LENOVO and Superfish

gunte

Bad press all over the web.

http://www.ghacks.net/2015/02/19/lenovo-pcs-ship-with-preinstalled-adware-and-root-certificate/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31533028

http://www.slashgear.com/caught-red-handed-lenovo-installing-adware-on-its-computers-19369688/

Fightsback

Ohhh, that's naughty - Phorm all over again but on your PC. I can see a big EU fine coming their way, even possible criminal sanctions under the Misuse of Computer Act.

Tropez

Idiots.

I've bought three Lenovo laptops in my time. I won't be buying anymore.

Funny thing about consumer trust, eh?

Reaper

I have one of the laptops on its way to me in the post. D'oh!

On the assumption it is affected I gather I should install a clean version of Windows and avoid doing it using the Windows image they supply with the machine.

So my question is where can I download a legitimate version of Windows 8.1 using the license key that comes with my machine?

Fightsback

Reaper wrote: »

I have one of the laptops on its way to me in the post. D'oh!

On the assumption it is affected I gather I should install a clean version of Windows and avoid doing it using the Windows image they supply with the machine.

So my question is where can I download a legitimate version of Windows 8.1 using the license key that comes with my machine?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

No product key needed as it's embedded in the bios.

OhhToria

There was a time that I thought Acer were a cheap and awful brand, but then came along Lenovo. Had one laptop from these guys - never again. Dreadful build quality and finding out this just tops it off nicely.

Reaper

Fightsback wrote: »

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

No product key needed as it's embedded in the bios.

Having read up on it more I fear this will not work. The laptop comes with a special cut price version of Windows called "Windows 8.1 with Bing" and no ISO file for this is available from Microsoft.

See http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_install/windows-wont-activate-says-the-key-cant-be-used/27d906a5-66a6-440d-9a68-c19ecc722e6a

Reaper

So far it seems the only option is to:

1) Uninstall it
2) Locate and remove the Superfish root certificate.
[EDIT a better link!] Removal Instructions: http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/superfish_uninstall

I would be a lot happier reinstalling Windows as then I would know all the security issues, adware and other assorted bloatware were gone, but without an ISO that is not going to be possible.

Strider590

IBM had an excellent reputation, which they passed on to Lenovo, but Lenovo have now thrown it all away.

agrinnall

Reaper wrote: »

So far it seems the only option is to:

1) Uninstall it (Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a Program, then select "Visual Discovery" followed by Uninstall).
2) Locate and remove the Superfish root certificate. (How to remove a root certificate)

I would be a lot happier reinstalling Windows as then I would know all the security issues, adware and other assorted bloatware were gone, but without an ISO that is not going to be possible.

I don't really think the How To you have linked to will be of much use to anyone given that it refers to IE 4 and 5, and surely there will be very few, if any, people who have either version these days.

tavernman

agrinnall wrote: »

I don't really think the How To you have linked to will be of much use to anyone given that it refers to IE 4 and 5, and surely there will be very few, if any, people who have either version these days.

The answer to that is Windows-Key+r then enter certmgr.msc ......