Samsung spyware rumour
By Techgirl

Network World, which is part of one of the most powerful tech media groups - IDG, first reported the story that Samsung had installed secret spyware software on its laptops that monitored everything you typed.

In a way, Samsung also contributed to the misunderstanding by not replying to queries by Network World for more than a week.  Network World published the story with details on how a techie Mr. Hassan had found a secret key logging software ‘StarLogger’ on two different Samsung laptops.  Apparently, StarLogger records every keystroke and can even take screen dumps without the user having any idea that all is personal work was being monitored.

Yesterday morning, the proverbial shi* hit the fan.  Every tech media in the western world picked up the story.  At least for 24 hours, some who would be buying a Samsung laptop were scared off the purchase.

Now, it turns out that it was all a misunderstanding. Samsung has released the following statement to the media

“
The statements that Samsung installs keylogger on R525 and R540 laptop computers are false.

After investigating into this matter, it was found that the software installed was in fact Vipre, not the commercial keylogger called StarLogger.

The confusion arose because Microsoft's Live Application multi-language support folder, "SL" folder, was mistaken for StarLogger

(Live Application is Microsoft's application which provides messenger, email, video, photo gallery functions. Depending on the language, under C:\windows folders "SL" for Slovak, "KO" for Korean, "EN" for English are created.)

Samsung will continue to respect customer needs by providing the highest quality products and services.
“

Techgoss note:  Techgirl is a senior Tech journalist who reports on the IT, KPO and KPO Sectors for a leading media house.  In her spare time, she dabbles in satire in her blog techgirltalk.blogspot.com.  Techgirl has been ejected from Twitter for satirizing an Indian Minister.  Her satire blog has links to her Times of India interview detailing her being kicked out of Twitter, and then being invited back.