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BIOS "Rootkit" Preloaded In 60% of New Laptops

Posted by kdawson on from the hijacking-lojack dept.

Keldrin_1 writes "Researchers Alfredo Ortega and Anibal Sacco, from Core Security Technologies, have discovered a vulnerability in the 'Computrace LoJack for Laptops' software. This is a BIOS-level application that calls home for instructions in case the laptop is ever lost or stolen. However, what the application considers 'home' is subject to change. This allows the creation of malware capable of 'infecting the BIOS with persistent code that survive reboots and reflashing attempts.' Computers from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Toshiba, Asus, and others may be affected."

5 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    P.C. Phone Home.

  2. Re:It is time by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 4, Funny

    Busg happen. Consider the /. "write once" paradigm.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  3. Re:From Mogwai to Gremlin by trevorrowe · · Score: 5, Funny

    LoJack swiftly changes to HiJack with a good meal after midnight

    There, fixed that for you. A splash of water would give you more laptops... if only ...

  4. Re:It is time by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 4, Funny

    Woosh

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  5. LoJack is now by Phizzle · · Score: 4, Funny

    LOLjack

    --
    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.