MESSAGE
DATE | 2015-02-26 |
FROM | Ruben
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SUBJECT | Re: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] Lenovo Superfish
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I have one half finished Levono laptop that I was installing at the hack meeting at CCNY. It is not coming up with X11 on Manjaro with openrc so I have some work cut out for myself
Want to see the practice questions of my Allgorithms midterm.
Ruben
On 02/26/2015 12:33 PM, Robert Menes wrote: > Putting it as simply as possible: > > This is why I never, ever run the preinstalled OS on any computer. I > just wipe and install a F/OSS operating system, or if need be, a non-OEM > edition of the OS. > > A lot of the preinstalled components are completely worthless, anyway. > > --Robert > > On Feb 26, 2015 12:22 PM, "Ruben Safir" > > wrote: > > > http://www.cnet.com/news/lenovo-hit-by-lawsuit-over-superfish-adware/ > > http://www.cnet.com/news/lenovo-hit-by-lawsuit-over-superfish-adware/ > Lenovo may find itself in a courtroom over its Superfish adware fiasco. > > One lawsuit filed in federal court last week charges both Lenovo and > Superfish with violating wiretap laws and trespassing on personal > property, Ars Technica reported Monday. In another case, a legal firm > has launched a class action investigation over potential claims against > Lenovo's actions. > > The Chinese PC maker has found itself in hot water following last week's > revelations that many of its PCs include a software program called > Superfish Visual Discovery. Considered either adware or spyware, > Superfish tracks your Web searches and browsing activity to place > additional ads on the sites you visit. But the software also installs > its own root certificate that leaves affected PCs more vulnerable to > malware attacks. > > Lenovo has apologized for the problem and has begun work to resolve it. > "We messed up badly," said Peter Hortensius, Lenovo's chief technology > officer, said last week. > > The world's biggest computer maker, Lenovo has managed to earn a hefty > profit and significant presence in the sluggish PC market. The company's > laptop lineup has garnered generally good reviews. But the fact that > Lenovo installed such software on its PCs could do a fair amount of > damage to both its reputation and sales. Legal defense could also cost > the company. > > The individual suit filed February 19 in U.S. District Court in the > Southern District of California by blogger Jessica Bennett charges that > the Superfish software tracked her Internet use, invaded her privacy and > damaged her computer. Specifically, Bennett said that she was writing a > blog post on her PC when she noticed ads involving "scantily clad women" > on her client's website. Later, Bennett said, she was working on a > different client site when she saw the same set of ads, making her > realize that it was her own computer that was infected by some type of > spyware. > > Her lawsuit, which seeks a class action status and jury trial, charges > Lenovo with the following: > > Defendants' Spyware and popup advertisements decrease productivity > by requiring that hours be spent figuring out how to get them off of a > computer, closing advertising windows, and waiting for a slower machine > to operate. Furthermore, computer users are forced to keep their > computers running longer (due to the slowed performance) which utilizes > more electricity, decreases the useful life of a computer, and causes > increased Internet access charges. The cumulative impact of not only > multiple ads, but also the threat of future ads and monitoring, impedes > computer usage. > > Meanwhile, the class action investigation launched by the New York-based > Rosen Law Firm is looking for consumers who purchased the affected > Lenovo PCs and want to participate in a class action lawsuit. The firm > charges that the Superfish adware "exposes the computer user to serious > security vulnerabilities that could result in the theft of users' login > and passwords, and other sensitive data that a user transmits online, as > well as a degraded internet experience caused by it downloading and > injecting third party ads and pop-up windows." > > Lenovo PC owners can determine if the Superfish software is installed on > their machines and then remove it by following the steps in this CNET > article. Lenovo has also published its own instructions on finding and > removing the software. > > A Lenovo spokesperson told CNET on Tuesday that the company does not > comment on litigation. > > Tags: > Security > Computers > Lenovo > > Featured Video > Tech Culture > What the FCC Net neutrality rules will mean for Internet users > There may soon be new rules on how the Internet should work and be > regulated. On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission will > likely pass new Net neutrality rules that would keep the Internet open > and reclassify broadband as a public utility. CNET's Maggie Reardon and > Sumi Das on what the rules will mean for consumers. Watch Video > About the author > Lance Whitney mugshot > Lance Whitney > > twitter > > Journalist, software trainer, and Web developer Lance Whitney writes > columns and reviews for CNET, Computer Shopper, Microsoft TechNet, and > other technology sites. His first book, "Windows 8 Five Minutes at a > Time," was published by Wiley & Sons in November 2012. See full bio > > Discuss Lenovo hit by lawsuit over Superfish adware > 67 comments > Log in > 171 people following > >
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