Re: New business grade computer recommendations?

On 8/30/25 12:38 PM, s|b wrote:
> On Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:00:09 -0500, sticks wrote:
> 
>> I personally, would never buy a Lenovo.  Chinese spyware.  Do a search
>> something like "do lenovo computers have chinese spyware in them."
>>
>> Not in my house, that's for sure.
> 
> Because it's better to have American spyware. /s
> 


If you are speaking of the interminable junk manufactures
like to add to Widows 10/11, you can get rid of it with
adwcleaner:

https://downloads.malwarebytes.com/file/adwcleaner


https://search.brave.com/search?q=do+lenovo+computers+have+chinese+spyware+in+them%3Ddo+lenovo+computers+have+chinese+spyware+in+them&summary=1&conversation=299e4295318505c0e6b9c7


Lenovo Spyware Concerns
The question of whether Lenovo computers contain Chinese spyware is 
complex and involves historical incidents, corporate structure, and 
ongoing security concerns.

Lenovo has a documented history of installing problematic software on 
its devices. In the past, the company was found to have pre-installed 
Superfish adware, which acted as spyware by performing man-in-the-middle 
attacks on encrypted web traffic to inject targeted advertisements, 
thereby compromising user security.
  This software could reinstall itself even after a clean OS 
reinstallation, and Lenovo paid fines to settle related charges with the 
Federal Trade Commission.
  More recently, security researchers have identified vulnerabilities in 
Lenovo's UEFI firmware that could allow malicious actors to gain 
persistent access to devices.

While Lenovo is a Chinese company headquartered in Beijing, it is a 
publicly traded corporation with significant international operations, 
including headquarters in North Carolina, USA, and thousands of 
employees in the United States.
  The company has undergone multiple U.S. national security reviews 
(CFIUS) since acquiring IBM's PC business in 2005 and has been a trusted 
vendor to various U.S. government agencies.
  Lenovo denies any ties to the Chinese government or the People's 
Liberation Army, stating it operates independently and is not controlled 
by the Chinese Communist Party.
  Its primary shareholder, Legend Holdings, holds a 36% stake but 
controls only two of twelve board seats and has no operational control 
over the company.

Concerns about Lenovo's devices stem partly from the Chinese 
government's legal requirement for companies to cooperate with 
intelligence services, which some interpret as a potential obligation to 
provide data to the state.
  However, the company maintains that it does not participate in or have 
links to Chinese state-run cyberespionage campaigns.
  Some U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about potential espionage 
risks, leading to requests for the Navy Exchange to stop selling Lenovo 
products, though Lenovo denies these allegations as based on outdated or 
unsubstantiated claims.

Despite these concerns, Lenovo's ThinkPad line, developed primarily in 
the USA, Japan, and Taiwan, is often considered more secure than other 
lines.
  The company also offers physical camera switches on many models for 
added privacy.
  For users with heightened security needs, recommendations include 
wiping the OS and reinstalling it from a trusted source, using Linux, or 
flashing the BIOS to remove potential firmware issues.

In summary, while Lenovo has a history of security lapses involving 
pre-installed software, the company denies current ties to the Chinese 
government and operates under international corporate governance 
standards. The risk of spyware is not inherent to all Lenovo devices but 
is influenced by the specific model, firmware, and user practices.