Microsoft intervenes as LG agrees to disable McAfee pop-up ads on Windows
5 verified2 unconfirmed1 contested
Microsoft has stepped in after reports that LG monitors were automatically installing software that displayed pop-up ads for a McAfee trial on Windows 11 computers. The app, called LG Monitor App Installer, was reportedly being pushed to PCs through a Windows Update alongside monitor driver updates without explicit user permission. Complaints surfaced on Reddit and were amplified by a video from YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, which replicated the behavior multiple times on several systems. Microsoft’s Windows and devices EVP Pavan Davuluri stated that the company connected with LG, and LG agreed to immediately disable the McAfee pop-up from the app. LG issued a statement defending its software, saying McAfee is not installed automatically and requires user consent. The incident highlights broader concerns about hardware manufacturers using automatic driver updates to install promotional software.
What’s verified
LG Monitor App Installer reportedly installs itself via Windows Update alongside monitor driver updates.
The app displayed pop-up ads for a 30-day free trial of McAfee on affected systems.
Microsoft’s Pavan Davuluri said LG agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up as an immediate step.
Complaints about the pop-ups appeared on Reddit and were replicated by Gamers Nexus in a video.
The app also showed ads for other LG software on rare occasions, including LG Switch and LG Calibration Studio.
Where accounts differ
LG stated in an uncredited statement that McAfee is “not installed automatically” and “is never installed without the user’s explicit consent,” requiring an active choice to proceed. User reports and the Gamers Nexus replication indicated the pop-up ads appeared on every boot without apparent user action. The sources present these as opposing accounts; neither source names the other.
Not yet confirmed
Whether LG will remove the LG Monitor App Installer entirely or only the McAfee pop-up. Source 1 notes that removing the McAfee ads does not address the broader issue of a peripheral installing ad-pushing software, but no other source confirms or contradicts this concern.
The exact timeline of when the auto-installing issue first appeared: one source references reports dating back to 2024, while another notes the app recently received an update mentioning McAfee.
Misconceptions
LG’s statement directly addresses the misconception that McAfee is installed automatically without user consent, asserting that installation requires explicit user action. However, user reports contradict this claim by describing pop-ups that appear without consent.
Key figures
Pavan Davuluri, EVP of Windows and devices at Microsoft
Steve Burke, editor-in-chief of Gamers Nexus (mentioned in video replication)
Sources: Ars Technica, The Verge, theregister.com
