cheese?

All of this could have been avoided

[Verteiron]

If only they'd used 7zip instead! Oh, you fools!

One of the files is someone's resume

[Anonymous Coward]

To that person: If your goal was to get your resume noticed, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Well that's what you get

[elrous0]

Putting the CEO's dim-witted nephew Steve in charge of disc duplication seemed like such a good idea. I mean, how could anyone screw something THAT simple up, right?

The Butterfly Effect

[Dystopian Rebel]

A guy burns a master CD while smoking a joint in Taiwan... Somewhere in Redmond, a large office chair is hurtled through a pane of glass.

Re:WinRAR

[ozmanjusri]

The fact that it is setting off virus scanners tells me that it might,which means if it was used on the original Asus install image there is a lot of infected machines out there.

It's on a Windows DVD.

Asus is just saving its users some time. No point delaying the inevitable.

Re:It happens, when QC isn't very high. Example:

[BUL2294]

I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often, knowing the level of QC that happens in India and China.

"The quality checking will be happening as optional."

This demonstrates the importance of formal English

[hey!]

Especially in international, multi-cultural enterprises.

When the executives said they wanted "Cracking software" on the CD, they meant it in the same way that Wallace does when he compliments Gromit on breakfast: "Cracking toast, Gromit!"

Re:Someone Is Getting Fired

[Skrynesaver]

True, I wonder why the BSA never got involved ;)

Re:WinRAR

[Mister Whirly]

"Does anyone know if the crack is carrying a trojan?"

No. It claims it can't "feel anything" unless it goes in bareback.

Re:Someone Is Getting Fired

[dontmakemethink]

Vista?!! My eyes!! Everywhere I look everything is framed in translucent frames with a weak-ass Northern Lights rendition! And I have a date tonight! WHAT AM I GONNA WEAR??!!!!