HP Touchpoint Analytics Client accused of being spyware

|
,

HP’s Touchpoint Analytics Client software is being accused of spying on HP users. If you own an HP PC, you may be running Touchpoint Analytics and not even know it. The software was part of a Windows Update to HP machines and installed without asking for user’s permission. Because of this, some are now calling the software spyware. The service runs in the background and sends analytics and data back to HP daily.

According to Computerworld, the software appeared earlier this month and seems to have been deployed as part of a Windows update. It installs without asking for permission and then “harvests telemetry information that is used by HP Touchpoint’s analytical services.” The Analytics Client forms part of HP Touchpoint Manager and, according to ghacks.net, sends data to HP once every day.

No one knows what type of data HP is collecting with this software (HP says it’s diagnostic data) but some users do report their machines running slow. HP did release a statement to PCMag regarding the issue:

“HP Touchpoint Analytics is a service we have offered since 2014 as part of HP Support Assistant. It anonymously collects diagnostic information about hardware performance. No data is shared with HP unless access is expressly granted. Customers can opt-out or uninstall the service at any time.

HP Touchpoint Analytics was recently updated and there were no changes to privacy settings as part of this update. We take customer privacy very seriously and act in accordance with a strict policy, available here.”

It’s a reminder that most brands are collecting some form of data on you or your devices. This is likely not going to change. The interesting thing here is the assertion that HP never asked for permission to install the software. Check out PCMag’s full write up below.

What do you think of this potential spyware issue with HP? Let us know in the comments below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

[button link=”https://www.pcmag.com/news/357590/hp-accused-of-quietly-installing-spyware-on-windows-pcs” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: PCMag[/button]
Previous

Cambridge Audio SE1 review: Fantastic earbuds that give back to community

[Infographic] Can cybercrime actually make the internet a safer place?

Next

Latest Articles

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap