Microsoft responds to LG monitors installing McAfee ads on Windows

cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/50166453

Most “Smart” TVs use Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), essentially taking snapshots every 10+ms of what you watch and hear, then forwarding & selling that data to companies for ads, etc. I now feel it’s only a matter of time before this “feature” finds its way to our ever “smarter” PC monitors.

LG with the help of Windows is already installing adware when the right Device ID is detected.

☑️ To disable ACR on TV: www.zdnet.com/…/how-to-disable-acr-tv/

arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/microsoft-responds-to-lg-monitors-installing-mcafee-ads-on-windows/

You know what prevents LG monitors from installing a McAfee popup ad on your machine?

Linux.

😀 👍 for now, they probably looking for a way as we speak!

That would be classified as malware, as it is installing something on my system without my desire, consent, or approval.

wonder if they could bypass it by laying the ads directly (hardware level) over any screen input haha

They can, they would just need an excuse to make people connect the monitor to the internet to get new ads to be worth the trouble of implementing it.

HDMI and USB C are used in monitors. Both can transmit more than just the image data, e.g. tunneling an Ethernet connection. Not sure if Display Port also supports that