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LG monitors silently install software through Windows Update without user consent (videocardz.com)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/cybersecurity@infosec.pub
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[–] 24 points 3 months ago (9 children)

Same shit as Logitech has done for several years, plug any logitech mouse into a Windows 7/10/11 machine and it will automatically install Logitech Download Assistant without any prompt.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    Is auto-install something Windows debloat tools disable? I've been using the G203 mouse and it's predecessors for years without any "download assistant" getting installed.

    I even had to go to Logitech's website to manually download the software suite so the LEDs would stop flashing and changing colors.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    The LDA won't show up in Add/Remove programs, it is a small DLL that beings up a branded popup by the clock asking you to download the Logitech control software.

    The LDA popup looks like this currently:

    If you google Logitech Download Assistant you will find a lot of posts about it and asking how to uninstall it.

    To check if you have it on your computer, you can open the Task Manager, go into the Startup tab, and check the list there.

    You can also check the System32 folder and look for a file called LogiLDA.dll

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Mine has never tried to install anything automatically.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    What happens is that when you connect a Logitech mouse or keyboard to a Windows 7/10/11 machine for the first time, Windows Update doesn't just download a driver (a .inf file) but also Logitech Download Assistant (a .dll file) and runs it.

    You will then get a branded popup in the system tray prompting you to download the actual control software.

    The LDA software is set to always run in the background, it also doesn't show up in add/remove programs, and is rather annoying to get rid of.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (1 child)

    I’ve only seen this happen with a prompt.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago

    What happens is that when you connect a Logitech mouse or keyboard to a Windows 7/10/11 machine for the first time, Windows Update doesn't just download a driver (a .inf file) but also Logitech Download Assistant (a .dll file) and runs it.

    You will then get a branded popup in the system tray prompting you to download the actual control software.

    The LDA software is set to always run in the background, it also doesn't show up in add/remove programs, and is rather annoying to get rid of.

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    • [–] 2 points 3 months ago

    I love that I bought 4 of these fucking TVs and I think my son's monitor. Those fuckers better give me a refund.

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    14 comments in c/technology@beehaw.org view that post
    [–] 22 points 3 months ago (4 children)

    I wonder what would happen to a person if they were to install software onto LG's computers without their consent.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    A CFA charge.

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    • [+] 16 points 3 months ago* (1 child)
    [removed by mod]
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  • [–] 12 points 3 months ago

    What do you mean "have to?" These companies are making money hand over fist, not paying a large portion of their employees a livable wage, and choose to spy on us for extra profit.

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    • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    That sounds extremely illegal..

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    • [–] 9 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    it puts me off ever buying or recommending an Alienware monitor

    Why would anyone recommend an Alienware monitor? They don't make displays. You're just recommending which branding the display has.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Alienware monitors are Dell monitors, which are usually pretty good in my experience. I don't know what the deal is with Alienware Control Center. It's kind of annoying but it's not spyware.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 months ago* (1 child)

    Right, I'm saying Dell doesn't make displays. Generally LG makes the displays that Dell uses, but apparently they also use Samsung and AU Optronics. But even then, I believe there's some Chinese middle-man OEM actually making the displays, and in certain countries (including the US) Dell buys those and slaps their Dell and Alienware branding on them.

    It makes sense to recommend an LG/Samsung/AUO monitor, it doesn't make sense to generally recommend all Dell or Alienware monitors. Maybe a specific product worked well for you, but you can't make broad statements about all their monitors because the only thing they are sure to have in common is the name brand selling them.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago

    It's more complicated than that. At this point, a Dell/Alienware branded monitor with an LG panel is preferable over an LG branded monitor with an LG panel. Even if Dell doesn't make any panels, the parts they do contribute and their quality standards can make their monitors better quality than other brands that do make their own panels. I think it's the same with Apple. They don't make panels either but their monitors are generally regarded as high quality, if overpriced.

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    • 14 comments in c/technology@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 111 points 2 months ago (4 children)

    Back in my day we called 'software that silently downloads and installs on your computer without your intervention or consent' a computer virus. We would have said 'LG monitors install viruses on your pc' and it would've been kind of a big deal. Fuck, now I feel old.

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  • [–] 22 points 2 months ago

    It's nothing new. I remember some years ago HP did the same thing on HP-branded pcs - it had an 'analytics' program (called Touchpoint iirc) which could be uninstalled via the usual Windows uninstall menu - but it didn't really uninstall, instead somehow making it so the process that runs it wouldn't be visible in Task Manager (only in Process Explorer).

    If you went and hunted down the program and deleted it, it'd be silently reinstalled with the next windows update.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    I remember when computers had a use and were predictable and somewhat understandable.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    I prefer my OS to have multiple ad popups randomly with every program constantly demanding your attention to update or try this new feature. Of course, extra dark patterns convincing you to use AI or cloud storage every time you boot up.

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    • [–] 69 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Checked my monitors brand, then remembered that I use Linux.

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    • [–] 11 points 2 months ago

    Don't currently own any LG brand gear, although I assumed they were a decent brand until recently. This certainly removed them from any consideration in the future, fuck that noise.

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    [–] 36 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    Isn't this old? Is this just regurgitated slop?

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  • [–] 16 points 2 months ago* (2 children)

    Pretty much sounds like it. Microsoft also made them pull back their shenanigans, if I remember correctly.

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    • [–] 27 points 2 months ago

    OLD NEWS! The article dates from Jul 17, 2026.

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    [–] 9 points 2 months ago

    My mouse kept nagging to install their special software until I tracked down a registry key to disable it.

    Hardware vendors, you sell a piece of equipment, quit trying to be a damn marketing company too

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    3 comments in c/security@lemmy.ml view that post
    [–] 6 points 3 months ago

    And not any software, straight up adware.

    And not just any adware, adware that asks you to install McAfee

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    [–] 3 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    There is no way I will ever buy any smart TV or monitor again. My next one it's going to be the dumbest one ever, or it won't be.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    And any smart features you could ever want (and nothing you don't) can be accomplished with an rpi running kdeconnect. I'll never understand why people are so comfortable with IoT unless through ignorance

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    • 3 comments in c/hackernews@lemmy.bestiver.se view that post
    [–] 14 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Reason number 20260718 for using Linux.

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    • [–] 8 points 3 months ago

    "Software" is a stretch, bloatware is probably a better term

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