SourceLenovo has been caught using a technique, often used by some malware to withstand being deleted, to reinstall unwanted software on the computers it sells.
As reported on a number of blog and news-sharing sites, some users have accused the computer maker of overwriting Windows files to ensure its own-brand software and tools were installed -- even after a clean install of the operating system.
The issue was first reported as early as May, but was widely reported Tuesday.
The "rootkit"-style covert installer, dubbed the Lenovo Service Engine (LSE), works by installing an additional program that updates drivers, firmware, and other pre-installed apps. The engine also "sends non-personally identifiable system data to Lenovo servers," according to the company. The engine, which resides in the computer's BIOS, replaces a core Windows system file with its own, allowing files to be downloaded once the device is connected to the internet.
But that service engine also put users at risk.
Well, I know what brand computer I will never buy.
You got that right. That's justWell, I know what brand computer I will never buy.
They are Chinese are they not.
That's also my concern. The time has come to put an end to "Made in China" garbage. Even big names like Apple are so dependent on Chinese companies to produce the hardware parts.They are Chinese are they not.
Btw, other Laptops are also manufactured by Chinese/Taiwan based companies. One particular example is "Quanta Computers".
Quanta Computer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apple products are manufactured by "Foxconn".
Foxconn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Only God knows what they are hiding on the firmware code.
Foxconn is not the only manufacturer that makes Apple products .. there are other Chinese manufacturers that do.That's also my concern. The time has come to put an end to "Made in China" garbage. Even big names like Apple are so dependent on Chinese companies to produce the hardware parts.
Btw, other Laptops are also manufactured by Chinese/Taiwan based companies. One particular example is "Quanta Computers".
Quanta Computer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apple products are manufactured by "Foxconn".
Foxconn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Only God knows what they are hiding on the firmware code.
If we wanted to not buy from Asian manufacturers .. there would be nothing left. We are pretty much stuck buying from China and other such areas.
That dependency should be ended. Cheap labor is what made China a monopoly in electronic hardware market. There are other Asian, African and Latin American countries where labor is cheaper than China. If only Govt of those countries can provide the basic infrastructure demanded by the electronic industry, then this monopoly can be ended.If we wanted to not buy from Asian manufacturers .. there would be nothing left. We are pretty much stuck buying from China and other such areas.
Im always intrigued by the names they give these companies just so they don't sound Chinese.
Looks like the user community needs to write some open bios firmware for PC's, similar to what's available for routers (example: Tomato or DD-WRT).
I don't know of a single computer manufacturer that doesn't use almost entirely Taiwanese or parts (and most parts that are not are made in Korea).That's also my concern. The time has come to put an end to "Made in China" garbage. Even big names like Apple are so dependent on Chinese companies to produce the hardware parts.
It's not just laptops, it's motherboards, hard drives, virtually everything.
