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.
Actually I can install things on it and only installed a better browser and office suite. I would simply prefer not to be spied on at school, and I don’t think that that is unreasonable.
Just don’t use school property for things you want to be private. It works the exact same way with anything owned by any organization you may work for in the future.
I want my schoolwork to be private. I don’t want a proprietary network enabled keylogger on my computer even though I only use it for schoolwork. I am legally required to go to my school, I am legally required to use their computer, I am legally required to give up my privacy. I don’t understand why people think privacy isn’t a reasonable expectation at school. I am okay with the school having my information but they use proprietary keyloggers and network monitoring tools that can do whatever the fuck they want with it.
But unfortunately your schoolwork isn’t private, it is likely considered property of the school. You will encounter this in both academia and any job you acquire basically. Work you do for them, or as a part of an assignment they hand you (schoolwork, research in university or whatever task at a job) is their property, that is something you unfortunately need to accept.
Couple that with performing it on a device that is also not yours, but 100% theirs, they are allowed to do whatever the hell they want with it. Even if you did the work on a private device, they sill still own the work and the results you produce.
This is the right attitude, my friend, for real.
I’m a teacher and have guided students down this path before. Tech rights are important, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Surveillance is not security.
Buying that cheapo Linux lappy and running it on the down-low sounds like the best bet. Don’t draw attention to it and you’ll be fine.
The ethics of what you use it for is up to you: choose wisely. But simply wanting privacy is not a crime.
How will they grade your work if you keep it private? Isn’t the entire point of school assignments to show them to someone?
