LG to disable McAfee popup on monitors after Microsoft

LG has agreed to disable a popup advertisement for McAfee antivirus software that was appearing on users' computers after they connected certain LG monitors, following public criticism and intervention by Microsoft. The issue, which came to light this month, involved the automatic installation of an LG companion application that displayed the ads without user consent.

Microsoft executive Pavan Davuluri announced on July 24 that the company had contacted LG and that the monitor maker agreed to disable the McAfee popup as an immediate step. Davuluri stated that Microsoft appreciates LG working toward a better experience for mutual customers and will continue to improve with its partners.

The problem was first highlighted by technology reviewers and users who reported that plugging in specific LG UltraGear monitors, some priced over $1,000, triggered Windows to automatically download and install the "LG Monitor App Installer." This program then displayed a popup promoting McAfee's Scam Detector software every time the computer started. Reports indicated the app had been installing via this method for months, with a recent update explicitly listing McAfee as an "additional app" in...