Security Issue for Lenovo Laptops

wa8yxm wrote:
From what I have seen the first steps after you open a box with a computer in it are..

1 Install a GOOD Firewall, the one bundled is not as good as the one I use (Zone Alarm)
2: (here you can wait till the pre-paid subscription runs out) A good Anti Mal-ware program.. I have a few I use.. Install at least 2 (one right away, and that one should be Malware Bytes free edition) This one is run on demand. I also have a resident program which I will not name. Run Malware Bytes daily.

3: DE-CRAP-AFY.. Get rid of most all the bundled******ware they put on.

4: Instal Apache Open Office (Way better than any Windows product)

Now you can get your choice of Browser,, and News Reader and such.. Do not install a E-Mail client, use web mail (Far more secure and convenient since Web mail is shared across all your devices and even the library should you choose to use their machine)

In my case I also install radio control software (Controls my radios) and some other stuff I need or local use but that's goign to depend on local needs.

Those are good steps, but none of them would have helped in this instance. While your HTTPS connections would no longer be getting intercepted, the vulnerability for others to exploit you would have remained.

When possible, I reformat and re-install from scratch after taking note of what drivers are required. Still, that's a pain for most and beyond the abilities of most average users.