The Digital Source For China's Tech Innovation Since 2000

Search
Close

Are Lenovo Computers Safe For Consumer Users?

February 19, 2015
Gadgets & Electronics | Security | Software

There have always been worries that the Chinese government could use its power to force homegrown technology companies like ZTE, Huawei, Qihoo 360 and Lenovo to spy on user communications, but now a bombshell has landed that shows Lenovo is forcing adware onto users' computers on the company's own volition.

According to Errata Security, an ad-supported software on Lenovo computers called SuperFish is "designed to intercept all encrypted connections… It does this in a poor way that it leaves the system open to hackers or NSA-style spies."

SuperFish apparently resides on all Lenovo laptops registered after "mid-2013". Errata reports that SuperFish's advertising injects JavaScript code into webpages and installs a transparent-proxy service on the laptop that intercepts browser connections.

Yet Mark Hopkins, the program manager for Lenovo social media, responded about a month ago that "Superfish technology is purely based on contextual/image and not behavioral. It does not profile nor monitor user behavior. It does not record user information. It does not know who the user is. Users are not tracked nor re-targeted. Every session is independent. When using Superfish for the first time, the user is presented the Terms of User and Privacy Policy, and has option not to accept these terms, i.e., Superfish is then disabled."

The good news is FireFox or Chrome users are not affected, even if they do use infected Lenovo laptops. So only users who use Internet Explorer are vulnerable.

But removing the adware software reportedly does not solve the problem because the root certificates are still embedded into Lenovo laptops. So a savvy user must manually go into the computer's settings to remove that errant certificate.

Tags: browser | Chrome | consumerism | firefox | hacker | Huawei | Internet Explorer | laptop | Lenovo | malware | Microsoft | phishing | web browser | ZTE

Other Related News:

Huawei and China Telecom Launch Innovative 5.5G Super TimeFreq Folding

June 15, 2022

Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets Xbox Patch; Airbus A220 & Boeing 737 Classic Get Development Updates; Beijing Capital & Maun Airports Announced

May 22, 2022

Secret’s Out: “The ultimate winner of two decades of war in Afghanistan is likely China.� https://twitter.com/defenseone/status/1436342195368431620

September 11, 2021

China's Greatest Tech Myths

February 16, 2005

White House reportedly discouraged Intel from boosting chip production in China

November 14, 2021

Tang Jie hacked 35+9 to break the Guangdong line of defense. Is it worth a CBA contract?

September 26, 2021

The super universal Lenovo L32p-30 4K monitor is started in China Hi-Tech

February 20, 2022

The Chinese company outperforms Apple and Samsung in phone sales

August 7, 2021

Huawei Signed Agreement With Largest Telecom Company In Russia

June 8, 2019
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Corrections and Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Corrections and Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
© 2023 ChinaTechNews.com. A Service of Asia Media Network.
Twitter