Is Viewpoint Spyware?

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I am guilty of in this instance while downloading AOL Instant messenger of allowing it to load to my computer without checking. I am an advanced user and should know better!! Great reminder and very helpful article. Its being toasted off my pc as I type this!

I am guilty of in this instance while downloading AOL Instant messenger of allowing it to load to my computer without checking. I am an advanced user and should know better!! Great reminder and very helpful article. Its being toasted off my pc as I type this!

Administrator,

"They didn't ask for it."
The vmp is not some bundled program. The vmp is what makes some of the graphical features of aim and aol possible. If you call aol they will tell you that it is not recommended that you remove the vmp. The VMP is part of the Aol software suite. If you agree to install aol or aim then you agree to install viewpoint because viewpoint is part of that software suite. I can not believe a thread exist over this. In my eyes it is like we are talking about the flash player, quicktime, realplayer, etc... Same exact thing except that the VMP is better!

Aol:
"To create the SuperBuddies, AOL tapped professional computer animators at Glendale, Calif.'s Creative Capers Entertainment and New York-based Viewpoint, which also s providing the 3D technology powering the icons. AOL has been embedding Viewpoint's graphics engine in its software since America Online version 7.0, released in 2002."
http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/2228211

AIM:
"We're developing new Expressions that we're going to release that will incorporate ViewPoint technology," Mains said. "You're going to see us do some interesting things with ViewPoint technology, kind of like with 'Eight Legged Freaks,' that will allow people to even further personalize the AIM experience."
http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/1403501

"They don't know why it's on their machine."
Here I see your point. People are confused. Okay fine but do any of these people know what navapsvc.exe, or vsmon.exe is? I doubt it. So why is the thread not about that? For the record one is a norton process and the other a zone lab process. My point? Well, I think it is obvious. I could sit here all day and ask people if they know what specific file names are and label the ones that we do not know as spyware. The bottom line is that the vmp is on over 120 million computers and it is not a brand name only because of how seamless it runs. If flash didn't always ask you to update it do you think people would be familiar with it? Kind of Ironic that a more sophisticated program that updates itself is the one that receives the scarlet letter. lol - it really is crazy. Understandable only because of the mass amount of garbage-ware going around. Many users have been inconvenienced over recent years - me being one of them. Although, I have to really stress the fact that Viewpoint does not fall in this category.

"Their firewall is suddenly reporting that it's attempting to access the internet."

I am really glad to see that you appreciate the "auto update" feature as a good thing. They are one of the pioneers of auto update feature.

For those of you that are wondering what the heck viewpoint does please check out the link I provided below. This is possible because of viewpoint technology. Really play with it. It is from sony's site.

http://www.viewpoint.com/pub/demos/sony_style/

Best,
Michael

The thing is I DON'T WANT a program that updates itself apart from the windows updates. Why don't you give us the option upon install to turn off updates or update manually, or better yet not install it if we don't want it. At least let the person know that they are getting it for goodness sake, if it's using resources, they should know. I'm a very paranoid user when it comes to this and I still didn't notice it installed until just now. I have windows updates set to tell me when one is available and when it is ready to install. I like this control. If my computer or internet is a little slower during this time, I know why. The best way to allay people's fears about it being spyware is to make it not act like spyware. I have been using a really old version of AIM for a long time now, luckily I had saved it. I just couldn't stand the ads and all the movies that would just pop on my screen and even with sound!! If my speakers were turned up.... And now the expressions and new smileys and everything else just adds to the gloat. I mean what's the point of having a fast computer if it gets bogged down by lots of crap (believe me I've seen it). I'm not blaming viewpoint for that, but AIM. The point is, people like to control their computers themselves, especially because of all the spyware that is out there. Recently, my parents' computer, which I had built myself, became crippled with very nasty spyware. After a few days of fruitless work, google and newsgroup help etc. I had to do a clean install of XP! couldn't do a repair, due to particularly nasty spyware, and I'm very experienced with helping people with spyware. I even found one of my friends had bought a new computer because of their problems with spyware. With all the time I've put into that computer, you better believe I don't want that to happen again! If you still can't understand this then I suggest you start installing some "free" software to help you figure it out. Download.com is a good place.

MikeK

PS, make sure to also start clicking on those popup ads that look like windows messages.

Viewpoint only runs updates when your computer is idol. Never while it is in use.

As for the the internet and it's hindering spyware, adware, malware problem I could not agree more.

I have had many issues myself in regards to this. Even Billy G had problems with this. That was the initial incentive to creating microsoft anti spyware. So I read in an interview.

As for viewpoint - they are just a company that on this board has been caught in the line of fire and are being mislabled with the scarlet letter. It is or it isn't and Viewpoint isn't spyware, adware, etc...

If you really understood how this works and what it does you would not be wasting your time writing about it.

If anything this thread should be about aim not viewpoint. Viewpoint is a technology provider. It would be like me starting a thread here saying that macromedia is at fault and spyware for all the flash pop-ups I get. That is what this thread reads like. To be honest I question Leo's level of knowledge in regards to this tech. Leo don't you understand how irrational this thread is? Is this just way to create web traffic for all of your sponsored listing? I mean really? Are we all talking about the same comapany?

Due to the fact that viewpoint acts like spyware and I got a popup that said "you have just been updated" with no option to close the window without downloading something, I interrupted whatever it was doing and now my computer is acting all weird and won't check email. Probably has nothing to do with it now that I read this thread but I agree that Viewpoint needs to make users aware that it is there and updating itself. I've already deleted outcmd.dat and outlook still acts weird. I know its because I shut down the computer in the middle of the viewpoint "update" because I didn't know what viewpoint was, and what it was doing to my computer and I wasn't going to click on the license agreement link on the window to find out because I DIDN"T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, OR THAT IT WAS THERE. I've tried to click CANCEL on a popup before and installed nearly 100 spyware files in one click so I AM NOT CLICKING ANYTHING ON ANY POPUP FOR ANY SOFTWARE THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF. Sorry if this offends anyone who thinks viewpoint is so great. Maybe it is great, but it acts like spyware.

Conclusion: A percentage of people are not aware of what viewpoint is and what they do. At the same time if no one knew what flash was they would do and say the same thing about flash. It is not a brand name YET. I guess this is the inevitable reality until the masses are well aware of what vet content is and who viewpoint is. Just a matter of time but understand that it takes time - it is not an easy thing to get the world to understand and know who you are. Especially in a time when spyware is the talk of many circles. Perfect example is the forum and a even more impressive example is that someone is making money because of this topic. lol - go figure :-) Seriously, everyone is so quick to label something spyware. All I hear all the time is - "if I don't know what it is I delete it" - it is typical and I 100% understand. The good thing is that you will be seeing a lot more of viewpoint content in the near future. Even currently Sony, Toyota, Honda, GM, HP, Dell, IBM, Intel, Samsung and many more all use it to deliver the graphical explosion that no one else can match. THATS A FACT! They will play a very big part in the internet's graphical future. It is simply the next step in internet evolution - An internet that is based on X-Internet(executable internet) applications that are sparkling with 3D and robust graphical user interaction.

Bev P, what troubles me is the fact that viewpoint is on a web page that is surrounded by sponsored listings that read "spyware removal". I know everyone has got to make a living but that is flat out false advertising.

Oh yeah, and viewpoint never pops up to tell you that the update is complete. It just does it. I wish flash, adobe, wmp, quicktime, realplayer, java compiler, norton definitions, zone alarm, etc.. all updated themselves too when my compuer was idol. Who wouldn't want that and why? Why would you want to be inconvenienced? Why would you not want to have newest version automatically. The internet is a living breathing thing that is constantly evolving. It is not static. It is dynamic and forever changing and becoming more advanced - all compilers or graphics rendering engines need to always be updated - they should all function this way.

Scenerio:
Suppose flash 6 plugin has a hole in it and now everyone's computer with flash 6 is threatened to be hacked or to get a virus? Then what? By the time everyone learns and runs and update the damage is done.

Viewpoint in the same scenerio - viewpoint would run the update overnight! No problem! Here is another stat - viewpoint plugin can render flash faster than the flash plugin. Why? Because Viewoint does not use windows GDI to communicate with the Graphics Hardware. It communicates directly with the Graphics Hardware on it's own.

Honestly I can write for hours about this stuff - but I will stop here.

All the best,
Michael Tzez

"Honestly I can write for hours about this stuff - but I will stop here."

Thank goodness -- your employers at Viewpoint should be pissed to find you spending all your time on message boards.

Bev's point was the true final word: "...I AM NOT CLICKING ANYTHING ON ANY POPUP FOR ANY SOFTWARE THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF. Sorry if this offends anyone who thinks viewpoint is so great. Maybe it is great, but it acts like spyware."

First off I do not work for viewpoint and yes Leo if you are wondering it was me that notified them of your slanderous articles. Viewpoint has a clean bill of health as they told you. All the relevant antispyware and antivirus companies do not recognize Viewpoint as anything threatening - they do not recognize them period. Yet you still push on - This is when I realized that Leo is out here for one reason - 6 sponsored links per page.

Secondly I have been a gentlemen in every one of my posts. I expect the same respect back. Besides it makes you look like the fool to the readers not me.

What bev said:
"I've tried to click CANCEL on a popup before and installed nearly 100 spyware files in one click so I AM NOT CLICKING ANYTHING ON ANY POPUP FOR ANY SOFTWARE THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF."

Bev is talking about a popup he/she ONCE got not a viewpoint pop-up. You mis-interpreted what he/she was saying.

Leo created this thread only and I do mean ONLY to generate pay per click traffic with false advertising tactics.

This Forum is nothing more than a Tabloid and Leo is doing most of the posting using multiple alias.

Leo email me I want to talk to you.

I sign my own posts. I was quite clear in my article that Viewpoint is NOT spyware. Read the second paragraph.

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