LENOVO and Superfish

A question about : LENOVO and Superfish

Bad press all over the web.

https://www.ghacks.net/2015/02/19/len...t-certificate/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31533028

https://www.slashgear.com/caught-red-...ters-19369688/

Best answers:

• Ohhh, that's naughty - Phorm all over again but on your PC. I can see a big EU fine coming their way, even possible criminal sanctions under the Misuse of Computer Act.
• Idiots.
  I've bought three Lenovo laptops in my time. I won't be buying anymore.
  Funny thing about consumer trust, eh?
• I have one of the laptops on its way to me in the post. D'oh!
  On the assumption it is affected I gather I should install a clean version of Windows and avoid doing it using the Windows image they supply with the machine.
  So my question is where can I download a legitimate version of Windows 8.1 using the license key that comes with my machine?
• There was a time that I thought Acer were a cheap and awful brand, but then came along Lenovo. Had one laptop from these guys - never again. Dreadful build quality and finding out this just tops it off nicely.
• So far it seems the only option is to:
  1) Uninstall it
  2) Locate and remove the Superfish root certificate.
  [EDIT a better link!] Removal Instructions: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/prod...fish_uninstall
  I would be a lot happier reinstalling Windows as then I would know all the security issues, adware and other assorted bloatware were gone, but without an ISO that is not going to be possible.
• IBM had an excellent reputation, which they passed on to Lenovo, but Lenovo have now thrown it all away.
• I really would love to know how long this has been going on for, especially as I have recommended Lenovo laptops to quite a few people, and on this forum.
  I do know that it wasn't as far back as 2011 when I bought mine, or at least, it isn't installed on the model that I have, which is still a really good laptop.
• I read about this too. Such bad, bad business practice from them. I wonder how much sales it will affeect. It's all so bad.
• Shades of the old Sony Rootkit scandal too.
  End-users should be allowed to purchase laptops without all the bloat from all manufacturers.
• Lenovo issue removal instructions:
  https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-P...n/ta-p/2029206
• Thanks groovyf, buried deep in the comments in that link is an update from Lenovo addressing issues that had been raised with a link to another page for removal of the certificate:
  https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/prod...rity/superfish
• I've followed the instructions groovyf posted and it seems to have got rid of Superfish and the certificate OK from my Yoga 2 Pro (bought in January but I guess it was shipped from Lenovo earlier than that so it hadn't been removed by them), although I hadn't ever noticed any intrusion from it anyway.
• Lol absolutely disgusting from Lenovo.
  Have to say I have a Lenovo laptop which, prior to reading this story, I was extremely happy with.
  Will not be purchasing another one after this escapade, regardless of what they say and do now.