Allegations have been swirling around an online newsgroup this week that printer manufacturer Lexmark has been installing spyware on its customers' computers.
Reports on the comp.periphs.printers Usenet newsgroup claim that Lexmark has been planting spyware on its customers' PCs in the form of undocumented software that monitors the use of its printers and silently reports back to a Lexmark-owned company Web site.
One user said that after initially denying the allegations, Lexmark acknowledged installing tracking software that reported printer and cartridge use back to the company for survey purposes. He claimed that Lexmark said no personal data was taken by the program, and that it was impossible to identify anyone by it.
However, users installing the software are prompted to fill in a registration form including their name and the serial number of the product.
The newsgroup posting claims that the program, found on the X5250 installation software, embeds itself in the registry and monitors the use of the printer through DLL files in the c:\program_files\lexmark500 folder.
The program sends the information, which includes print and scanning data, to the URL www.lxkcc1.com. According to the Internet Whois database, this domain name belongs to Lexmark International in Kentucky.
Lexmark's UK office has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
Whose fault is it all anyway? Rupert Goodwins looks at the issues in more depth here.
Talkback
If this is true, we should all boycott Lexmark products and actively encourage others to do the same.
Considering their business practices of late, why does this not suprise me. They've always been a clueless company making cheap junk, obviously they haven't learned a thing. Vote with your wallet.
Time to set www.lxkcc1.com. to 127.0.0.1 in the hosts file, for anyone using a Lexmark printer.
Why would anyone buy Lexmark in the first place? Are buyers just that stupid?
I uninstalled my Lexmark printer and software a long time ago, yet Zone Alarm keeps finding "Lexpps" and "Lexbce", both files residing in the windows/system 32 folder, trying to access the internet. Tech support said the files could not be removed!?
There are various other Lexmark exe and dll files in the same folder...
Welcome to reality! This is nothing new to the computer world. Microsoft and other big name software developers have been doing the same thing for years! Most don't tell you, and if they do, they say that they're only taking your system's information so they can better their product.
Lexmark Drivers are pure evil to the OS especially with MFP (Multi-Function Printers) devices.
I'd suggest you all stay away from their products and save yourself the pain.
If I'm not mistaken the last time I installed Lexmark printers it does ask you if you want to participate in a program. By default it will be yes. This will install the alleged "SPYWARE" , if you would take the time in the installation process instead of clicking yes all the time you should see the question. Just click no and it will not install
HP has had their own version of "spyware" out there for some time now called myPrintMileage.
for example: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00033868
And as described in the driver installation process: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00034485
You define spyware in an odd way then, don't you?
I recently bought on of these little beasties, and during the installation it ASKED me if it could collect data and "phone home". That would make it the least-stealthy spyware I've ever encountered. Of course, I told it not to--I don't trust Big Brother--and it doesn't appear to be doing anything underhanded, based on the info you've relayed in your article, and my firewall logs.
Wow, big deal. Kodak photo printers have obviously been doing this for a while. Spyware, ads suddenly appearing and god knows what else happening and this continued even after downloading the latest software/drivers downloaded from Kodaks website. They obviously hope that most end users are computer newbies and wouldn't notice. And no, I didn't ask for all my personal details, creditcard numbers etc (and printer usage, copies of Jpegs etc) to be posted to Kodak for 'statistical analysys only'.
Funnily enough, never had a problem with my Lexmark inkjet !!!
For the truth visit:
http://www.lexmark.com/uncomplicate/sequentialem/home/0,7070,204816596_416447809_416409796_en,00.html
goodbye lexmark, i always knew there was something up with them, i never used them i use Epson, but i will NEVER rec lexmark to any clients ever again
Well its just a shame that everytime I've had a lexmark printer that I've never had any problems. Seems that if ppl would pay attention to what they are doing in the install. Everything would be ok.
I have the lexmark spyware( purchase a 7000 series 1 month ago) . I actually opted NOT to be part of their SPY program at install
so it was installed against without my permission. I notice that the
domain www.lxkcc1.com is no longer up and running...have they given up their spyware days?...any recentinformation on them - the legality of this would be gratefully received
I do not have the problems now where Lexmark can send info back to itself. I uninstalled my X5150 some time ago to make room for another program and can't reinstall it. Do you think the makers have twigged what I always knew anyway?