Computer hardware giant Lenovo has
been forced to remove hidden adware that it was shipping on its laptops
and PCs after users expressed anger.
The adware - dubbed Superfish - was potentially compromising their security, said experts.
The hidden software was also injecting adverts on to browsers using techniques more akin to malware, they added.
Lenovo faces questions about why and for how long it was pre-installed on machines - and what data was collected.
In a statement : "Lenovo removed Superfish from the preloads of new consumer systems in January 2015.
At the same time Superfish disabled existing Lenovo machines in the market from activating Superfish.
Users began complaining about Superfish in Lenovo's forums in the autumn, and user feedback it acknowledged, "was not positive".
Last month, forum administrator Mark Hopkins told users that "due to some issues (browser pop up behaviour, for example)", the company had "temporarily removed Superfish from our consumer systems until such time as Superfish is able to provide a software build that addresses these issues".
He added it had requested that Superfish issue an auto-update for "units already in market".
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