Dell ships motherboard with malicious code

[Borg 386]

Dell has confirmed that some of its PowerEdge server motherboards were shipped to customers with malware code on the embedded server management firmware. The infected motherboard was found on replacement Dell PowerEdge R410 rack servers

UPDATE: After the publication of this story, Dell emailed the following statement from Forrest Norrod, vice president and general manager of server platforms.:
Dell is aware of the issue and is contacting affected customers. The issue affects a limited number of replacement motherboards in four servers - PowerEdge R310, PowerEdge R410, PowerEdge R510 and PowerEdge T410 – and only potentially manifests itself when a customer has a specific configuration and is not running current anti-virus software. This issue does not affect systems as shipped from our factory and is limited to replacement parts only. Dell has removed all impacted motherboards from its service supply chain and new shipping replacement stock does not contain the malware. Customers can find more information on Dell’s community forum.

 

[mhasanbulli]

What is wrong with Dell? Exploding batteries, motherboards with malicious code and many more... I just do not get it.

 

[Dinesh]

Dell is Hell.

 

[Win7User512]

How does this happen?

Was this refurb?

 

[DeaconFrost]

Wasn't it Sony that shipped a rootkit on some music CDs?

 

[cloud8521]

Dell is Hell.

accually bell is hell.... but i guess dell is a close second

 

[Win7User512]

Wasn't it Sony that shipped a rootkit on some music CDs?

HAHA yeah I remember that. I think that was back in 2005 or so. Wasn't that on purpose, though?

Edit: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2005-11-17-sony-rootkit_x.htm

 

[pparks1]

Remember just how many boxes Dell ships out. it's a ton...so there will be problems from time to time. Better to acknowledge it then pretend it doesn't exist. I work with quite a number of Dell servers these days and I have really changed my tune about them. I was 100% compaq proliant rack mounts in the past....but these new Dell in the R710 and R810 chassis's have been fantastic.

 

[Bill]

How does this happen?

Was this refurb?

Maybe an employee knew he was getting canned and wanted to get back at the company.

Bill

 

[Win7User512]

How does this happen?

Was this refurb?

Maybe an employee knew he was getting canned and wanted to get back at the company.

Bill

Could be. There have been several cases of such happening.

Btw, Bill, do you know the image in your sig is not displaying as an image, but just a link?

 

[chev65]

Sounds like the standard malware+spyware=bloatware to me which comes standard on all OEM machines these days.

 

[pparks1]

Sounds like the standard malware+spyware=bloatware to me which comes standard on all OEM machines these days.

My Dell servers never come with software installed on them...the drives are always blank.

 

[chev65]

Looks like you get some free malware with those servers these days LOL!

I was really referring to the OEM non server machines and the endless bloatware they all seem to come with these days, man do I hate when they do that.

I do find it hard to believe that server's don't come with some type of bloatware. Embedding the MB firmware with bloatware seems about right to me since the drives are blank.

 

[hawkin90]

Another reason for me to get rid of my dell.

 

[chev65]

Oh my Dell is still ok, of course I got it three OP systems ago with XP on it. I use it as my network server these days, works good for that.

 

[pparks1]

Another reason for me to get rid of my dell.

Not a very good one though. I think just about every prebuilt with an OS installed computer is going to come with something. Dell is no different.

 

[Win7User512]

You rarely hear complaints and issues with Dell servers. Their PC lines, yes, but not often for servers.

 

[grimreaper]

ohh man that is gonna hurt DELL....which begs another question... what's going on with these guys?
Their track record is going downhill.

 

[Petey7]

Their track record with hardware is indeed going down hill. They seem to be okay with warranty and other services though. To be fair, I have no clue how they treat the typical home customer. My oldest brother came up with a decent name for a recording studio about ten years ago. We never got things off the ground with it, but we have been telling Dell we have a small family owned business by that name. Ever since we can get business computers, which lack all that bloatware and usually have more options to choose from when ordering (like getting XP and not getting an AV pre-installed). The customer support also seems to be superior according to what I hear about them, but have never experienced.

As to the main point of this topic, I'm surprised the fessed up so quick. Seems like they did the right thing in the end by admitting the problem out right. Better than Apple at least.

 

[toughbook]

Dell is Hell! I love it......I have had 1 Dell. That should explain it all right there.

Panasonic does not put one bloatware on there computers. The closest piece of software that one would consider bloatware is CompuTrace which runs off the TPm 1.2

It is so nice to get a new computer and have nothing but the OS and a couple of Manufacture specific programs that you want. Plus a pick of whatever OS you want, all the way from XP to W7.