MantisTek GK2 Mechanical Keyboard Comes with Free Keylogger (Updated)

[Chino]

The MantisTek GK2 is a popular 104-key mechanical keyboard that costs around $49.99. It has all the bells and whistles that you would expect from a keyboard aimed at gamers. It even comes with a keylogger, free of charge. Our colleagues from Tom's Hardware reported a rather disturbing story around this particular model. With the amount of stuff you can do on gaming keyboards nowadays, the majority comes with some kind of software for user customization. The MantisTek GK2 is no different. However, there have been multiple reports from owners claiming that the keyboard's software is actually a front to steal your valuable information.

Apparently, the keyboard's "Cloud Driver" is the culprit responsible for sending user information to a pair of IP addresses linked to Alibaba servers. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean Alibaba is stealing your data. Since the company also sells cloud services, it's quite possible that someone is using Alibaba servers to pull off the heist. After analyzing the software's online activity, users have discovered that the data being sent also included key presses. If you're one of the unlucky owners, it's recommended that you uninstall the software entirely. Make sure you block the CMS.exe executable and MantisTek Cloud Driver with your firewall as well.


11/7/2017 Update: After further analysis, it appears that the data sent by the "Cloud Driver" doesn't actually contain any key presses, but the number of times each key is pressed. The manufacturer probably wants this data to determine the keyboard's life span.

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[Steevo]

Shitty company acting like shitty company, I bet they will try to spin it off as "we are determining wear patterns".

 

[natr0n]

Still using a compaq keyboard. Very shitty things people do.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Why would you trust any piece of hardware that needs a "cloud-driver"?

 

[bug]

Which why if it comes with software the requires an account, it's not on my shopping list.

Btw, who can point me towards a slim, backlit keyboard that hopefully has a USB port as well? Mechanical or not, I haven't decided yet, but it has to stay (well) under $100. TIA

 

[eidairaman1]

The will cease to exist or change their name, rubbish this is. I will stick to my Roccat Set.

 

[Solaris17]

Awesome good password management software can be hard to come by, we can just ask these guys.

 

[VSG]

Which why if it comes with software the requires an account, it's not on my shopping list.

Btw, who can point me towards a slim, backlit keyboard that hopefully has a USB port as well? Mechanical or not, I haven't decided yet, but it has to stay (well) under $100. TIA

No USB port, but a slim, backlit keyboard is coming up soon in the reviews section.

Spoiler

If you can't wait, it's the HAVIT HV-KB390L and there are full size versions of this from the OEM (including wireless versions).

 

[bug]

No USB port, but a slim, backlit keyboard is coming up soon in the reviews section.

Spoiler

If you can't wait, it's the HAVIT HV-KB390L and there are full size versions of this from the OEM (including wireless versions).

I can wait, I'm probably going to buy around Christmas. And I did have that Havit in my eyesight, but I can't find much about those switches (it says blue, which usually translates into "more clicky than you'd like") and no stores around here carry it so I can check it out myself. I'll wait for your review, too.

 

[lexluthermiester]

This is that same kind of unacceptable BS Microsoft is pulling. WTF?!? When the hell did business's think became ok to spy on people like this? Morons..

 

[bug]

This is that same kind of unacceptable BS Microsoft is pulling. WTF?!? When the hell did business's think became ok to spy on people like this? Morons..

Well, it's a Chinese manufacturer that doesn't even have a homepage Google can locate. What expectations do you have when buying from them?

 

[micropage7]

so its hard to see when everything needs could storage, cloud service or anything on cloud
i always avoid installing any driver except it asks for that

 

[Jermelescu]

Good thing my mechanical PS/2 Acer keyboard from the late 90's doesn't have any of these shiny drivers to do its job.

 

[BLOODBATH]

Check the sources before you put on your Klan hood, it makes things hard to see.

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterra...mantistek_gk2_keyboard_stop_using_it/dph76ge/