So i bought a laptop from my school.....

[brandonb21]

So today i bought a laptop from my school (i payed them cash no loans on it) and today i noticed they installed a key-logger and a program called "sterok remote desktop access" i am wondering is my school legally aloud to do this? i feel its sort of like some voyeurism is going on. How much trouble would i get into if i format the hard dive?  

[Firearm2112]

if you bought it, and you own it, and the school no longer does, then go ahead and format the drive

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

So today i bought a laptop from my school (i payed them cash no loans on it) and today i noticed they installed a key-logger and a program called "sterok remote desktop access" i am wondering is my school legally aloud to do this? i feel its sort of like some voyeurism is going on. How much trouble would i get into if i format the hard dive?  

 

If you format you need a new .iso OS. You can get one easily on the web/torrents.

[Guest Philosophy]

You bought it as in you own it, or the school owns it and you are leasing it?

[Kyuubixchidori]

Most businesses/schools do it. Its so they can fix issues way easier/remote fix things. If you own it you can take it off.

If your school is loaning it to you, have to leave it on

[SirSquid]

If you legally own it you can formate it and put a fresh copy of windows on it and they can do nothing about it. 

[samcool55]

If you are the legit owner. Install a clean OS asap. If the school is allowed to sell you that, well that's a bit of a gray area. I'm wondering why it's on there in the first place. I don't think school is something that wants to hack you... Anyway, get rid of it asap.

[Bogica]

The keylogger might have been there for administration purposes over kids, maybe they didn't reinstall the OS when they sold it. Also, you bought the laptop, you can do as you like with it. Format or erase the logger, do as you damn well please.

[DragonPower7]

If you legally bought it, go ahead and reinstall the OS.

[brandonb21]

No, im pretty sure i own it, i was giving 1800$ from the government for going to collage as a grant, so with this money i told them to order me in a laptop that meets the specs of my courses. i was more then capable of doing this but they insisted that they should order it. so i let them and i paid them cash. thus being said i should be the owner of this laptop correct?  

[Bogica]

No, im pretty sure i own it, i was giving 1800$ from the government for going to collage as a grant, so with this money i told them to order me in a laptop that meets the specs of my courses. i was more then capable of doing this but they insisted that they should order it. so i let them and i paid them cash. thus being said i should be the owner of this laptop correct?  

You are, unless you signed a contract that says you are not the owner. So reinstall the OS or erase the logger. Done!

[brandonb21]

You are, unless you signed a contract that says you are not the owner. So reinstall the OS or erase the logger. Done!

I Signed no contract. what's so ever

[samcool55]

They probably insisted you bought it bcuz they receive a bit of profit that way, and they think they can keep an eye on you thanks to that sneaky stuff they installed, but in your case, they are wrong

 

edit: if you want to play safe, make an image of the HDD and store it somewhere, in case the original OS needs to be on the notebook, you have the image.

[NannerBeans]

No, im pretty sure i own it, i was giving 1800$ from the government for going to collage as a grant, so with this money i told them to order me in a laptop that meets the specs of my courses. i was more then capable of doing this but they insisted that they should order it. so i let them and i paid them cash. thus being said i should be the owner of this laptop correct?  

$1800? I feel like with that kind of money, they just want to take advantage of you and are ripping you off. 

[manikyath]

even when you borrow it, they are not allowed to without notifying you, they are even less allowed when its your own laptop. this is actually grounds for a lawsuit. (at least in belgium it is) it is a complete break on privacy, and like security cameras, it has to happen with notifying the end user, which then has to agree (by buying the product, or in case of the cameras, enter the property) or disagree (not buy the product, or not enter the property)

 

EDIT: go to your school management, tell them ^ this is a thing...

[Bogica]

I Signed no contract. what's so ever

Then you are free to do as you please, so reinstall the OS.

[itsdeonLOL]

If you own it, you can do whatever you want with it.

[itsdeonLOL]

If you own it, you can do whatever you want with it.

[brandonb21]

$1800? I feel like with that kind of money, they just want to take advantage of you and are ripping you off. 

 

i also got a lazer jet printer and a pen for doing 3d renders and drawings

[ShiftyShift]

Sue them, in most countries this would be a complete invasion of privacy etc.

[christianled59]

I would be suspicious. Why would they install a keylogger?

[hak4fun]

that is invasion of privacy right there! Remove it asap, and... uh yell at em. Scare the shit out of them. tell them if they pull that kind of shit again, you are taking legal action.

[AydenDev]

I would highly suggest using Ubuntu LTS as a fresh operating system.

Anyone else's thoughts? 

Also perhaps get pictures of the pre-installed software and ask the school about why it was installed.

[brandonb21]

I would highly suggest using Ubuntu LTS as a fresh operating system.

Anyone else's thoughts? 

Also perhaps get pictures of the pre-installed software and ask the school about why it was installed.

 

I am cloning the hardrive then saving it as a image to cover my ass if it ever pops up. taking pictures of it to also for backup to cover my ass

[AydenDev]

"Cover your ass" I don't understand?