The world’s biggest personal computer manufacturer installed virus-like software on its laptops that was able to intercept personal information, it was claimed yesterday.
The Information Commissioner is to investigate Lenovo, a Chinese computer maker, which has been accused of installing highly intrusive advertising software, or adware, that left customers vulnerable to hackers.
The software, Superfish, uses visual recognition technology to insert its own adverts ahead of commercials that are normally displayed in web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Some users of Lenovo laptops have also reported being hit regularly with intrusive “pop-up” ads.
The software is built by an Israeli company of the same name and Lenovo is believed to make money each time it installs Superfish on one of its