Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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School Spyware (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hi. My school just started issuing devices last year, and they have this Lightspeed spyware on them. Last year I was able to remove it by booting into Linux from a flash drive and moving the files to a separate drive and then back at the end of the year. This year I have heard from sources that they have ways of detecting someone booting from Linux so I am hesitant to do that option. My only other idea is to buy an old laptop off eBay that looks like it and install Linux on it. I could probably get one for about 50€. Does anyone have any cheaper ideas?

Oh also talking to IT isn’t an option.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Is there an IT policy at your school? I suggest perusing it for 2 reasons:

Understanding the consequences of tampering/tinkering with the spyware.
Understanding how much authority the IT department really has, and whether or not what they’re doing with the spyware constitutes overreach.

#2 in particular is for your own knowledge/benefit. Since you’re not an employee, but a student, you may have some inherent rights under this policy, which the IT department may be violating.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Their policy (at least the last time I checked) was all vague rules with whatever punishment they see fit. That is why I just wanna get something identical that is mine. I won’t get on the network but I can use a mobile hotspot and be fine. What rights are you referring to specifically?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I’m guessing this is a school and not a university? At a university students have more clout/rights, at least on paper.

In any case, getting your own machine is the way to go. You can run whatever you want on it. You could still (cautiously) use the school network, as long as you use a VPN; basically treat the school network as a “hostile” environment. That’s assuming VPN use is not against the school rules. :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I can’t use the network there, I haven’t looked at how they configured it but if I do bring my own device I want to keep it off their network completely because they would realize quickly. I have decent cell service though and can do a mobile hotspot.