posted in Technology

MadeInDex 📰🌎@madeindex@lemmy.world

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/
An LG UltraGear monitor on a white monitorArs TechnicaMicrosoft responds to LG monitors installing McAfee ads on WindowsApp is installed through Windows Update when certain LG monitors connect to a PC.
DocMcStuffin@DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world

Replying to @⁨madeindex@lemmy.world⁩

Obligatory: you can improve your Windows experience by installing Linux.

Non snarky comment: you can disable driver craplets from auto-installing using group policy or the registry.

run gpedit.msc
Computer Configuration
> Administrative Templates
  > System
    > Device Installation

Prevent automatic download of applications associated with device metadata
= Enabled

That will set the following registry key:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Device Metadata]
"PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork"=dword:00000001
en