FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
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Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#2This is in my opinion too weak of a signal to others. Such a deep invasion of user expectations and privacy should not be so easy to get away with, first time or not.
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#3Headline should be: FT allows Lenovo to sell computers with secret hardware again, should they choose to. No one went in jail (try intercepting someone's Https connections) and no crippling fine.
Just an agreement that requires consent...you can drive trucks through the loopholes. "Yes, I want to speed up my internet" is one and 90% would click yes /install.
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#4Buying a windows laptop these days seems like putting your hand in an Alligator Gar filled bog
(also see the other post about the Synaptics driver)
And restoring from the OEM copy is no guarantee it will be clear of all the preinstalled crap
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#5Buying a windows laptop these days seems like putting your hand in an Alligator Gar filled bog (also see the other post about the Synaptics driver) And restoring from the OEM copy is no guarantee it will be clear of all the preinstalled crap
To save others searching for the other post:
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#6With only a very small portion of the population able to both understand the implications of this type of tracking and how to circumnavigate it, I often wonder if there will eventually be a negative consequence akin to not establishing credit through purposely getting in debt.
In 20 years, will you be blocked from opening certain accounts if the company can't find sufficient mined data on you?
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#7Agree with the other commenters here that requiring consent and asking for new hardware to be audited isn't really anywhere near enough of a punishment.
I've read through the full settlement here: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/1523134_len...
As far as I can tell they've just been ordered to do things they should've been doing already (security testing, asking for consent). Is anyone familiar enough with the relevant US laws in play here to explain why there was no harsher punishment or fine?
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#8Buying a windows laptop these days seems like putting your hand in an Alligator Gar filled bog (also see the other post about the Synaptics driver) And restoring from the OEM copy is no guarantee it will be clear of all the preinstalled crap
I love, love love my Windows desktop (home built BEAST for gaming) but anytime I'm doing work, I have my Macbook at my palms. Unless Apple continues to tank the Macbook (I currently have the Pro 2014 model) I'll never buy a Windows laptop again.
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#9Headline should be: FT allows Lenovo to sell computers with secret hardware again, should they choose to. No one went in jail (try intercepting someone's Https connections) and no crippling fine. Just an agreement that requires consent...you can drive trucks through the loopholes. "Yes, I want to speed up my internet" is one and 90% would click yes /install.
It's really crazy, isn't it???
The company that makes/sells me a couch doesn't currently install a microphone in the couch, so that they can analyze my conversations and sell my data to advertisers.
Should they start trying? All of these tech companies are getting away with it!
Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware
#10Personally, they've lost my business. I used and loved Thinkpads for many years, but I no longer use them and now recommend against their purchase. Lenovo has a huge trust gap to repair.