Altiris - a security risc?
 

I've seen this icon in my tray recently that says "Altiris client service". I'm not entirely sure what it is, since the web pages that come up are full of bloated sale speak.

I can't close it or uninstall it, as it requires an admin password. I'm an admin on my own computer, but this is clearly a different password so I can't uninstall it the normal way. CCleaner couldn't remove it, so now I'm in regedit where the Altiris keys have been set to read-only for anyone but administrator..

Just before I wipe this thing out, does anyone know how this could have been installed? Is it bundled with other software, or did someone sneak it in? The computer belongs to my company, but I've deleted the support admin account.

Altiris Client Management Suite

It looks like something your company installed to manage their computers. Make sure patches, and everything stay up to date (as some people tend to "forget" to keep their computers up to date on patches and antivirus, and then bitch at the IT department when they snag a virus; sorry, speaking from experience). This may seem intrusive, but as you said this is a corporate asset.

I would talk to your IT department before removing it. Speaking from an IT guy's perspective, when I give someone admin access to their PC, and they turn around, and wipe out the Support Admin account, and software I might use to fix that computer in a bind then I'll make sure next time I have to wipe and reload that computer that they get the equivalent of Guest access. That's just from the IT guy's perspective.

Yeah, I found the remote management bit quite intrusive. The reason I removed the support admin account in the first place was that they would install patches and reboot my pc at night when simulations were running. Also they may dislike that I've installed p2p software. They won't bother me as long as I don't call them for support though.

computer belongs to your company, the own and require the policies that cover that machine, that is unless the sold it to you.

I know, I know. I just don't care. And if I want to justify it: I've contributed $400k in sales to my company this year. I did that using a $2k laptop that happens to be reconfigured in order to make me more effective.

I've got it on mine. I learned very quickly that certain software I installed was not allowed. Since then, I've been a good boy.

Except for when I'm here. :D

The company I do support for now uses Altiris rather extensively. As a tool I find it to be somewhat effective in some aspects and rather cumbersome in others.

But like others have said - it's a company asset and they can pretty much install whatever they want. I know I'd be pissed if I had to fix someone's machine only to find that THEY removed one of the tools I'd have to use.