this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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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] 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

that could get you fired some day.

Among other ways it might make you better off, a tendency to boot linux on school-issued devices could also very much help get you hired some day. Although perhaps not in the education system. Seeing a teacher discourage it is even more depressing than seeing a student fear he'll be punished for it. So long as you're not breaking any laws, it seems like a fine idea.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

So long as you're not breaking any laws

In the US, basically anything you are not authorized to do on someone else's computer is illegal and can be prosecuted under the CFAA.

I point this out only to highlight that it's a terrible law that needs to be changed, I'm not disagreeing with anything that your said.

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

I don’t discourage it so much as I’m giving this person a warning. Also, do you know why they put up those systems? To protect their devices, and to block kids from things they legally should not be on. I’ve seen so many kids (and adults) download viruses, spyware, adware, etc on their computer just because they wanted a “cool” mouse pointer, wallpaper, or other feature. Not that I think op will do something stupid like this, but this is what they’re protecting their computers from.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I like this take. I got into a programming class after telling the teacher about a program I had previously gotten an in school suspension for writing. It recursively started itself and used a ton of resources. It was just goofy and the it dept. called it a virus.