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IF YOU’VE BOUGHT a Levono device in recent times, then it may have come with adware known as Visual Discovery by Superfish, and it’s a major problem.
Effectively, Superfish is a software add-on which serves to bring up extra ads while you’re browsing a site, even if it’s a secure HTTPS site.
However, the flaws in its security would allow any hacker to carry out man-in-the-middle attacks, which allows them to both intercept messages as well as alter them or include their own messages. This means that private and secure information like passwords, financial details and personal information could be intercepted.
Superfish wasn’t intended as malware. Lenovo has said it was designed to show targeted ads by analyzing images of products that a user might see on the web and then presenting “identical and similar product offers that may have lower prices.” Lenovo said the software doesn’t track users or collect any identifying information.
But some users initially complained the software shows unwanted “pop-up” ads. And this week, several independent experts reported that Superfish works by substituting its own security key for the encryption certificates that many websites use to protect users’ information. “This means that anyone affected by this adware cannot trust any secure connections they make,” researcher Marc Rogers wrote on his blog.
What’s worse, experts said, is that Superfish appears to re-use the same encryption certificate for every computer, which means a hacker who cracked the Superfish key could have broad access to a variety of online transactions.
The CEO of Errata Security, Robert Graham discovered that it allowed him to intercept encrypted communications of anyone using Superfish by being near them at a cafe WiFi hotspot.
In a statement, Lenovo said it stopped the preloads back in January models and listed the models Superfish would have appeared on.
We thought the product would enhance the shopping experience, as intended by Superfish. It did not meet our expectations or those of our customers. In reality, we had customer complaints about the software. We acted swiftly and decisively once these concerns began to be raised. We apologize for causing any concern to any users for any reason – and we are always trying to learn from experience and improve what we do and how we do it.
How to remove it
If you do own a Lenovo computer and want to remove it, there are a few methods to use. The easiest way to check is to use a web service from password manager LastPass, which will tell you if your computer is safe or not.
If you do have it installed, then it details how exactly you can uninstall both the programme and the certificates it uses. Even if it comes up as safe, it’s worth delving into control panel just to be on the safe side.
Once that’s done, it’s recommended that you change your passwords to any online services that you use. You could use a password manager like LastPass to create more complex passwords or other services like 1Password or KeePass.
(Additional reporting by AP)
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Anyone sad enough to watch deserves liver failure!!
People like drinking and getting really drunk, it’s fun. This is a reality.
i agree, but recently i have become worried that i might have bowel cancer, coz an ad on the telly told me to
Tallafornia is enough to turn people off drinking.
I watched a minute to see what it was about. It was enough for me to think about removing my tv altogether…..scumbags on tv
to be honest, I these shows are more about being scripted than reality TV. I seriously doubt it it true to real life, and I seriously doubt the majority of Irish youth would idolise such behaviour
Em, actually I’d say if you found yourself in a dublin nightclub in the early hours of a saturday morning, you might realise that a lot of Irish youth try to emulate such behaviour. My only point would be, that shows like this might show people how stupid they look when they get that drunk and act like that!
But Antoinette are they not people who are already drunken knobs? It’s not a TV show that is making them behave that way.
Maybe they should be made drink their own fake tan.
I don’t watch any of this tripe. But if watching them influences how you drink at home, then I’m pretty sure there is no hope for you in the real world.
I think Soaps are really bad for it too, time was when something happened they put the kettle on! Now after a murder or a fire they all break open the Ernest and Gallo.
Now to someone may watch Eastenders and go I wish I was like that moderately attractive single Mum with a sister in prison and no real prospects in life. They might just about. But who would watch the cretins on Tallafornia and think to themselves that they want to be like one of them? Does anyone really?
Unfortunately yes. They didn’t just make these people up. we’ve all known a few in our time.
Ive known some alright but they didn’t end up like that from watching a TV show, they were always knobs. Do you really think many people watching Tallafornia really aspires to that?
No they set a bad example for human existence period.
No they promote sterilisation and euthanasia!!
I think it sets a bad example for how to live your life….
Seems like wine companies have big share of eastenders and Corey street scripting. Glass of red is the new fag break.
Biggest load of crap ever put on the telly watched 5 mins to much of it!
I said that BLEEEEP also had a penchant for a few BLEEEEPS himself and it was kinda hypocritical to be calling BLEEEEP drink sodden.
Agh hey did it again!
“Your Say” Unless we don’t like your comment. Then it’s deleted without explanation.
What’d you say?
It would make you turn to drink just thinking about all the people who watch it religiously and talk about it all week. Fucking pathetic morons.
People drink at home cus it’s too expensive to drink out !!! I would much rather sit at home with friends and have a good natter and a laugh then sit in a smelly night club wer ya spend about 100 euro on a few drinks !! Bottle of vodka from Aldi and a bottle of coke 20euro !!! That’s why I drink at home anyway!!
and I do like a drink on Friday evening I work hard and deserve it !
I dont worry about myself of course!
but there’s no doubt that its peddling an infinitely watchable bad behaviour stereotype that appeals to 16-22 year olds! which is bad example and bad ethics – but more importantly its rubbish television!
‘twould drive ya to the drink if you gave it the time of day
ha ha WILLIAM ! BRILL i agree totally !!!!!!!!!!!!!! pass me a kag and a carafe of wine S T A T !! lol
have your say