[Hidden-tech] Lenovo pre-installed adware

[Jeff Brand]

I believe it was the Geek Squad's crapware that inspired this tool which 
might help non-techies do it themselves.
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

Windows 8.1's licensing and tools have made it easier to create a clean 
install as well.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/save-yourself-from-your-oems-bad-decisions-with-a-clean-install-of-windows-8-1/

The only questionable step is vendor driver support.

I think that Lenovo's mistakes are severe enough to create some serious 
outcry and change acceptance of bundled software by the general public. 
All it needs to do is cost them more in sales and legal fees than it earns.

On 2/20/2015 7:56 AM, Robert Heller wrote:
>
>
> This whole thread is a clear argument *against* the idea of OEMs
> pre-installing *any* [O/S] software. Not that I expect end-users to be
> installing O/S (or really any) software either (that is often a completely
> different can of worms). What is really needed is a sort of 'Jiffy Lube' type
> of business for computers -- places where non-techies can go to have their
> computers 'serviced' -- from O/S installs to 'regular maintaince' (eg regular
> software updates and general admin work).  Someplace that is a 'disintersted
> third party', that is not in the pay of some outside interest that would have
> any influence relating to which O/S or what O/S (or other software) settings
> or default preferences, etc.
>
> Having an entity with a 'vested' interest installing any software is really a
> bad idea.
>
> At Thu, 19 Feb 2015 19:01:21 -0500 Roger Williams <roger at qux.com> wrote:
>
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>> Those who are concerned their PC may contain this critical vulnerability (all of the recent Lenovo G, U, Y, Z, S, Flex, MIIX, YOGA, and E Series) can check at https://filippo.io/Badfish/. (The website was designed by one of the same researchers who published a site to scan websites for the catastrophic Heartbleed weakness in OpenSSL.)
>>