Bloatware and Spyware just for mouse and keyboard

[MathWizard]

I'm not going to get into the quality or durability of M/KB's these days, I just want to vent some anger over the software they want people to use these days.

I bought another Razer mouse, this time a 'cheap' Deathadder Essentials, and of course they don't include external buttons to turn off the disco lights, or to change the DPI settings. And out of the box, the DPI is pretty low.

And as soon as I plug in the mouse for the 1st time, it's automatically trying to install software, and just the base 'Razer Synapse 4' program is near 300-400MB (now I can't remember) but that's insane, if you installed all of the stuff (some is not for this mouse tho ) I think it was over 1GB, just for mouse/KB and maybe a headphones programs. In fact trying to find out the install size, I see people taking of many GB's, and of course the Razer website won't tell you that, or the min sizes.

So eventually I installed the base program, and immediately it wants me to SIGN-IN !! And wow, they would let me sign in with google, or FB, etc, or a few others I never use and don't want. Luckily I could skip that, or for now it's not required.

Once I get into the program, I was able to turn off the disco lights, and change the DPI, so that was nice of them, otherwise I'd return it to the store right now.

I went looking for options, to disable as much as I could, and opt-out of usage data, and cloud storage just for my mouse, etc. I could disable some ads, and a few other things. I don't remember what all else was there, it's just getting so silly. And what are they storing these days, probably everything you click on, and type, and every game and website you visit, etc.

And then I open taskmanger, and the main Razer program was using near 400MB of RAM, and there's multiple other Razer processes running. IDK how many, or what the total RAM usage was, at least at that moment, none of them seemed to be using the CPU much.

But that was the final straw, I immediately went looking for how to uninstall this bloatware/spyware crap, and of course they don't even include an uninstaller anywhere that I could find. So I just used the windows uninstaller, and then went a deleted a few left over directories, and I'd say I missed some of them too (I need something like CCleaner again)


It seems some programmer/hacker type people have come up with ways to change mouse settings without installing the above crapware. So I'll try that, other wise, I've had it, and I'm returning it. But this was amoung the cheapest gaming mice, and I hated paying $35USD for it, and I really don't want to pay $70, and even more, for the mice that at least have the physical DPI button.

I'm tempted to keep the mouse, just to open it up and see what's in there, and what a noob hacker like me can do with it, just to change DPI.

When's TNG era StarFleet going to show up, I want off the madhouse planet of the apes. 

[tszaboo]

I am a long time user of Logitech mice. Now they have a bloatware that updates itself once a week.
Perhaps they found new ways you can click every week.
I'm open for suggestions for some high quality mouse that doesn't have rubberized surfaces that turn into ectoplasm after 2 years, and doesn't have bloatware.

[MathWizard]

I've used lots of Logitech stuff too, my KB is a wireless MX Keys. And yeah and it has a bunch of similar bloatware, that I barely remember how to install it all, or what I need for the wifi dongle.

Hopefully if I change to Linus soon, it will be easier to bypass the extra software. I think hacker people have put stuff on github to get around some of it.

[amyk]

I just use an old Microsoft optical mouse and replace the switches when they wear out.

Even the $2 mouses you can find on Aliexpress don't need any additional software to work.

[UnijunctionTransistor]

Welcome to the brave new world, where any gadget one purchases, you have to consent to data-gang-rape, in order to utilize even the bare minimum functionality.

[wraper]

I'm open for suggestions for some high quality mouse that doesn't have rubberized surfaces that turn into ectoplasm after 2 years, and doesn't have bloatware.

I replaced that disintegrating shit on my G604 with natural leather, put 3n3 MLCC caps + 10R series resistor in parallel to the main switches to solve double clicking (started in less than a year) due to inadequate wetting current and poor debounce, replaced heavy slippery metal wheel with lightweight rubberized wheel from G913 (which does not wear out or disintegrate somehow). So now I have a perfect Frankenstein that fits my palm well, has a lot of buttons and which does not fail like everything Logitech sells these days. I would not use their shitty software too but assigned sound volume buttons work poorly without it. You get a single step and need to click again for next step, no autorepeat with no sw installed. The only reason I kept buying shitty Logitech mice is because of their hyperscroll patent (switching the wheel between free spinning and stepped modes).

[SiliconWizard]

There are good mice and keyboards these days that'll work perfectly fine without any added software.
I agree this has become a lot more difficult to shop for new gear that you know for sure will work and be reasonably customizable (or at least have reasonable defaults) without this crapware.
I find that these days, it's become almost mandatory to look up for tests and reviews, even for just a new mouse, just to see what the limitations are. Annoying, but the way it is.

My main mouse has a switch for changing DPI, no need for extra software just to configure that. If it didn't have this switch, I would indeed be very annoyed, as defaults rarely suit my use cases.

[MrMobodies]

I bought another Razer mouse, this time a 'cheap' Deathadder Essentials, and of course they don't include external buttons to turn off the disco lights, or to change the DPI settings. And out of the box, the DPI is pretty low.

They make it do things that distract and annoy the user and make the operation undesirable.

it's automatically trying to install software, and just the base 'Razer Synapse 4'

So the mouse has a flash drive in it and the program didn't prompt it just tried to install automatically.

program is near 300-400MB (now I can't remember) but that's insane.

To turn off some lights. Reminds me of the HP Customer Experience Program in 2011 that came bundled in the driver CD and took up 600mb and about 20 - 40 minutes to install where the driver was about 10mb in size if you forget to unselect it in some hidden part of the setup wizard.

So eventually I installed the base program, and immediately it wants me to SIGN-IN !!

STUPID!

Once I get into the program, I was able to turn off the disco lights. I could disable some ads, and a few other things. I don't remember what all else was there

You PAID for the mouse now they are profiting on you through the advertisements to keep the disco LEDS off.

And then I open taskmanger, and the main Razer program was using near 400MB of RAM

Did it include, animated skeleton placeholders, dimming overlays and gradients in dark mode as it loaded?

But that was the final straw, I immediately went looking for how to uninstall this bloatware/spyware crap, and of course they don't even include an uninstaller

Going back to the malware days around the 2010's like with "free games" when quite a few malware either didn't have installers or they simply didn't run.

It seems some programmer/hacker type people have come up with ways to change mouse settings without installing the above crapware. So I'll try that, other wise,

Should not require a hacker or hacking just to turn off the leds it should be your right to.

I've had it, and I'm returning it.

Good. Shame your time was wasted where it costed you more on effort and frustration.

But this was amoung the cheapest gaming mice, and I hated paying $35USD for it, and I really don't want to pay $70, and even more, for the mice that at least have the physical DPI button.

In 2010 I brought a Logitech EX110 mouse and keyboard and quite a few of them for like £10 to £20 still with me here today and they don't come with stupid leds and underperform where I am coerced into installing things that hog up system resources and depend on that to keep adjustments. No stupid rubber around them to deteriorate and become sticky and undesirable to use like I found on some of the more expensive ones that costed about three times more.

I could buy a decent quality used mouse down the charity shop next to nothing and not get harassed like that.

[Analog Kid]

I just use an old Microsoft optical mouse and replace the switches when they wear out.

Microsoft optical mouse (ackshooly a trackball: so much better than a desktop-space-consuming mouse!) here as well.
And replacing switches: been there, done that. Easy peasy.

No bloatware. No shit in cloud storage. No phoning home. Does what it's spozed to do and nothing more.
I think I paid $15 for it at a used computer store about 10 years ago.

I did have to install a freeware driver (X-Mouse Button Control from Highresolution Enterprises) to get the right button to work with context menus, but that was it.

[NiHaoMike]

See if there's an open source app for changing settings.

[MrMobodies]

Up to 30% FASTER. ENHANCED SYSTEM STABILITY.  *NEW MODERNIZED INTERFACE 

Rewriting the rulebook on efficiency  , the next evolution of the Razor Synapse boasts a fresh, multi-threaded architecture that's up to 30% faster. 

Experience unparalleled speed  , fluidity, and stability with a streamlined interface that empowers users with swift navigation  , enable independent and precise settings  configuration.

*Modern, newer, pretty trendy!
What? at 400mb ram space? to control the dpi and a bunch of leds and a massive big bloated UI with everything spaced out.

The language above sounds to me like something that belongs in dodgy technology section.

[Simmed]

for sometime i wanted to try this instead of buying another logitech
this shit looks good

https://github.com/ploopyco/thumb-trackball/wiki/Ploopy-Thumb-Trackball-Kit-Assembly

[m k]

I just use an old Microsoft optical mouse and replace the switches when they wear out.

Even the $2 mouses you can find on Aliexpress don't need any additional software to work.

I was lazy and didn't replace a key, I replaced a whole module of rebadged HP mouse.
(cable was under stuff and screwdriver was near by)
Then I found out that other module of rebadged HP mouse didn't fit.
Next the new bottom didn't match the old top.
So finally I kept the old cable.

[DimitriP]

Was never a fan of disco lights keyboards or disco light mice.
A mouse should be a mouse. two click buttons and scroll wheel.Windows should recognize it and use it. Oh and it should be $20 or less. I need to buy another couple of M310 before they magically get "discontinued" and only "cloud" mice are available. 

[Jeroen3]

Microsoft chose to distribute this bloatware as soon as you plug in the hardware.
The same applies to printers.

If you get rid of Microsoft, you get rid of this bloatware.

[Analog Kid]

Microsoft chose to distribute this bloatware as soon as you plug in the hardware.
The same applies to printers.

If you get rid of Microsoft, you get rid of this bloatware.

As I've posted elsewhere, there may not be a need to do this (get rid of Micro$oft altogether):
Do as I do and use an older OS. Windows 7 here: no phoning home, no cloud requirements, no upgrades (fine by me), does what I want it to do.

[themadhippy]

Do as I do and use an older OS. Windows 7 here: no phoning home, no cloud requirements, no upgrades

All well and good until you get the latest carlos fandango gizzmo that will only work with the newest of new operating systems,and of course you wont discover that until you've signed yer life away just to download the required software

[MathWizard]

On the plus side, these Razer mice still are plug/play, windows10 said the device was ready to use after a moments use. But really IDK if the mouse automatically uploaded a driver or not, I got the windows notification, just after the Razer pop-up window asking if I wanted to install software. I'm guessing it needs the internet to DL it tho, but yeah I'd like to see what's inside, and try my DreamSource LA again (but I have a box of old mice to try with that)

And after uninstalling the Synapse 4, at least the LED and DPI settings must have been stored on the mouse somewhere, as they didn't revert back to default. I should try it on my backup PC, and see what happens.


I have a box of semi-functional mice, some of which I can mix and match stuff to get them working again. I've had luck replacing cables on them before. I think I have one that double clicks, someday I'll have to try adding a debouncing RC circuit.

The main thing I usually have fail, is the cable, or the mouse wheel. I don't spend much time on games anymore, and I should stop scrolling the internet with wheel all the time, hopefully they will last longer.

There's not many brick/mortar stores to get M/KB anymore, I used to like the basic Mircosoft mice, but I'd want a couple of extra buttons on them for sure.


For this mouse, I should follow along with this, and see what the github software can do (for DPI settings)
https://christitus.com/block-razer-bloatware/

[JPortici]

I am a long time user of Logitech mice. Now they have a bloatware that updates itself once a week.
Perhaps they found new ways you can click every week.
I'm open for suggestions for some high quality mouse that doesn't have rubberized surfaces that turn into ectoplasm after 2 years, and doesn't have bloatware.

Really?
Bizarre, i have always been content with their cheapest offering (K120 mouse/keyboard combo. Cheap and action is OK) and have been for i think 15 years. No drivers, ever.

[Karel]

The only OS I ever installed a mouse driver was DOS...

[coromonadalix]

Microsoft chose to distribute this bloatware as soon as you plug in the hardware.
The same applies to printers.

If you get rid of Microsoft, you get rid of this bloatware.

total non sense ...   its a matter of blocking makers supplemental apps and automatic drivers updates  and having full control of what is happening on hardware ...

if you know  how to manage windows properly    you'll be free of them .....  no need to get in the windows removal bandwagon   

hp logitech and many others  are nagging us ...

logitech   removed ...
Msi x870e   mobo drivers and Msi Center crap package  removed ...
Amd .... same ....
Avira free   added crap   removed ...
Hp printer,    i have one  with a secret menu   and i killed every app update and HW  Fw updates from happening

[tszaboo]

I am a long time user of Logitech mice. Now they have a bloatware that updates itself once a week.
Perhaps they found new ways you can click every week.
I'm open for suggestions for some high quality mouse that doesn't have rubberized surfaces that turn into ectoplasm after 2 years, and doesn't have bloatware.

Really?
Bizarre, i have always been content with their cheapest offering (K120 mouse/keyboard combo. Cheap and action is OK) and have been for i think 15 years. No drivers, ever.

Sure, it doesn't have rubberized parts. That's the part that always broke. And I had an MX 518 when it was still a thing, there the logo broke apart, what's on the top of the mouse. They must have realized that making a forever mouse is not worth it.  But I just like this mouse shape, it's a preference.
IDK when they came up with this rubberization formula that turns into goo. I see it being also used on my Phillips shaver, that turned sticky also. Or on an umbrella handle. I used it maybe 5 times over the years, now it's sticky goo. I had to get my M720 or whatever at work replaced because the rubber part starts peeling off.
It very much looks intentional, and I'm so over dealing with annoying BS like this.

[tszaboo]

Actually you prompted me to look into this.
Windows key -> run-> msconfig
services tab
Stop LGHUB updater service

Hopefully I never have to see this again.

[themadhippy]

I used to like the basic Mircosoft mice,

still using an  intellimouse track ball ,must be close to 30 year old, but it still does everything i needs,no drivers required. It could do with either a new case or replacing,but no one makes anything that meets my requirements.

Msi x870e   mobo drivers

Ah msi, sorry windows cant t use the network port until ya  install the network driver,would you like to connect to the internet to download it? sorry we cant find the internet because you aint got the network driver ,meanwhile over in linux land it just works straight out the box

[amyk]

IDK when they came up with this rubberization formula that turns into goo. I see it being also used on my Phillips shaver, that turned sticky also. Or on an umbrella handle. I used it maybe 5 times over the years, now it's sticky goo. I had to get my M720 or whatever at work replaced because the rubber part starts peeling off.
It very much looks intentional, and I'm so over dealing with annoying BS like this.

Thermoplastic polyurethane. It depolymerises over time, accelerated by moisture (hydrolysis).