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Lenovo Statement on Superfish

news.lenovo.com

111–120 of 312 posts

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#112
post #50
post #13

I was considering getting a Lenovo X1 Carbon to run linux on. I'd be installing a clean image, so no Superfish, but I still don't want to give money to Lenovo right now. What alternative linux laptops are there? (aside from macs)

I have an hp elitebook, works great with ubuntu

We're using almost exclusively HP here: the EliteBooks always had/have crappy trackpad buttons (to the point of being bothersome). I noticed this in their EliteBook line since 10 years, so they just don't care about it. The keyboard is so-so but acceptable, and the screen of the Folio/G1 ultrabook series is downright bad (strong blue color cast with large sample variability). You can get a matte filter and a replaceable battery in an ultrabook line, which is very good to have, but that stops here. Dell and Lenovo ship way better screens and keyboards for the same specs, which I would definitely recommend for a serious programmer.

The 840 G1 I'm trying now has some ACPI and ATA issues currently on any stock kernel (google for more details). HP is definitely not even trying to test his high-end laptop line on Linux.

I was quite ok with the Thinkpad line, but this move from Lenovo would now tend me to Dell.

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#113

> Users are not tracked nor re-targeted Have a look at code delivered by Superfish: https://www.superfish.com/ws/sf_preloader.jsp https://www.superfish.com/ws/sf_code.jsp And grep for track and retarget. Just two snippets: var url = sfDomain + "trackSession.action?userid=" + similarproducts.b.qsObj.userid + "&sessionid=-10&action=ud_host_failed"; and: function isRetargetingEnabled(){ if( similarproducts.b.enableRetar…

LOL

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#114
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly no. Businesses will still buy Thinkpads like candies.

Yeah and businesses run their own Windows images. Whatever software is preloaded doesn't matter.

Unless their Windows image is based on the out-of-the-box OEM install.

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#115
post #13

I was considering getting a Lenovo X1 Carbon to run linux on. I'd be installing a clean image, so no Superfish, but I still don't want to give money to Lenovo right now. What alternative linux laptops are there? (aside from macs)

The Librem should be shipping in April if you can wait: https://www.crowdsupply.com/purism/librem-laptop

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#116

The problem with the statement is that Lenovo owners need to be aware of the news to find it. I'm on Lenovo's mailing list and haven't seen a similar statement in my inbox with remedial instructions. I was only half-lucky with Superfish. I bought my Y50 before Xmas and removed Superfish and all other non-essential software but didn't know about the certificate, which I deleted today. Sadly, I don't think the typical…

Return it.

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#117

"Superfish was included [...] to help customers potentially discover interesting products while shopping". Wow how thoughtful and helpful of them. I don't understand the point of bloatware. Are the manufacturers making a ton of money off of them or something? How much could bloatware writers possibly be offering to make it worth uglifying your brand?

Yes, "ton of money" meaning a few grand. I think manufacturers are selling their reputation for too cheap.

There of course is a point that each manufacturer would like to provide some added value through software that would set them apart from other vendors - because hardware competition is so fierce - but unfortunately their priorities for selecting the vendors they use are really bad. Much of the crap is just horrible, and I don't recall seeing anything really useful recently.

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#118
post #4

> We have thoroughly investigated this technology and do not find any evidence to substantiate security concerns. I try to be measured around here, as hard as I can. I can't formulate a polite way to respond to this claim. Lenovo, you are full of shit, and maliciously so. There is no excuse, nor forgiveness, for what you've done here.

Indeed. I have been buying IBM and then Lenovo Thinkpads for ages. I hate the thought that my next machine will be another brand. Lenovo: One customer lost. More to be lost.

Why stop buying Thinkpads? Lenovo have acknowledged the issue and are now trying to resolve it. Everybody makes mistakes but how they fix those problems tells you a lot about the culture of the company.

Lenovo also made a terrible mistake in removing the physical click buttons, but is now reintroducing them across their entire laptop range for 2015. What I see is a company willing to listen and admit their mistakes.

Can the same be said of other vendors, such as Apple?

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#119
post #13

I was considering getting a Lenovo X1 Carbon to run linux on. I'd be installing a clean image, so no Superfish, but I still don't want to give money to Lenovo right now. What alternative linux laptops are there? (aside from macs)

The Dell Precision M3800 can come with ubuntu preloaded (which actually subtracts ~$100)

It's more comparable to a macbook pro than the air though.

Also this 20% off coupon works: MXPX2T1N9HGH12

Re: Lenovo Statement on Superfish

#120
post #4

> We have thoroughly investigated this technology and do not find any evidence to substantiate security concerns. I try to be measured around here, as hard as I can. I can't formulate a polite way to respond to this claim. Lenovo, you are full of shit, and maliciously so. There is no excuse, nor forgiveness, for what you've done here.

Indeed. I have been buying IBM and then Lenovo Thinkpads for ages. I hate the thought that my next machine will be another brand. Lenovo: One customer lost. More to be lost.

I love my Lenovo X1 Carbon. It's a really nice machine. I do run linux so I know I'm not the average user, but they haven't lost my business despite this being an epic screw-up. I think they make good machines and I'll continue to buy from them in the future, but I'll be reformatting immediately just like I've always done with any PC I've ever bought from Dell, Gateway, Lenovo, etc, so I don't have to deal with the bloat they put on their machine images.
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