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On 21/08/15 11:07, Dan Smith wrote: > And there's me who has just ordered a Thinkpad T520... > > On Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 9:12 AM, Julian Hall <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:linux@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: > > Hi All, > > Received this from a friend. > > Julian > > > -------- Forwarded Message -------- > Subject: HP and Lenovo caught installing malware in the BIOS > Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2015 08:53:36 +0100 > > So it can't be removed even by reformatting your hard drive... > > Apparently this was mandated by Microsoft... > > I always said that UEFI was a thoroughly bad concept as it allows > individual OEMs (as well as hackers and spies) to install non-removable > crapware. > > The bottom line is that you're much better off with old machines with a > traditional BIOS. UEFI is just a hacker's paradise :( > > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/12/lenovo_firmware_nasty/ > > Fortunately, this time it only affects systems running Windows 8 or > above. Windows 7 and Linux are unaffected as the malware is run from the > Windows stack, but they could have just as easily run it from the UEFI > itself and then it would be cross-platform :( > > Lenovo have released an updated firmware patch that (allegedly) removes > this. > > This seems to be a feature of Windows 8 OEM machines (desktops as well > as laptops), not specific to Lenovo or HP (They were just the ones where > it was discovered first) > > Not sure if it exists in the UEFI of OEM motherboards - that would seem > unlikely, but you never know. > > -- > > All government snoopers have very small penises > > > > > > -- > The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG > http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list > FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq > > > > There is a list of affected machines (Thinkpad are jot affected) http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=2013 with a tool to remove the crapware: for notebooks http://support.lenovo.com/nz/en/downloads/ds104370 for desktops: https://support.lenovo.com/nz/en/downloads/ds104373 -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- All e-mails including their file attachments are scanned for viruses uspam using ClamAV's scan engine. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq