Privacy

Malware from Lenovo

The PC manufacturer from China, Lenovo, is apparently installing malware on laptops that it sells. The malware is called Superfish, and it uses a man in the middle attack to compromise the digital certificates on the browser in order for it to serve ads.

more here, here and here.

Yet Another Food Scandal in China

Another day, another food scandal iN China. McDonald's and Yum Brands (Burger King) will stop buying meat products from Shanghai Husi Food Company, which was caught selling chicken and beef past their sell-by date.

Update: McDonald's Japan, KFC, Papa John's and Starbucks China also said they stopped sourcing meat products from Shanghai Husi due to its practice of selling expired meat.

[source, source 2, source 3]

Deadly Vaccines

A Chinese drug company, Shenzhen Kangtai, is under investigation following the deaths of 8 babies who received Hepatitis B vaccines made by the company.

The latest scandal is reminiscent of the melamine-laced infant formula in 2011.

[sources 1, 2]

Smog Makes People Funnier

Smog makes people funnier. At least that's one of the sunny spin being taken by the Chinese propaganda machine, aka CCTV, on China's worsening smog problem - which now has spread to Shanghai after blanketing the capital in gray cloud.

CCTV also cited the following as "benefits" of the smog:

• It unifies the Chinese people.
• It makes China more equal.
• It raises citizen awareness of the cost of China's economic development.
• It makes people more knowledgeable (of things like meteorology and the English word 'haze')

The level of PM2.5 particulate in Shanghai reached 406. The World Health Organization recommends a level of 20 as safe, and any reading above 300 is deemed hazardous.

[source]