A security hole that could allow attackers to access users' personal data was inadvertently placed on Dell computers, the company has admitted.
The hole represented a "profound security flaw" that could allow access to bank details and other personal data, experts said.
Dell has issued guidance on removing the software that produced it.
The news comes after Lenovo was also criticised for pre-installing adware that potentially compromised security.
One user,
posting on Reddit, reported finding that their Dell machine came pre-installed with a self-signed root certificate authority, called "eDellRoot", and the private key associated with it.
'Security vulnerability'
In a
statement released on Monday, Dell acknowledged the vulnerability and linked to a guide on permanently removing the software that caused it.
