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FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

arstechnica.com

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Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#81

Post by devopsproject »

quuquuquu wrote: post #79
ars wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bank takes no loss. They take the money from the merchant. Banks require merchants to keep a certain amount of money as a deposit with them, specifically for this. The amount varies depending on the type of business the merchant is in (and the size and reliability of the merchant - for example Walmart is probably not required to keep any amount at all).

It sounds like if you are a merchant and don't like chargebacks and deposits, the best idea is to run a cash only business then, if you don't mind turning away cc customers. Strange world!

dont forget the transaction and other fees the merchant must pay :)

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#82

Post by reaperducer »

maxxxxx wrote: post #21
quuquuquu wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

During the peak of frothy VC investments, our hypothetical couch startup will have the money to hire ML and AI experts. 1) Sell the couch at a loss. 2) Acquire customer voice data. 3) Run it through ML/AI 4) ???? 5) Pivot the company.

You could have some inflatable cushions that can only be controlled by the cloud.

Don't laugh. My wife has a pair of internet-connected couch pillows. (They're white, and have LEDs inside so you can change their color with an app.)

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#83

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

reaperducer wrote: post #82
maxxxxx wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could have some inflatable cushions that can only be controlled by the cloud.

Don't laugh. My wife has a pair of internet-connected couch pillows. (They're white, and have LEDs inside so you can change their color with an app.)

At least the worst that could happen aside from them being part of a botnet is that they turn into regular white pillows.

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#84

Post by HillaryBriss »

quuquuquu wrote: post #74
HillaryBriss wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

don't forget the ecosystem. SitBit is building a competitive social relaxation tracker to pair with this couch.

Why on earth have FitBit not cornered the competitive relaxation space

because we're already there.

SitBit: we're not going anywhere.

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#85

Post by SOLAR_FIELDS »

gnl wrote: post #75
sevensor wrote: post #10

Personally, 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.

Same thing here, running both Linux and Windows at different times. The old ThinkPads used to be absolutely great machines in every way. These days I'm strictly on macOS and would recommend a MacBook/Pro to almost anyone, but contrary to many Mac users I'm actually not a huge fan of the hardware (apart from the trackpad and MagSafe, which they killed). If Apple would build a modern laptop in an old school ThinkPad be…

For your friends and family at least I recommend ElementaryOS. It’s a good introduction to the MacOS design philosophy, it runs fast on older hardware, and grandma can function with it relatively quickly with a bit of coaching.

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#86

Post by olyjohn »

lorenzhs wrote: post #40
sevensor wrote: post #10

Personally, 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.

While I agree that Superfish was a disaster, keep in mind that it did not affect the ThinkPad line at all. From what I heard, the consumer and business lines have strong separation inside Lenovo. I have lost all trust in their consumer division, too. But it seems silly to me to discount ThinkPads based on the malware bundled with Lenovo's consumer offerings.

Keep in mind that they only screwed over the consumers because they knew there would be no punishment. They knew that businesses would drop them if they did the same thing to them. They took advantage of people, and would do the same thing to businesses if they knew they could get away with it. Why someone would trust this company at all is beyond me. They tried to screw over your mom and dad, and your family, but that's okay because they aren't a business?

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#87

Post by mattkevan »

maxxxxx wrote: post #80
skykooler wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure! And we could use the same tech for other places where things need inflating, like airbags!

A cloud controlled airbag is brilliant! With enough ML and AI it may even detect a crash. Once you have that figured out you can apply the same technology to parachutes and life vests! This is truly disruptive.

Only as long as there's a persistent data connection.

On losing signal they're programmed to instantly fire, just in case.

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#88

Post by petepete »

devopsproject wrote: post #62
petepete wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The company who sold me a TV sent out an update that embeds advertising in the UI Thanks Samsung.

Issue a chargeback and return it

I've had the TV for ten months now, and bought it from a local shop that I like (Richer Sounds).

I have an ongoing complaint with Samsung, hopefully they'll see some sense.

Until then they're on my blacklist and at every opportunity I'll make it known that their products have ads built in. It's a pity, as the TV is great in every other regard.

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#89

Post by mattkevan »

quuquuquu wrote: post #61
mattkevan wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In app purchases for additional per-seat licences! HealthKit integration! Share the data with your health insurer! "Uh-oh, you exceeded your sitting quota by xx hours this month, so you've been charged a penalty fee of $xx. Don't forget – keep moving to keep saving!" It's a world of opportunity...

Surely there must be a site that floats nuanced and well-formulated posts on satirical and utterly terrible start up ideas, right? I am sensing a market

If Juicero hadn't already existed we would have had to make it up?

Re: FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware

#90

Post by FussyZeus »

CaptSpify wrote: post #72
FussyZeus wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense intended but a lot of these just seem to be really, really powerful machines designed with the idea that if you throw enough power at Ubuntu, it works better. ;)

I don't think I'm clear on what you mean by that? For the issues I commonly have (wifi, audio, video), I don't see how throwing more power at them would really help anything

I should've been more clear: referring to the general performance issues that Desktop linux has versus Windows and Mac OS, not driver issues. Driver issues are obviously a totally different animal.
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