Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Lenovo Allegedly Installing "Superfish" Proxy Adware On New Computers

Posted by timothy on from the hey-man-you're-s'posed-to-join-the-nsa-first dept.

An anonymous reader writes It looks like Lenovo has been installing adware onto new consumer computers from the company that activates when taken out of the box for the first time. The adware, named Superfish, is reportedly installed on a number of Lenovo's consumer laptops out of the box. The software injects third-party ads on Google searches and websites without the user's permission. Another anonymous reader points to this Techspot article, noting that that it doesn't mention the SSL aspect, but this Lenovo Forum Post, with screen caps, is indicating it may be a man-in-the-middle attack to hijack an SSL connection too. It's too early to tell if this is a hoax or not, but there are multiple forum posts about the Superfish bug being installed on new systems. Another good reason to have your own fresh install disk, and to just drop the drivers onto a USB stick. Also at ZDnet.

4 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. Does it inject by invictusvoyd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ad's even after you go through the gentoo stage 3 , compile your custom kernel and build your userspace from source ?

  2. If you have to be paranoid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do that with OpenBSD.

  3. Re:All the more reason... by geogob · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just pull the plug and battery during the process. You'll get definitely rid of the malware.

  4. Re:All the more reason... by zlives · · Score: 4, Funny

    as it turns out, not one of my devices or the any blob inside is hammer proof.
    i hope this pigeon makes it to /. to answer your curiosity.