Class-Action Heroes

http://216.180.233.153/~swidotcom/support_letter.php

Pass this on.

Pieter

i'm a little unclear (i hope) on exactly what dell's policy is.  if dell's servicing a comp, they won't tell the customer if they find anything?  OR, if the customer calls up and asks specifically for instructions for removing shitware, dell won't give it.

My understanding was that they refuse any support on removing unwanted software out of fear that they might be helping the victim to break some EULA.
 

My understanding was that they refuse any support on removing unwanted software out of fear that they might be helping the victim to break some EULA.
 

Got it in one, man.

The techs CAN do it as a strictly "off the record" thing, but they can't give them any official help with it.  But any tech that does go past "scope of support" can be fired on the spot, so very, very few will do it.

[here]

FYI...Dell's "policy" on the issue:
- http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document_print.asp?DN=FA1077228
...which is newly dated 12.15.2003, so either the policy has been "modified" or flat-out changed;
"...
Document Number:
 FA1077228
Release Date:
 12/15/2003..."

[here]

Oooo...impressive change in attitude:

- http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document_print.asp?DN=1077228
"...There are a number of applications available for download from the Internet that may also help you remove unwanted software applications from your system...There are two freeware applications, Ad-Aware and Spybot, which have received favorable reviews in many computer industry trade publications and other related web sites...
(Document Number: FA1077228 Release Date: 2/13/2004)"

.

Oooo...impressive change in attitude:

- http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document_print.asp?DN=1077228
"...There are a number of applications available for download from the Internet that may also help you remove unwanted software applications from your system...There are two freeware applications, Ad-Aware and Spybot, which have received favorable reviews in many computer industry trade publications and other related web sites...
(Document Number: FA1077228 Release Date: 2/13/2004)"

.

I can assure you that neither of these do anything against your-search.info and my-find .com. I had both and when I got my-find removed the other much worse one came out of the closet. I finally got help from this board and got rid of the latter one today.

My understanding was that they refuse any support on removing unwanted software out of fear that they might be helping the victim to break some EULA.
 

thanks for the info I didnot know that

[here]

Dell's policy has changed again, like the weather, as most corporations do. The "new" policy has a new URL:
- http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1077228
Document Number: FA1077228  Release Date: 07/20/2004

If you read "between the lines", it appears they'll be glad to help you with spyware problems...for a fee: "To review information regarding the Spyware and Virus per Incident Support Contract, navigate to the following website: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/services/en/service_contracts?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs  ..."

They do, however, mention the following, which we know is free: "There are two freeware applications, Ad-Aware and Spybot, which have received favorable reviews in many computer industry trade publications and other related web sites..."

 

[here]

FYI...

- http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/aptech_story.asp?category=1700&slug=Internet%20Spyware
October 16, 2004
"...Dell's chief marketing officer, Mike George, said spyware is the culprit behind 20 percent of problems affecting Dell customers who call for help - up from 2 percent of calls just 18 months ago. Dell tells customers it's not responsible under warranties for fixing problems traced to spyware, but technicians will help remove such software for $39..."

.

[Spyware Threat Seen Larger Than Most Corporations Realize]

FYI...

Spyware Threat Seen Larger Than Most Corporations Realize
- http://www.techweb.com/article/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=51201277&site_section=700028
October 28, 2004
"...Dell, for instance, says that 20 percent of its calls come from spyware problems, but in the enterprise it's even more so. Some companies are seeing 50 to 75 percent of their help desk calls stemming from spyware."

dell sells computers. dell does not sell spyware. dell is not responsible for what you do with your computer. like if you bought a car and your children get dirt on the seats, is the car company responible for keeping ths seats clean or is it the owner (user)?

Kinda funny, when my father called up for help about spyware issues with his DELL, to their 'award winning' tech support..  they suggested going to a search engine and looking for the 'top 10 spyware scannners.' Which ended up being the program spyware be gone.  Is this another cause calling itself the cure?  

[here]

...spyware be gone. Is this another cause calling itself the cure?

Sure 'nuff, found on "The List":
- http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#products
"SpywareBeGone - aggressive advertising...false positives work as goad to purchase; free scanner uses out of date ref database; same company as Spyware Vanisher..."