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LG will remove McAfee ads from monitor software
LG will remove McAfee pop-ups from its monitor app after Microsoft and Windows 11 users flagged unwanted installer behavior.
Image: ITzine
LG has agreed to disable McAfee pop-up advertising in its monitor application after Microsoft intervened over complaints from Windows 11 users.
The issue surfaced last week following an automatic Windows 11 update. According to Ars Technica, some LG monitors—including models from 2024—installed an “LG Monitor App Installer” when connected to a PC without clearly obtaining the user’s permission. The installer then began displaying ads on the Windows desktop.
Windows chief Pavan Davuluri said on X that Microsoft’s team had contacted LG, which immediately agreed to remove the McAfee pop-up from its application. He added that Microsoft would continue working with ecosystem partners to improve the user experience.
How the LG monitor installer triggered complaints
LG told Windows Latest that its installer does not install McAfee automatically and cannot do so without the user’s consent. The company did not explain, however, why its own advertising application could be installed without equally clear approval.
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The episode highlights a familiar strategy across consumer electronics: manufacturers attempt to generate revenue after hardware has been sold. Trial antivirus software, advertising panels, proprietary assistants and “control centers” are often bundled into setup processes, with users discovering them only after configuring a device.
That approach drew particular criticism for LG monitors. Unlike laptops, which commonly ship with multiple preinstalled applications, monitors are generally expected to remain relatively neutral peripherals. Pop-up advertising can also create concerns about security, privacy and system reliability, beyond the immediate annoyance.
Community pressure and the $1,200 monitor
Microsoft’s involvement matters because the problem had begun to affect perceptions of Windows 11, not just LG’s software. Community backlash added further pressure: after Gamers Nexus demonstrated the issue on a $1,200 monitor, the product’s rating on LG’s website fell to one star and its price was cut by nearly half.
The remaining question is whether LG will remove the pop-ups only from the current application version or reconsider the monitor installer itself. After the incident, similar unwanted software appearing on Windows 11 systems is likely to be judged against a case Microsoft had to address publicly.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via ITzine
