use AIM? you have Viewpoint.
 

A Viewpoint Media Player message popped up on my screen and I never installed it. This prompted a search. I found this:


I think it's a well-written and expressive piece.


Crappy Viewpoint Media Player
Stupid Freaking Auto Installing Spy/Software

I was merrily scrolling through my Add/Remove programs list trying to free some hard drive space by deleting unused programs. I am a virtual packrat, hoarding programs "just in case", or "maybe one day I'll use it". Towards the end I see a program called Viewpoint Media Player. Never downloaded and installed this. Never saw it before. Immediately I knew it was some junk spyware program that somehow got onto my system and didn't get caught by my spyware deleting programs.

So, like any sensible person with a question and an internet connection, I headed to google.com. There I eventaully got to an anti-spyware page that said Viewpoint was bundled with the new version of AIM, which I had downloaded some weeks ago.

Damn. It.

The AIM(AOL Instant Messenger) installer didn't say anything about other programs being installed on my computer. Most likely my firewall stoppped it from sending any random info out but I can't be sure what the damn thing has done.

Here is my privacy policy: I do not want any type of crap on my computer unless I specifically OK it. I do not want anything installed without my permission. I don't want some poorly programmed piece of crap crashing my computer, changing my bookmarks and homepage, and making itself part of the operating system so I can't delete it without instructions from the internet. I do not want programs that record what I am doing. I don't want programs accessing the internet at random intervals to send data to its home servers. I don't care if "At no point is the CUID connected to a user's name, email address, or other personal contact information". I don't freaking believe what is written in the privacy policy (which I didn't even get a chance to read since it installed without my knowledge), nor do I trust your abilities to safeguard my personal data even if you are telling the truth.

When can you install something on my computer? If you get within arms length distance of my computer and can install it before I cave your head in with a baseball bat, then I will allow it.

Anyway, I went to Add/Remove programs, highlighted it, and hit Remove.

Then I went to my file search utility and told it to look for anything with the name "Viewpoint". There were two or three separate folders still on my hard drive with the Viewpoint name. Lazy pieces of crap were too freaking lazy to program the remove utility properly and actually have it REMOVE the damn program. I had to delete the folders manually after making sure that nothing important was in them. Most likely AIM will still function normally over the next few days but now I have a nagging what-if to deal with. F--kers. The both of them.

That is why I like freeware but not adware or spyware. Freeware is usually all about respecting the user. Consider: I have a popup blocker, server proxy that stops internet ads and other annoying internet inventions like auto-playing looping music and scripts that change your bookmarks. I have a firewall. I never download any program unless I am sure it is an official patch/program or that it is a widely known and used freeware program. Yet this thing still got onto my computer and I haven't noticed it for days or weeks. Makes me wonder how many computers are now happily sending info to their home servers. Don't worry too much. I'm quite sure the spyware authors are hard at work making sure that "At no point is [your] CUID connected to a user's name, email address, or other personal contact information".

addendum:
Some people are still having problems even after they delete Viewpoint. The only thing actions I can recommend is after going to Add/Remove and removing Viewpoint to go to Start > Find > Files & Folders and search for "Viewpoint". Delete anything in there that you think is part of the Viewpoint Media Player program. If you still have problems try these spyware removing programs:

Spybot
Adaware

from www.joeuser.com
..........

I removed it with add/remove programs.

Bugs me when stuff is installed on my machine by supposedly reputable - or at least big player - companies...

Thanks! I always wondered where the hell Viewpoint came from. It doesn't bother me too much, but I do like to know when something is installed on my PC! Oh well, I'll keep using AIM...I can't stand the third-party AIM programs out there.

-Lasereth

Thanks for the heads up, I'm using an older version of aim (couple of versions back) only because I read about the newer ones having Wildtangent, but I never noticed about the viewpoint software that you mentioned (FYI: I do have it installed on AIM version 5.2.3722). Makes me want to go and downgrade Aim or try one of the thrd-party aim programs.

In case you want to try older versions of aim http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=aim

I finally upgraded to the new AIM. It has the option of not installing some of their third party shit, then I have DeadAIM installed too. Thanks for the heads up on the viewpoint, I'll delete that now.

Viewpoint Media Player is not spyware, though.
It's a very cool plugin that allows you to see compact 3D stuff.
It's an integral part of neat programs like Adobe Atmosphere, if you're familiar.
I've done quite a bit of work with their products & really love their tools.
I'm not sure what AIM is doing with viewpoint stuff, but it's harmless. Check out www.viewpoint.com.

Of course there's alternatives like [URL=http://gaim.sf.net]Gaim[/UR:L] and Trillian.

I know Gaim's spyware-free. I'm pretty sure Trillian is, although I'm not positive.

Maybe so... but I still didn't willingly install it, and that pisses me off to no end.

Actually, you *did* willingly install it, you just didn't know it.

I guarantee that SOMEWHERE in the TOS that you're SUPPOSED to read when you install AIM, it has a provision for "necessary software for AIM functionality," or some bullshit like that. So you agreed to install Viewpoint.

OOPS. Shoulda read the fine print :p

I agree that it's a little weird, because I've never seen AIM use Viewpoint, but I don't agree that they installed it without your permission.

I will second the recommendation for Gaim. I had been using Trillian, but I just really didn't like their menu structure. Gaim is easily my favorite IM client out there, and as such, I use it in Linux and Windows.

Thanks for the heads-up. Is that the damn annoying media player that comes with AIM and sometimes startles you by playing audio/video ads?? I removed it under add/remove programs and after a search still found viewpoint.exe under [C:\Program Files\AIM\Sysfiles]. Hope it's gone for good now, maybe I should switch to GAIM...

GAIM is good, but I've found the Win32 port to have a little too large memory foot print. I think the problem is a lot of the GTK and other shared libs aren't natively available in Windows so they have to be statically linked in. This causes it to be significantly more bulky than the official client. I agree though, GAIM is much nicer, I just wish it wasn't so heavy weight.