FTC slaps Lenovo on the wrist for selling computers with secret adware • Hacker News Board

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

#91

Post by codedokode » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 9:19 AM UTC

This is the problem not only with Lenovo. Many mobile apps try to collect as many information as possible (for example, GPS location or WiFi station ids) and save to their servers. There should be a law explicitly forbidding secret collection of information especially if it is not required for app functioning.

I also remember similar case when chinese smartphone manufacturers preinstalled adware on the devices. It was showing ads above browser window to make it look as if it was a part of a webpage (and used Google ads by the way).

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

#92

Post by codedokode » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 9:29 AM UTC

quuquuquu wrote: post #19

maxxxxx wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't give couch manufacturers any ideas! Couches need telemetry too.

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 can collect even more information: measure weight of a customer (so advertisers know who is more likely to buy food), learn how often he uses a couch.

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

#93

Post by codedokode » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 9:31 AM UTC

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.)

Modern technology is so advanced that you cannot connect a phone to a pillow without using a server thousands miles away.

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

#94

Post by codedokode » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 9:39 AM UTC

fortythirteen wrote: post #6

With 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?

Or maybe you won't be able to get a job or take a loan if you don't have social network accounts: "are you hiding something?".

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

#95

Post by chii » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 10:15 AM UTC

codedokode wrote: post #91

This is the problem not only with Lenovo. Many mobile apps try to collect as many information as possible (for example, GPS location or WiFi station ids) and save to their servers. There should be a law explicitly forbidding secret collection of information especially if it is not required for app functioning. I also remember similar case when chinese smartphone manufacturers preinstalled adware on the devices. It wa…

If you install an app which shouldn't require those permissions, but it asks for then anyway, then I would be very wary, to the point of not installing.

The customer needs to punish those apps by voting with their feet.

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

#96

Post by chii » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 10:17 AM UTC

codedokode wrote: post #94

fortythirteen wrote: post #6

With 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?

Or maybe you won't be able to get a job or take a loan if you don't have social network accounts: "are you hiding something?".

"no, i just don't want your company to snoop into my personal life"

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

#97

Post by breakingcups » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 10:35 AM UTC

myopinions wrote: post #33

AlexeyBrin wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your best bet is to buy a laptop from Microsoft (no 3rd party software) or buy an extra Windows license and do a fresh install.

I'm not sure if that's safe either. I installed Windows 10 recently and the install included apps like Facebook and Twitter. In fact a good portion of the start menu was essentially mini-billboards.

Not to mention Candy Crush and a Minecraft trial.

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

#98

Post by CaptSpify » Thu, Sep 07, 2017, 2:23 PM UTC

FussyZeus wrote: post #90

CaptSpify wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think I'm still not sure what you mean, but I'll take a stab at it:

Default Ubuntu has been sluggish for me for a while. Install something more lightweight like xfce and Linux becomes way faster, even on older hardware.

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

#99

Post by King-Aaron » Fri, Sep 08, 2017, 5:29 AM UTC

mattkevan wrote: post #42

maxxxxx wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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...

BRB off to chat to the guys in product dev