LG found itself in hot water after its monitors were spotted automatically installing adware onto PCs. Using certain LG monitors would result in a monitor app being installed silently. That app would then show pop-up ads for McAfee.
Backlash against LG was so strong that Microsoft had to step in. While it's quite common to see McAfee preinstalled on a PC or bundled with other software, LG took things further.
We’ve connected with the team at LG and as an immediate next step, they have agreed to disable the McAfee pop-up from their app. We appreciate LG working with us toward a shared goal of a better experience for our mutual customers. We will keep improving here with our ecosystem partners.
Windows chief Pavan Davuluri
The situation was placed in the spotlight because of an investigation by Gamers Nexus. That outlet did an excellent job breaking down the situation. The title of their video, "DO NOT BUY: LG’s Spyware TVs, Monitors, and Wiretapping Concerns," made me curious if people will stop buying LG monitors.
I've seen outrage pointed at LG across the web, but will that lead to an actual boycott or just complaints on social media?
People may be upset by the McAfee ads LG forced onto PCs, but will the outrage be enough to shift buying habits? Take a look at this quick roundup of LG monitor reviews from our sibling sites:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (T3): LG UltraGear 45GX950 review: The Rolls-Royce of gaming monitors
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (Tom's Guide): I just tested this 45-inch OLED gaming monitor — and it's so good it could be your next TV
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (Tom's Hardware): LG UltraGear 52G930B 52-inch 5K gaming monitor review: Extreme in every respect
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (TechRadar): LG 32-Inch UltraGear OLED review: This is the 4K OLED monitor of my dreams
That's a lot of stars to overlook. I understand people's concerns about LG installing an app without notification then showing ads on PCs. I just doubt it will change people's buying habits.
I predict a chorus of "I can turn the ads off" from those who choose to stick with LG monitors. And honestly, I don't blame them. If you've had a monitor work well for years and are looking for a new one, it makes sense to stick with what you know works.
Others will claim that the problem is fixed since Microsoft stepped in and LG stopped pushing McAfee.
The flip side of all this is that as good as LG monitors are, they have to compete with the best computer monitors from other companies. Competition is fierce in the monitor segment, and it won't take much to sway some customers to look at a different brand.
LG is often one of the first companies to make monitors with certain specs. I've covered loads of UltraGear monitors that are the first in one category or another. But the reality is that many monitor companies buy components from the same sources. Heck, quite a few get their displays from LG.
After any LG monitor sits alone as a unique combination of refresh rate, size, or curvature for a while, other companies catch up.
Does LG's adware move cross a line for you, or is it a non-issue now that the pop-ups are gone? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments below.
