Samsung Printer Keylogger Rant

[Brutte]

If such a device was used in an office where medical records are printed would it be legal?

That is the question about the very details of the keylogger agreement, I suppose not contained in the preamble but hidden down deep in the full text that only lawyers can understand (and I do not even want to read that).
Before posing that question, ask yourself why would you accept signing the agreement with someone who sells you such product without prior informing that you have to read all that agreement and accept it, no printing otherwise?

Frankly, if the driver contained

• "Yes, I unconditionally trust Samsung" and
• "You are kidding with that keylogger, aren't you?"

then what would be your choice then?

[timb]

This isn't a fucking key logger, stop being so sensationalist. Data Mining is the word you're looking for.


Sent from my Smartphone

[all_repair]

Toner, so they can tell what type to buy, when to buy, and maybe how and where to buy.

[mikeselectricstuff]

What happens when you "click the link to review or change the settings".... ?

[Brutte]

This software looks dodgy, but I'd be interested in the three links on the bottom right. The first two will likely outline what data will be shared. The last link may offer a way to not install this feature.

I think some of you have missed key point of the topic.
Why do you think it matters what the links offer and what are the conditions of that agreement?

Guys, third time, that is not the point!!
The problem here is that Samsung is selling a useless brick advertising it as a laser printer. Sure, you can use it for printing but that is explained to the buyer after buying agreement and under some conditions a buyer must agree upon to print.

Sounds like for some of you there are such conditions that Samsung policy is fair/lawful/acceptable, namely if the restrictions it brings could be easily hacked, tweaked or firewalled. That is not very cheering, guys.

Let me guess, now we are going to have a fruitless discussion about what conditions in such "gotcha policy" are acceptable and what conditions are not..

[nitro2k01]

I think some of you have missed key point of the topic.
Why do you think it matters what the links offer and what are the conditions of that agreement?

Maybe the third link ("click here for setup options") has a simple checkbox that says "do not install the data logger". If that is just one click away in the installer, you can no longer argue that you are FORCED to install this feature to use the printer. Did you even try?

[carl0s]

I was thinking the same. I'd like to hear the results!

[Shock]

If you check out the bottom option you can probably turn off sending data to Samsung.

Before you get too excited this type of licensing agreement is buried in all sorts of software.  Some don't even ask for permission.

I would like to see you prove it's actually logging keystrokes or gathering personal information before waving your hands in the air. You are free to return it if you don't like the agreement and buy something else. So I don't see what the big deal is.

[microbug]

IDK about Windoze, but when I wanted to get my Samsung printer working on my Mac, I just went into settings and clicked on the printer. It found a driver and installed it, no keylogger/whatever involved.

[linux-works]

I have a samsung laser printer.  very cheap (price) and so far, has been working great.  I hate samsung the company, though, but this was too good of a price and I needed one at the time.

when I print from windows, you did have to accept their stupid license.

HOWEVER, when I print via linux, there is no corporate driver and no 'agreement'.

maybe it just makes sense to have linux (even a rasp-pi) be a front-end and have it receive print jobs and relay them to the printer.  in fact, I may think about doing that.  at the very least, a pi as a firewall (usb/ethernet as the 2nd interface) might be in order to give it a 'deny' for outbound IP comms and only let it receive print jobs from the pi, itself.

[TheEPROM9]

I have bought a Samsung M2022 laser printer recently.

Adverts: easy installation, just connect power, plug USB, run driver, press “print”, end of story?
Naah of course not.

The driver itself (XP) installs seamlessly but at first print attempt it won't pass the data to the printer. Instead it displays the msgbox “proposing” an agreement on installing a Samsung keylogger software: Please trust us, closed source, we do our best, options available, of course not your personal data, kissmyass.

You have two choices then:

• Accept keylogger agreement and get what you paid for, or
• restart a computer (the “close” and “hide” window buttons are disabled) and reconsider the "proposition".

I hoped that this was just one of those bad days. The next day, after reinstalling, that came up with same msgbox. After contacting Samsung support where I asked for “keylogger-less driver” I got a prompt reply (rough meaning):

“No internet connection agreement - no printing”.

Looks like a printer that needs hacking to me, if that fails then pack it full of gun powder and send the shards back to Samsung with a letter that tells them what you think.

[TheBay]

Spoof the data and flood their servers I say. Join them at their own game.

[miguelvp]

Since the OP never did provided what is on the other links, I downloaded the software just to satisfy my curiosity, here are the links:

Samsung Privacy Statement Online:
http://www.samsung.com/us/common/privacy.html

Detailed Information about Internet connection usage:
http://www.samsungsetup.com/ts/agreements/en/

Click here for setup options:


You can turn all that stuff off, you still have to agree but that's just fine.

People tend to make mountains out of anything.

[TheBay]

Since the OP never did provided what is on the other links, I downloaded the software just to satisfy my curiosity, here are the links:

Samsung Privacy Statement Online:
http://www.samsung.com/us/common/privacy.html

Detailed Information about Internet connection usage:
http://www.samsungsetup.com/ts/agreements/en/

Click here for setup options:


You can turn all that stuff off, you still have to agree but that's just fine.

People tend to make mountains out of anything.

Glad you pointed that out.

Samsung laser printers are awful anyway, they made a few MFP's that were HP clones using cheaper plastic parts and charge a fortune for consumables.
Every sales rep that sold 4 got a free plasma TV LOL

[Refrigerator]

I use an old Samsung printer, you can download "samsung universal printer driver" and you should be fine.

[Brutte]

Since the OP never did provided what is on the other links(...)

I have never planned to study their agreement, not mentioning accepting it. The software was removed, conditions "rejected", the "printer" was shipped back and only awful Samsung taste persisted.

You can turn all that stuff off, you still have to agree but that's just fine.

Once again, I have no plans for any internet connection agreements with Samsung, irrespective of their conditions. Nor prior buying nor after that.

I am glad their conditions and "gotcha policy" is fine for you.

[nitro2k01]

You can turn all that stuff off, you still have to agree but that's just fine.

Once again, I have no plans for any internet connection agreements with Samsung, irrespective of their conditions. Nor prior buying nor after that.

I am glad their conditions and "gotcha policy" is fine for you.

If you don't trust the checkboxes that allow you to explicitly turn off that functionality, you should ask yourself if you can trust ANY software.

[Zero999]

This is pretty common with any software.

What's worse is, quite often suppliers don't accept returns on software and it's exempt from the distance selling regulations so if you can't read the EULA before buying it then returning it for a refund can be a problem. I don't know how this works legally but you should be able to read any contracts, before handing over any money.