You leased a computer, didn’t pay your bill and we are coming to repossess it. Oh, and by the way, we’ve been photographing you via the internal webcam and capturing every keystroke you’ve made. WOW!
Aaron’s, Inc. you should be ashamed of yourselves. Yes, there are some points to be made here by Aaron’s,
1. They are trying to protect their asset. 2. They have every right, in our opinion, to put a device in the computer to track its GPS location (think low-jack). But installing spyware to takes photos of the unknowing user and a keystroke logger to record their every electronic movement? Really, that’s necessary to protect your asset? We say hardly.
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A couple in Wyoming thought they’d paid off their computer lease a month early but two months after the final payment the store manager arrived at their house to repossess the machine. Turns out, Aaron’s installs a “PC Rental Agent” software designed to prevent lessees from running off with leased equipment. If a lessee doesn’t fulfill their lease obligation, Aaron’s can disable the machine using this software.
Makes sense, right?
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Here’s where it gets tricky though. In addition to disabling the machine this “PC Rental Agent” software can also snap a picture using the computer’s internal webcam whenever it deems necessary. So, when you’re working <snap>, when you’re sleeping <snap>, when you’re walking by the monitor after you just got out of the shower <snap>……you can only imagine the images it might encounter.
This is by far the worst invasion of privacy I have ever heard of. I can’t believe that Aaron’s would even think this is okay. I am sure that this couple in Wyoming aren’t the only ones affected by this invasion. If you are going to lease a computer please ask what type of tracking software is installed and make sure you read the fine print.