Viewpoint, in the form of viewmgr.exe and the Viewpoint Media Player, is the source of a lot of questions here on Ask Leo!. Most boil down to: Is it spyware?
No, it is not.
Then why are so many people concerned about it? Why is the next question most people ask "How do I get rid of it?"
Probably because they didn't ask for it, they don't know why it's on their machine, and their firewall is suddenly reporting that it's attempting to access the internet. All things that have come to be associated with...
you guessed it...
Spyware.
•
I recently received email from a marketing representative at Viewpoint pointing out that "Viewpoint has a clean bill of health from liutilities, hijackthis, Pestpatrol, Adaware, System Info, Computer Cops, Webroot Spysweeper, Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta, and more...", and directing me to their FAQ.
The FAQ is very informative, and clears up many of the assumptions that people have been making, confirming some and stating others to be false. I encourage anyone with concerns to read it.
But from a consumer's perspective, the problem still remains. Let me address the points I made at the beginning.
They didn't ask for it. Viewpoint components are installed as a side effect of installing other software, most notably AOL and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). The software claims to be "required", but I have a hard time understanding why I need yet another media player in order to chat with friends on AIM. The fact that Viewpoint is installed at all, and more importantly, how visible this fact is, is in the hands of these other packages. Personally, I would expect that a) Viewpoint would be optional, and as such b) I would be given a clear choice at setup time for these other software packages. Sadly that is not always the case, and Viewpoint can simply "appear", seemingly without warning.
They don't know why it's on their machine. As I just pointed out, I have no clue as to why I would need another media player in order to chat with my friends on AIM. The same is true for many packages that include Viewpoint software. Some clearly need the technology to deliver their functionality. But for others, Viewpoint is used only when certain features are used. If you never use those features, or never even think about those features even existing, the presence of an unexpected package such as Viewpoint is at best, confusing, and at worst quite distressing.
Their firewall is suddenly reporting that it's attempting to access the internet. I understand why this happens, and from a technical perspective, it's a good thing. Viewpoint, or more specifically viewmgr.exe, is checking for updates of the Viewpoint software. Many software packages now do this automatically as a way to ensure that as many of their users have the latest and most stable releases. The problem here is the cascading effect of the previous two points: you didn't ask for it, you don't know what it is, and all of a sudden it wants to access the internet? Of course that's going to raise concerns, as well it should.
So what's the answer?
In my opinion:
- Viewpoint, and the other companies that package Viewpoint software, need to do a much better job of educating users at install time about Viewpoint, what it is and why it's being installed.
- Viewpoint should be clearly made an optional install in almost all cases.
- Viewpoint should be easily uninstalled. (Their FAQ seems to indicate that it is, but user experiences as reflected in the comments on my viewmgr.exe article report varying degrees of success.)
- Consumers need to pay attention to what we're installing. In many cases packages like Viewpoint are called out on software installs and often are optional, if you'd only take the time to look. I, for one, rarely accept "default" installs for exactly this reason ... without looking, I don't know what I'm getting.
Related:
-
Ask Leo! - viewmgr.exe - What is viewmgr.exe?
-
Viewpoint - FAQ
Article C2326 - April 8, 2005
Well, I just got my dose tonight.
Guess what -- I don't have AOL (I'm on MSN), I don't download music or have iTunes or anything like that. I use my computer only for business and scientific research.
Only thing I can think of -- I hate to say it -- but I just installed Microsoft Office 2003 (upgrade) and have been using Access 2003 and their help files and sites! Who knows...
So what do you call ViewManager and their unwanted media player? What do you call a flower that pops up unwanted when and where you don't want it -- and you have a hard time getting rid of it? A weed, at best. And whoever planted it is a miscreant. Even if the company has become profitable doing it.
Besides, what program 'really' needs to check for updates to it every day??? Not even an antivirus program needs to do that!! I've also found their cookie droppings lying around.
I'd equipped my system with an APC UPS a while back, along with their monitoring software. Damn thing accessed the internet EVERY DAY to 'check for critical updates'!! C'mon -- a POWER SUPPLY??? Give me a break!!!
Posted by: Brad Stribling at April 19, 2005 11:32 PMWell, I just got my dose tonight.
Guess what -- I don't have AOL (I'm on MSN), I don't download music or have iTunes or anything like that. I use my computer only for business and scientific research.
Only thing I can think of -- I hate to say it -- but I just installed Microsoft Office 2003 (upgrade) and have been using Access 2003 and their help files and sites! Who knows...
So what do you call ViewManager and their unwanted media player? What do you call a flower that pops up unwanted when and where you don't want it -- and you have a hard time getting rid of it? A weed, at best. And whoever planted it is a miscreant. Even if the company has become profitable doing it.
Besides, what program 'really' needs to check for updates to it every day??? Not even an antivirus program needs to do that!! I've also found their cookie droppings lying around.
I'd equipped my system with an APC UPS a while back, along with their monitoring software. Damn thing accessed the internet EVERY DAY to 'check for critical updates'!! C'mon -- a POWER SUPPLY??? Give me a break!!!
Posted by: Brad Stribling at April 19, 2005 11:34 PMPaula,
Who did I ridicule?
The only thing that I made very Clear is that I believe LEO has created this thread strictly to generate advertising dollars. Which is the obvious truth - 5 sponsored listings per page. On this specific topic they all refer to spyware. I believe LEO is the one that is ridiculing and false advertising. Viewpoint is not recognized as spyware by any of the acknowledged anti virus and anti spyware company yet LEO insists on running indirect slander and false advertising. That gets under my skin. False advertising should not be tolerated by anyone.
Paula:
"Only viewpoint mgr has tried to access the internet"
lol - who are you kidding. I have over 80 apps on my computer that try to access the internet. If you buy a computer from the store and install a firewall on it - it will pick up at least 30 programs from the start. I have over 300 components accessing the internet - When we talk about viewpoint accessing the internet it is Viewpoint components are what accessing the internet. Are you trying to tell me that you know what all the components on your computer are? lol
Off hand I probably only recognize 20 of them.
Please do not take this as me ridiculing you. The problem is that you people have no idea what you are talking about. Please don't take offense but your statement reflects your knowledge.(I am not calling you stupid). Many of you think you know a lot more than you do. I don't know everything but I know enough to recognize that you think you know a lot more than you do.
The question you should all be asking - the only question that is important Is:
I came across this new component on my computer "Viewpoint Manager" is it threatening?
The answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 100% safe! Non of the anti-virus/anti-spyware companies recognize Viewpoint components as threats. They don't recognize them period. It is actually on their safe lists. I could sit here and list 50 components that access the internet on your computer and you would have no idea that they were even there or what they were.
Like I said Leo is not here to answer your questions he is here to rhetorically make you want this off your computer (by posting under multiple alias). He wants the sheep to click on his sponsored listings. He is insulting peoples intelligence. That's right LEO you are a phony!
I will take you serious when you get rid of the sponsored listings. False Advetising!
Posted by: Michael_Tzez at April 20, 2005 1:24 PMBrad,
It comes pre-installed by the OEMs (many of the computer manufactures). They put it on their computers to make their clients internet experience as seamless as possible.
Adobe Acrobat also distributes and uses the vmp for its graphical presentations.
Also, windows office I believe does something similar - do not quote me on this one - I am not 100%
Posted by: Michael_Tzez at April 20, 2005 1:38 PMMy article is clear: viewpoint is not spyware.
The ads support the site. That's how free commerce works.
Google automatically targets the ads based on what it thinks the page is about, and the ad inventory it has that corresponds to that topic. I do not control what ads are specifically displayed.
When he's not deriding me personally, Mr. Tzez's comments regarding Viewpoint have value.
However, with that, I'm closing comments on this thread, as further discussion is clearly no longer adding value.
Posted by: Leo at April 20, 2005 1:39 PM