Some owners of LG and Alienware monitors have discovered that their displays can automatically install software on Windows PCs without their knowledge, leading to unwanted McAfee pop-up ads.
The issue came to light after a Reddit user traced the ads on their computer to an “LG Monitor App Installer” that had been installed through Windows Update and the Microsoft Store after connecting an LG monitor. Other users reported similar experiences with LG, Dell and Alienware monitors.
The app cannot be easily removed through the Microsoft Store. Users can stop it from running automatically by disabling it in Windows Startup settings. More permanent fixes include changing Windows Group Policy settings to block automatic app downloads linked to connected devices or disabling the Microsoft Store altogether.
The reports have raised concerns about hardware automatically installing software without user permission, adding to growing complaints about unwanted ads and pre-installed applications on modern devices.
The first involves changing a local group policy setting: navigate to gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation, and enable the setting that prevents automatic download of applications associated with metadata.
