Razer synapse spyware?

[Dr.Drake]

So I heard that Razer tracks your keystrokes if you have some of their software installed, Is this true?

[AustrAlien2010]

Its nessesary for software to check for keystrokes. How else is it going to check if there is input? Your question is: "Do they store or access that data?"
If they do that, then that should be written in their user agreement. Otherwise its sneaky.

[Zilkenian Davenport]

What you're describing here is actually a keylogger.
However, nowadays the line between spyware and normal software is kind of blurred, seeing how most companies have access to everything we do.

[Fostin4]

Windows 10 does the same thing-- yet people are okay with it.

[Dr.Drake]

Originally posted by Fostin4:

Windows 10 does the same thing-- yet people are okay with it.

Go on

[Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at 🃏]

Originally posted by Zef Davenport:

What you're describing here is actually a keylogger.
However, nowadays the line between spyware and normal software is kind of blurred, seeing how most companies have access to everything we do.

Now-a-days?

In terms of the permissions that software is allowed, it was always like that.

Doki Doki Literature Club could have been made in the 1990s.
(It wasn't but it could have been.)


So, it's not blurred because of data collection but just because software has never been properly sandboxed or given any permissions restrictions for the average user on PCs.

If anything it's blurred because collecting keystrokes for legitimate functions, such as text-input, is very very close in nature to collecting keystrokes to steal your data. It's literally the same thing minus the part where it gets sent somewhere when in legitimate programs.

[Oh, and for the record, there are also legitimate programs that collect your keystrokes and send the data somewhere, such as crashed-program bug-reporters, that let you type in an explanation of what was going on when your program crashed and sends it as feedback to a company.]

[Dr.Drake]

Originally posted by Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at:

Originally posted by Zef Davenport:

What you're describing here is actually a keylogger.
However, nowadays the line between spyware and normal software is kind of blurred, seeing how most companies have access to everything we do.

Now-a-days?

In terms of the permissions that software is allowed, it was always like that.

Doki Doki Literature Club could have been made in the 1990s.
(It wasn't but it could have been.)


So, it's not blurred because of data collection but just because software has never been properly sandboxed or given any permissions restrictions for the average user on PCs.

If anything it's blurred because collecting keystrokes for legitimate functions, such as text-input, is very very close in nature to collecting keystrokes to steal your data. It's literally the same thing minus the part where it gets sent somewhere when in legitimate programs.

[Oh, and for the record, there are also legitimate programs that collect your keystrokes and send the data somewhere, such as crashed-program bug-reporters, that let you type in an explanation of what was going on when your program crashed and sent it as feedback to a company.]


:seewhatyoudid:

Okay, But is Razer's legitimate or for the purpose of stealing info?

[Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at 🃏]

Originally posted by Dr.Drake:

...
Okay, But is Razer's legitimate or for the purpose of stealing info?

*lol*, I don't know.

I don't know enough about what this program is or isn't actually doing.


I just thought it was worth pointing out that the blurred line between legitimate and illegitimate was always this way - and network traffic, while reasonably alarming, doesn't necessarily mean that your data is being stolen... or maybe plenty of supposedly legitimate programs are ALSO stealing our data.

Hard to tell for sure.

[76561198343548661]

Upon Windows 10 launch , Kaspersky AV got it - Windows 10 was trasferring/stealing info but not long after that , Kaspersky was forced to mute this alert ! LOL

[plat]

You may be mixing this up with a recent vulnerability where someone with physical access to a computer can gain system priveleges and siphon off personal imfo from there.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/razer-bug-lets-you-become-a-windows-10-admin-by-plugging-in-a-mouse/

There have been recent Proofs of Concept POCs) for additional exploits of this software. It may be safe to use now, though, but I never touch software like this anyway, not Synapse or Corsair iCue, nothing. I'm trying to block it now via wushowhide, it keeps wanting to install via Windows Updates, for pete's sake.

[Zilkenian Davenport]

Originally posted by Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at:

Originally posted by Zef Davenport:

What you're describing here is actually a keylogger.
However, nowadays the line between spyware and normal software is kind of blurred, seeing how most companies have access to everything we do.

Now-a-days?

In terms of the permissions that software is allowed, it was always like that.

Doki Doki Literature Club could have been made in the 1990s.
(It wasn't but it could have been.)


So, it's not blurred because of data collection but just because software has never been properly sandboxed or given any permissions restrictions for the average user on PCs.

If anything it's blurred because collecting keystrokes for legitimate functions, such as text-input, is very very close in nature to collecting keystrokes to steal your data. It's literally the same thing minus the part where it gets sent somewhere when in legitimate programs.

[Oh, and for the record, there are also legitimate programs that collect your keystrokes and send the data somewhere, such as crashed-program bug-reporters, that let you type in an explanation of what was going on when your program crashed and sends it as feedback to a company.]


:seewhatyoudid:

I know, I was just trying to make a point in how back in the day people tried to install extra programs in your system when you only wanted to install one, and today they're more likely to install them anyway, and you discover it afterwards.

I still remember trying to install good ol' software back in the day, and being asked if I wanted to install a lot more of "free" crap, and then you ended up with 15 toolbars and half of your screen covered in absolute stupidity.

The difference is now-a-days (is that how is written?) you don't even realize it's there, mostly because it's "legal" and "necessary" to sent important data about the app/system/game so they can improve it.

[Agent]

Yep, and they’ll log into your bank account and purchase Corsair mice!

[Dr.Drake]

Originally posted by Rock Head:

Yep, and they’ll log into your bank account and purchase Corsair mice!

My god

[_I_]

almost as bad as printer drivers ordering ink when they start to get low

[♥Peachboy♥]

Originally posted by _I_:

almost as bad as printer drivers ordering ink when they start to get low

bruh

[Autumn_]

Originally posted by Dr.Drake:

So I heard that Razer tracks your keystrokes if you have some of their software installed, Is this true?

There is a feature that records all keys pressed (not their order, or anything you've typed, just a counter of how many times you pressed the key(s))
This is so they can create a 'heatmap' of used keys, it's pretty gimmicky, I found it a little intresting, but turned it off.
If you turn it off, it no longer records keys pressed.

It is not spyware.
It does however need an account to log in, I assume this is so you can keep your your lighting or macros over different PCs, or devices. Which isn't a bad thing, but I can see why people would dislike it.
It doesn't do any tracking and sending to Razer (if you look, it never uses any of your connection, unless it's updating.)

The whole Razer spyware thing is just a myth.

Originally posted by Zef Davenport:

What you're describing here is actually a keylogger.
However, nowadays the line between spyware and normal software is kind of blurred, seeing how most companies have access to everything we do.

It's not, it doesn't record order, or timing between keypresses, just total count of each keypress for an optional feature.

Originally posted by Dr.Drake:

Originally posted by Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at:

*removed bulk*

Okay, But is Razer's legitimate or for the purpose of stealing info?

Why would a company that makes millions, no billions, is one of the biggest brands in gaming, known by pretty much everyone, who makes anything you can imagine in the PC world (except for CPU and GPU), want to steal your account passwords? What would their goal with that even be?
They couldn't do anything, because if it was connected to them, they would have a huge lawsuit against them.

You already buy the products, what more could they need/want from you?

The Spyware thing makes no sense.

And, if you do care about your data, stop using Google products, Microsoft products, Apple products, Steam/Game launchers, don't let anyone connect to your home network, no better yet, don't connect your home network to your router.
Basically bock EVERYTHING, then you won't have anyone recording data on you.
Fact is, in some capacity, they're ALL tracking you, recording what you do, and selling it on, or using it for more marketing.

But, in regards to Razer, there's basically nothing happening, except for profile (lighting, macros, custom keyboard layouts, etc.) being stored on their cloud.

Originally posted by littlecat20160:

Upon Windows 10 launch , Kaspersky AV got it - Windows 10 was trasferring/stealing info but not long after that , Kaspersky was forced to mute this alert ! LOL

What info was this, exactly?
Or was it just ''''INFO''''' (Basically generic system information and/or crash reports)?

Originally posted by Zef Davenport:

Originally posted by Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at:

Now-a-days?

In terms of the permissions that software is allowed, it was always like that.

Doki Doki Literature Club could have been made in the 1990s.
(It wasn't but it could have been.)


So, it's not blurred because of data collection but just because software has never been properly sandboxed or given any permissions restrictions for the average user on PCs.

If anything it's blurred because collecting keystrokes for legitimate functions, such as text-input, is very very close in nature to collecting keystrokes to steal your data. It's literally the same thing minus the part where it gets sent somewhere when in legitimate programs.

[Oh, and for the record, there are also legitimate programs that collect your keystrokes and send the data somewhere, such as crashed-program bug-reporters, that let you type in an explanation of what was going on when your program crashed and sends it as feedback to a company.]


:seewhatyoudid:

I know, I was just trying to make a point in how back in the day people tried to install extra programs in your system when you only wanted to install one, and today they're more likely to install them anyway, and you discover it afterwards.

I still remember trying to install good ol' software back in the day, and being asked if I wanted to install a lot more of "free" crap, and then you ended up with 15 toolbars and half of your screen covered in absolute stupidity.

The difference is now-a-days (is that how is written?) you don't even realize it's there, mostly because it's "legal" and "necessary" to sent important data about the app/system/game so they can improve it.

Unwanted programs, toolbars, cleaners, etc, have always existed, and will in some capacity, it's a marketing thing, getting people to use their tools so they can expand their userbase, or get money for recommending to install another companies tools.
You just have to untick the option to install/use it. Anyone with two braincells to rub together can avoid installing garbage.

You do, it still prompts you with installation boxes, and requests to install, no program like this will be installed in the background.
The only things Windows will auto-download without your consent are essential for system running, mouse/keyboard software isn't a requirement for system to run.

And that data, it does exactly that, there's nothing wrong with programs gathering a minimum amount of data to keep yours, and other peoples experience better.
Unless you're against software improvements, I don't see why you would be concerned about it grabbing that info either. It's not like it's grabbing things unrelated to it.
It would be a complete legal mess if it was, and would be plastered all over the news, and people would boycott the product/company that did it.

Oh, and the correct spelling is nowadays. One word, no hyphenation.