Security concerens from my workplace.

from Stardock Forums

I use my ObjectDesktop on my workplace laptop mostly for WindowBlinds which makes the interface so much better.

I got this today from out IT security:

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Thank you, the application in question is WindowBlinds which is part of the Stardock suite.  Do you have a business use case for this tool beyond interface? 
 
We’ve observed that this tool unnecessarily monitors keystrokes to deliver some of the features such as hotkeys.  If there is not an identify business use case, we’ll need to remove it.

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Is this true that WB monitors keystrokes? If so, is there a way to turn this off?   I really want to keep WB on the machnine but I will not be able to without disabling anything that monitors keystrokes.

 

Thanks,

 

Mick

 

windowblinds
22,452 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

WindowBlinds doesn't have hot keys bar F5 to refresh the config UI when that is open so I am at a loss as to what they are talking about.

Is it possible they are confusing it with other components of ObjectDesktop?

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm wondering too.  I didn't think there where any hotkeys for WB. 

I have no idea on what it could be.  I'll pass on what your said. See what happens.

Do other Object Desktop apps have hot keys?

 

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Do you have a business use case for this tool beyond interface? 

Just tell them the MS GUI drives you to distraction and is counter to good productivity. ;)

Have your IT people communicate directly with Neil.  He can set them straight...;)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting MickLimprecht, reply 4

Do other Object Desktop apps have hot keys?

 

Yes.  Explorer/shell addons need to interface with your input exactly the same way as the original shell from Microsoft does.  Adding more access options such as Docks etc means there will be more key options assigned to the interface. ;)

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Here's the details I got from IT security.

Our observations indicated that the application set a hook for WH_KEYBOARD, used to monitor keystrokes, which raised concerns about its necessity and security implications within our business environment.

 

So they are still want me to uninstall Windows blinds since I do not have a business justification to keep it (other than WB makes Windows so much easier to use....).

 

If you have anything to refute this it would be nice but don't go out of your way on this.  

Thanks!

 

Mick

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

I don't see Windowblinds having done that. I see ir_setup as having done that.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Agreed.
What is ir_setup.exe?     Can I just remove that? They will probably tell m I can't upgrade any more if allowed to keep WB.

This all got triggered when I upgraded WB. Which BTW, fixed a lot of issues I had.

thanks

 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting MickLimprecht, reply 10

What is ir_setup.exe? Can I just remove that? They will probably tell m I can't upgrade any more if allowed to keep WB.

This all got triggered when I upgraded WB. Which BTW, fixed a lot of issues I had.


https://file.info/windows/irsetup_exe.html

But bottom line? You'll never win an argument with your company's IT. It's their hardware/software and that's that. You can have them contact Stardock.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Bottom line... Yeah, I know.. IT has gone nuts since our company got hacked a few years back. But  I've got 6-9 months left before i retire so figure try to hang on to some level of sanity with Windows during that time.  

Maybe if I'm able to uninstall ir_setup from the link instructions and leave WB that would be enough.  Doesn't hurt to try.

All those warnings in the link.  And Stardock uses ir_setup?

 

Thanks

 

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I meant does Stardock use irsetup.exe as part of the install process? 

 

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting MickLimprecht, reply 14

I meant does Stardock use irsetup.exe as part of the install process? 

 

I have no idea. Because it might have been installed in factory, and so many different programs use it...I have no clue how your IT determined it's origin was a Stardock program...

Was Windowblinds the only non-work related program you installed on the machine?

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

I tried searching irsetup.exe in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock" but I can't find it. Perhaps irsetup.exe was use only while installing Stardock programs. Since if you do a general search in Stardock Forum. There were a number of issues raise base on irsetup.exe which usually dealing while installing a Stardock product.

Perhaps irsetup.exe no longer needed after installation are done.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

 

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting basj, reply 16

Perhaps irsetup.exe no longer needed after installation are done.

Correct. After installation, as part of the process, it's deleted (if it was ever there). Incomplete deletion would yield problems. 

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Looks like irsetup didn't get removed during the install. 

for reference:

image001.png

I could not do the upgrade via Object Desktop. It said my version was up to date so I had to uninstall, download the latest and reinstall.

Maybe something went wrong there...  It had been a long time since I had upraded WB and we moved to Windows 11 during that time. image001.png

I told IT that irsetup isn't part of WB functionality and was left behind from failure in the installation. I also told them that I had removed the file from the machine.

Probably won't be enough but worth a try.  IT drones don't really think much for themselves and have no real incentive to help out a customer.

Wish me luck and thanks for all the help!

Mickimage001.png

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Best of luck, Mick. Wish I could have helped you more. :S  

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

No apology necessary. You did help a lot.
I sent them a replay saying I removed the offending  irsetup.exe file and it should have been deleted during the install process but something went wrong.

So far, no reply... And I'm not going to ask if that was enough. 

Figure two weeks, if nothing then I guess I get to keep WB.

Mick

 

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting MickLimprecht, reply 20

So far, no reply... And I'm not going to ask if that was enough. 

Figure two weeks, if nothing then I guess I get to keep WB.

Best of luck, Mick. Hope you win! :thumbsup:  

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Winning. No notices on WindowBlinds.   

I guess IT has gone off to harass other employees.... :|  

Thanks again....

Mick

 

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Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting MickLimprecht, reply 22

Winning. No notices on WindowBlinds.   

I guess IT has gone off to harass other employees.... :|  

Thanks again....

Mick

 

Really glad to hear this, Mick! :thumbsup:  

Sometimes the good guys win!

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Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting MickLimprecht, reply 22

I guess IT has gone off to harass other employees....   

Gives them something to do.

They probably get tired of repeating...

"Have you tried turning it off and turning it on again?" ;)