26 Sep, 2010
HP Hewlett Packard printers install giant virus on your computer, ink levels – beware
I just had a low level ink on a boring old D series HP printer, I had to install a suite of software (HP Imaging Device Functions) off the supplied CD (legit), chose 1 item (Toolbox).
It then ignored my choice and installed about 20 things, took an hour (I kid you not) involving a reboot, and now launches all sort of virus style pop up windows all over saying ‘shop at HP‘ etc at HP.
It also was many levels of navigation to find the ink level inspector (not in basic software hence having to load all this rubbish).
No software in the (start) list to remove (that is dodgy in itself), have to use Control Panel (Windows XP Pro) to remove it all, which is also taking ages and needs a reboot (while I type this).
All this for an ink level utility!
I am amazed a pro company like HP Hewlett Packard puts huge virus -style software on a computer. When I only wanted a simple utility, one of many items, the Toolbox, to check my ink levels, which you can’t do without installing this HP virus software.
This is appalling – can I charge HP 2 hours consultancy time while I … find out my ink levels?
(Incidentally, the color cart ran out with also most no use, as HP like the other printer manufacturers, put low levels of ink in the new printer cart.)
