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:
Related:
Ask Leo! - viewmgr.exe - What is viewmgr.exe?
Viewpoint - FAQ
Article C2326 - April 8, 2005
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.
Posted by: Michael_Tzez at April 16, 2005 8:37 PMI sign my own posts. I was quite clear in my article that Viewpoint is NOT spyware. Read the second paragraph.
Posted by: Leo at April 16, 2005 9:50 PMTwo things:
1) I have not installed ANY software recently, and ViewMgr.exe suddenly appeared on my machine. I do surf the web alot, so my conclusion is it installed itself.
2) Getting rid of it is easy: FIRST, go into task manager and kill the process. If you don't do this, any files viewmgr has open, as well as the program, will be immune from removal. Second, go into "Add/Remove programs and remove ViewMgr. Third, go to the directory (C:\ProgramFiles\ViewManager) and delete the directory. All gone.
By the way, I totally disagree with it not being spyware. ViewMgr and the View Media Player are two different things: if we did need a new media player for something, fine, give it to us legitimately, but ViewMgr itself isn't even the media player. They are separate programs and directories on your computer.
JS
Posted by: John Scanlon at April 17, 2005 7:39 PMJohn,
Norton antivirus and norton live update are in different directories too. Does that mean they are not the same program?
Viewpoint manager sees to it that the vmp is always up to date. Automatic update. You could turn that feature off if you wanted to. Go to control panel and you will see it there.
Bottom Line: In General - If you are the kind of person that wants nothing I mean absolutely nothing on your computer then do what you want but to label a Viewpoint product to be spyware is slander. Do you think you know more than the people at microsoft, computer associates, symantec, etc..? I mean seriously? Are you claiming that you know more about this topic then them? You realize how irrational that is? No offense but think before you type? It is not spyware. Not my opinion but a FACT.
Leo I want to discuss something with you - email me to get rid of me, ignore me and get use to me.
Posted by: michael_tzez at April 17, 2005 8:22 PMMr. Tzez, I think you are missing the point. The fact that we have not been made aware of the particular product which was installed on our computer and the fact that it will automatically update is what we do not find appropriate. If this is a "necessary" component to AOL and AIM, then we certainly understand its being installed without being specifically presented to us during the install process. However, we should be enlightened upon installation about automatic updates and given the option as to whether or not we approve. But we are suddenly confronted with an automatic update by a program about which we know nothing, not even as to what other program it may be associated. This is not a positive scenario under any circumstance.
The reason I am reading this thread is because ViewMgr just tried to access the internet on my computer. My computer was NOT idle, I was surfing the net. I did not recognize the program and denied access for this particular attempt. However, I wanted to educate myself as to the actions of the program, and that is how I was directed to this site.
Our frustration with ViewMgr has nothing to do with any other media player which may we may have. Only ViewMgr has tried to access the internet, at least on my computer. While I understand the convenience of automatic updates, I prefer to manually update my programs other than antivirus. But even if I wanted automatic updates, it is common sense and good business practice to educate your users as to to processes such as automatic updates.
I don't understand your ridiculing those of us who are not happy when we are suddenly confronted with unfamiliar automatic updates. Had this been spyware, would you have been so quick to reply? We are trying to stay educated and knowledgeable with our computers, a smart move in my book. Blind acceptance is just not an option for me, and I become irritated when I must stop what I am doing to research a program which should have been presented to me when it was installed.
If companies are truly interested in being consumer friendly and in updating products to better serve their customers, listening to the customers' complaints and trying to incorporate changes to address those problems would be wise. Ridiculing them for searching for answers and discussing their frustrations is not exactly a marketing homerun.
Posted by: Paula B. at April 19, 2005 9:37 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 11:32 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