[iDC] Computrace query

[Douglas Schuler]

I'd second the creepy descriptor! There are others...

I wonder what other schools use the software and what the teachers at
those places are doing about it?

I would think the Chronicle of HIgher Education may be interested in
this story as would the National Education Association or American
Association of University Professors.

-- Doug


"Absolute Software -- Giving Control Back to IT" (from their web site)

On May 23, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Tom Novelli wrote:

> That's creepy.  If I were you I'd buy my own laptop and refuse to use
> any computer provided by the IT department.  (Besides, I'm a
> programmer who uses Linux, which I doubt Computrace would support
> anyhow.)  People ought to stand up to this crap.  I've worked for
> plenty of employers that trusted workers with laptops, vehicles, etc.
> This is crazy.
>
> --
> Tom Novelli
> http://tnovelli.github.com
>
> On Sun, May 23, 2010 at 2:30 AM, Jonathan Beller <jbeller at pratt.edu>  
> wrote:
>> Dear IDCers, a moment of your expertise if you have the time (I beg  
>> you to
>> forgive the ignorance which the question below betrays):
>> At long last (6 years) my institution has agreed to buy me a new  
>> computer.
>> Long story short I asked to bypass our IT department and receive  
>> the unit
>> directly, but Pratt requires the installation of Computrace, and  
>> will not
>> turn the computer over to me without it. My preliminary  
>> investigation of
>> this program by the aptly named company, Absolute Software, shows  
>> it to be
>> spyware capable of grabbing real time screen shots from my computer,
>> monitoring key strokes, and remotely deleting the hard drive.  
>> Supposedly
>> these features are activated only in the event of the computers  
>> theft, but I
>> do not take much comfort from such assurances. First is this  
>> assessment of
>> Computrace's capacities correct and second, does it not seem that
>> acquiescing to the installation of such programs institutes an  
>> unprecedented
>> level of surveillance over our intellectual and sensual
>> exploration as well as our very creativity. We know that in  
>> principle our
>> every screen-view and inscription is retrievable by those who have  
>> immense
>> power over us. If this understanding is correct, how can we  
>> tolerate that
>> our liberal arts institutions allow a window open to the  
>> possibility of human freedom be closed not only for us but
>> --should this situation become the standard -- perhaps for all time?
>> Your thoughts will
>> be greatly appreciated and also used to develop an arsenal to change
>> our institutional policy should that prove to be the proper route.
>> With thanks,
>> Jon Beller
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jonathan Beller
>> Professor
>> Humanities and Media Studies
>> and Critical and Visual Studies
>> Pratt Institute
>> jbeller at pratt.edu
>> 718-636-3573 fax
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> iDC -- mailing list of the Institute for Distributed Creativity
>> (distributedcreativity.org)
>> iDC at mailman.thing.net
>> https://mailman.thing.net/mailman/listinfo/idc
>>
>> List Archive:
>> http://mailman.thing.net/pipermail/idc/
>>
>> iDC Photo Stream:
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/idcnetwork/
>>
>> RSS feed:
>> http://rss.gmane.org/gmane.culture.media.idc
>>
>> iDC Chat on Facebook:
>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457237647
>>
>> Share relevant URLs on Del.icio.us by adding the tag iDCref
>>
> _______________________________________________
> iDC -- mailing list of the Institute for Distributed Creativity  
> (distributedcreativity.org)
> iDC at mailman.thing.net
> https://mailman.thing.net/mailman/listinfo/idc
>
> List Archive:
> http://mailman.thing.net/pipermail/idc/
>
> iDC Photo Stream:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/idcnetwork/
>
> RSS feed:
> http://rss.gmane.org/gmane.culture.media.idc
>
> iDC Chat on Facebook:
> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2457237647
>
> Share relevant URLs on Del.icio.us by adding the tag iDCref

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Sphere Project
      http://www.publicsphereproject.org/

Liberating Voices!  A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution  
(project)
      http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/

Liberating Voices!  A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution  
(book)
      http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11601

Douglas Schuler
douglas at publicsphereproject.org

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Sphere Project
      http://www.publicsphereproject.org/

Liberating Voices!  A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution  
(project)
      http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/

Liberating Voices!  A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution  
(book)
      http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11601