HP keeps reinstalling spyware Chrome extension, changing browser to "Managed by your organization"

[ishraqiyun77]

I've reformatted this computer twice for other reasons and I'm about to do it again. If that doesn't resolve the issue, this thing is getting returned and I'm not buying another HP product again, which I was pretty reluctant to buy an HP product in the first place.

At any rate, I started noticing my Chrome was saying "Managed by your organization." I have no organization. It is a personal laptop. None of my other computers have this, nor should this one.

I took steps to remove it: going to into regedit, modifying the C:\Program Files for Chrome, uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome, clearing out any trace of Chrome I could find in regedit and in the filesystem, etc. Would be  fine for a few restarts and then pop back-up again.

It is an extension from Chrome, that cannot be removed that appears to be doing this called HP Dynamic Audio. You are unable to disable it or uninstall it. Again, I deleted it from the C:\Users\<user>\Appdata\.... and it just shows backup again.

I've reported this extension to Google as malware and spyware. As you can see, it can read and change your data on websites and read your browsing history. I did not consent to that, nor would I ever consent to that.

I've never, nor would I ever, install HP software, or any OEM software for that matter. It is ALWAYS useless and just bloatware.

Suggestions for permanently uninstalling this garbage before I throw in the towel and return this laptop?

(Apparently, HP isn't rendering these pictures properly... shocking.... Here is a link.)

https://imgur.com/a/7aKQk9f

[ishraqiyun77]

Yep, clean install and the crap is back on there. It isn't a browser sync issue because it doesn't show up on any of my other computers. And... there was a desktop notification that popped up quickly talking about HP Dynamic Audio and then disappeared before I could click on it to look at it. Doesn't show up in the notification history either... lol.

Also see this in the Chrome Policies. Deleted it from registry and it comes back. Looks like this thing just needs to be returned.

[ishraqiyun77]

4/28... more BS:

I've done another reformat to see when this junk gets installed. Windows Update does install:

• HP Audio Control

• HP System Information

Both programs entirely useless and unnecessary given this is built into the OS, but anyway...

I do see this "jjnlfodbdchgijlheopgehgnmekbndmf;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx" garbage already in the registry and I don't have Chrome installed even. It is here:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist

I've deleted it about five times and after each restart it is back. So obviously something is reentering it.

I noticed when I opened Edge for the first time it asks me about HP Dynamic Audio. I managed to click on the notification this time and it brings me to HP Audio Control. Apparently this spyware is related to it.

Deleted HP Audio Control and HP System Information. Deleted the reg key for Chrome. Restarted. It is back. Apparently the spyware is coming from somewhere else.

[ishraqiyun77]

Also, delete just about anything I could find mentioning "HP Audio", even "HP" from the registry and the C:\.

Deleted the ExtensionInstallForcelist again...

It's back.

Giving up on this and returning the laptop tomorrow. Thought I'd give it one last shot because I do like the laptop, but not enough to allow HP to blatantly spy on me.... and it goes without saying I'll never buy one of their products.

[ishraqiyun77]

I returned it last week, got my money back and am in the market for something else. Anyway, found another user who managed to get this model as well. Asked to see if they were having this issue with spyware as well. Sure enough they are. HP needs to address this.