Home / Technology / LG Monitors Hijack PCs With Adware via Windows Update
LG Monitors Hijack PCs With Adware via Windows Update
20 Jul
Summary
- LG monitors are reportedly installing adware through Windows Update.
- The software pushes ads for McAfee scam protection and other LG services.
- LG's privacy policy suggests potential tracking of user activity.
LG monitors have begun automatically installing adware on user PCs, with reports surfacing over the past several weeks. This "LG Monitor App Installer" surreptitiously arrives via Windows Update, pushing desktop pop-up ads for services such as McAfee scam protection. A high-end LG UltraGear model, costing nearly $1,200, reportedly installed the app without user consent or notification.
This pre-installed software, described as bloatware and adware, also promotes other LG applications like its Channels streaming service. Reports indicate the ads appear on every boot and have been observed on both recent and three-year-old LG monitor models. LG's associated privacy policy suggests the company may track device usage and online activity.
This practice raises significant privacy concerns, as users expect monitors to function independently of software that could track their behavior. LG's approach mirrors smart TV tactics, aiming to monetize user engagement by serving ads and potentially collecting data, transforming consumers into a product.
