Viewpoint Media Player Spyware

By a_witko
in Smart Home, Network & Security

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a_witko

Posted
Posted

My hard-drive (the one which i use as a master and clone my other hard-drive off) has just been 'serviced' - format and fresh install. I installed my commonly used software, eg. adobe photoshop album, itunes, firefox, thunderbird etc... and to my dislike, i have also got VIEWPOINT MEDIA PLAYER, which is known to be spyware. I haven't installed any software which is 'dodgy' and which spyware could be attached to (except maybe divx codec - but im pretty sure it doesnt come with viewpoint).

Does anyone know what programs Viewpoint comes bundled with?

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https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/245560-viewpoint-media-player-spyware/
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a_witko

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Eh, I already said that I don't use AIM. So Viewpoint wasn't bundled with that.

But I have figured out what it came with (to my suprise!): Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0

I never would've suspected Adobe products, but I uninstalled it. I hope traces of it are not left behind.

Mentor

Caboose447

Posted
Posted
Eh, I already said that I don't use AIM. So Viewpoint wasn't bundled with that.

But I have figured out what it came with (to my suprise!): Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0

I never would've suspected Adobe products, but I uninstalled it. I hope traces of it are not left behind.

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Run spybot and adaware and make sure that the system is clean! :happy:

  • 1 month later...
Neowinian

anuosir

Posted
Posted

I was also looking into how this program install on my computer. Like a_witko I don't use AIM that came bundle with it. I also don't have Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 install so its really confusing what program came with that. I was at nfl.com and keeping track of a game using one of their live stats and stuff and my firewall came up saying something about viewmgr.exe accessing internet so I click blocking it. Went google searching about the exe and found out its and autoupdate for viewpoint and read to disable it I need to go to Control Panel. To my suprise that this thing install itself out of nowhere but also have something in control panel. But in all, I was thinking that maybe nfl.com have something to do with this.....

Grand Master

+M2Ys4U Subscriber¹

Posted
  • Subscriber¹
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The installer is in the sysfiles directory in the AIM folder. Delete the file and it will go away for good. Viewpoint is what AIM uses to delviver the multimedia ads.

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he already said he doesn't use AIM

  • 3 weeks later...
Neowinian

michael_tzez

Posted
Posted

DO NOT UNINSTALL THE VMP!

Do not mean to yell - just wanted to get your attention. I want to explain to you what the viewpoint media player is. The vmp is a plugin like flash, realplayer,quicktime,microsoft,etc... It is an application designed to better your internet experience.

To answer your first question of how it got on your computer: It is already installed on almost every brand new computer sold (Dell, HP, compaq, toshiba, gateway, fujitsu, sony, etc..) The OEMs put it on your computer to better your internet experience - to make it more seemless. Also, Yes, Aol does install it on your computer too. Aol 9.0 can not function properly without it. It plays a big role in their graphical interface. Aol payed Viewpoint millions of dollars to use their tech. As a matter of fact it is the most sophisticated plugin available and fortune 500 companies pay millions to use it for their presentations. This plugin renders, EVERY video format, 3D, 2D, ipix, flash, mp3's, etc...

I have first hand experience using this program. I was looking for something in regards to viewpoint's new app that is coming out (bonfire) and I saw this thread. Just wanted to let you all know that it is safe and not spyware or a bug. Just not a household name. Yet :-)

Honestly it would be a lose not having it on your computer. Check out what it does.

http://www.tagheuer.com/multimedia/3d_list.lbl

Pay attention to the 3D watch - play with it.

http://automobiles.honda.com/new_models/la...erDetected=True

Click where it says Ridgeline 3D view.

This is from their site:

http://www.viewpoint.com/pub/services/index_of_work.html

All great stuff. Expect to see this stuff all over the place! It is the future.

Viewpoint wil be playing a big role in the future of the net. Just like when flash first came out.

Also they have a very cool toolbar - like nothing I have ever seen before - Total graphical interface. It is somewhere on their site.

Have a good one,

Michael

Enthusiast

jordanschloss

Posted
Posted
My hard-drive (the one which i use as a master and clone my other hard-drive off) has just been 'serviced' - format and fresh install. I installed my commonly used software, eg. adobe photoshop album, itunes, firefox, thunderbird etc... and to my dislike, i have also got VIEWPOINT MEDIA PLAYER, which is known to be spyware. I haven't installed any software which is 'dodgy' and which spyware could be attached to (except maybe divx codec - but im pretty sure it doesnt come with viewpoint).

Does anyone know what programs Viewpoint comes bundled with?

584940372[/snapback]

their #1 customer is AOL

also comes with some emachines desktops & the bestbuy insignia desktops :devil: :devil:

Veteran

dotRoot

Posted
Posted
DO NOT UNINSTALL THE VMP!

Do not mean to yell - just wanted to get your attention.  I want to explain to you what the viewpoint media player is.  The vmp is a plugin like flash, realplayer,quicktime,microsoft,etc...  It is an application designed to better your internet experience. 

To answer your first question of how it got on your computer:  It is already installed on almost every brand new computer sold (Dell, HP, compaq, toshiba, gateway, fujitsu, sony, etc..) The OEMs put it on your computer to better your internet experience - to make it more seemless.  Also, Yes, Aol does install it on your computer too.  Aol 9.0 can not function properly without it.  It plays a big role in their graphical interface.  Aol payed Viewpoint millions of dollars to use their tech.  As a matter of fact it is the most sophisticated plugin available and fortune 500 companies pay millions to use it for their presentations.  This plugin renders, EVERY video format, 3D, 2D, ipix, flash, mp3's, etc... 

I have first hand experience using this program.  I was looking for something in regards to viewpoint's new app that is coming out (bonfire) and I saw this thread.  Just wanted to let you all know that it is safe and not spyware or a bug.  Just not a household name.  Yet :-)

Honestly it would be a lose not having it on your computer.  Check out what it does.

http://www.tagheuer.com/multimedia/3d_list.lbl

Pay attention to the 3D watch - play with it.

http://automobiles.honda.com/new_models/la...erDetected=True

Click where it says Ridgeline 3D view.

This is from their site:

http://www.viewpoint.com/pub/services/index_of_work.html

All great stuff.  Expect to see this stuff all over the place!  It is the future.

Viewpoint wil be playing a big role in the future of the net.  Just like when flash first came out.

Also they have a very cool toolbar - like nothing I have ever seen before - Total graphical interface.  It is somewhere on their site.

Have a good one,

Michael

585284510[/snapback]

It'd better my internet experience to be able to choose whether it installs or not.

Neowinian

michael_tzez

Posted
Posted
It'd better my internet experience to be able to choose whether it installs or not.

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Do you feel the same way about flash, realplayer,microsoft player???

Same thing.

They all come pre installed on new computers. Like I said it is a privelage to have it on your computer. Thinking otherwise is pure paranoia and hysteria. It is safe and runs so quietly that you are all pointing fingers at it. The Vmp is simply not guilty. lol

Do want you want.

Understand that the aol pre bundle is not really a prebundle - It is part of the aol program. Aol needs it to function properly - Call aol and ask them. I am not pulling anyones leg.

Veteran

dotRoot

Posted
Posted
Do you feel the same way about flash, realplayer,microsoft player???

Same thing.

They all come pre installed on new computers.  Like I said it is a privelage to have it on your computer.  Thinking otherwise is pure paranoia and hysteria.  It is safe and runs so quietly that you are all pointing fingers at it.  The Vmp is simply not guilty.  lol

Do want you want. 

Understand that the aol pre bundle is not really a prebundle - It is part of the aol program.  Aol needs it to function properly - Call aol and ask them.  I am not pulling anyones leg.

585286845[/snapback]

I build my own systems, so they don't come on mine. And yes I do feel the same about them. Flash is ok, I like it, real players sucks, and Mediaplayer I do use.

If I'm not asked to install it, then it shouldn't install. Hopefully if AOL is bundling it, then it should be in the EULA.

Neowinian

michael_tzez

Posted
Posted (edited)
I build my own systems, so they don't come on mine. And yes I do feel the same about them. Flash is ok, I like it, real players sucks, and Mediaplayer I do use.

If I'm not asked to install it, then it shouldn't install. Hopefully if AOL is bundling it, then it should be in the EULA.

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You are one of those people that like to build your own PC and know exactly what is on it. Understandable. I too am of that breed.

As for aol - it is not really bundling it - Why? Because it is part of the guts of the aol program - It needs the vmp to work. Bundling it would be installing it on your pc just to install it - meanwhile it has nothing to do with what you agreed to install. That is not the case here - the vmp is the graphics engine for aol.

Anyways I have no problem with you not wanting it on your pc - I have a problem with this thread calling the viewpoint media player - spyware - that is 100% wrong. It is being wrongfully categorized. It is the most sophisticated plugin available and far from spyware.

Did you look at some of the examples I provided? Make sure to click on the hyperview link in the tag watches link that I provided. Choose a watch and then click on hyperview - Flash could only dream of doing this stuff.

One more thing - Viewpoint was the creator of the program poser - This is one of the programs used to make all the amazing CGI effects in the movies.

Best,

Michael

Edited by michael_tzez
  • 2 weeks later...
Neowinian

Zaphodbbx

Posted
Posted

Viewpoint is NOT spyware or adware. You guys have gone overboard. You can disable the VMP from contacting Viewpoint (updating itself) by going in your control panel, double-clicking Viewpoint, and tell it not to auto-update their software! (Something I don't recommend.) It will no longer send any info over the internet unless you are viewing 3D Viewpoint media, flash or video through their player.

Viewpoint (VMP) is a key component of AOL (I've beta tested AOL for 10 years) and AIM. It's the tech. behind AOL 3D SuperBuddies, Adobe Atmosphere, Sony's 3D product models, Ford, Dodge, Toyota and many others. It is totally harmless, and works like all other media players.

AOL, AIM, Adobe and others include the player because their software won't work without it. All data sent to the player is completely anonymous, and there is no way for Viewpoint to gather any info on you.

From http://www.liutilities.com: ViewMgr.exe is responsible for managing/updating (VMP)?s components. Similar to Flash, Quicktime, etc. Security Risk (0-5): 0

Read article: http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintas...ibrary/ViewMgr/

AOL doesn't want to install spyware on your computer, it would be bad for their buisness. AOL 9.0 scans for spyware because its what their customers want: clean PCs. They wouldn't start installing spyware because it would hurt them if they did. Sorry, but you guys are mostly just spreading ill-informed rumors.

Viewpoint used to be Metacreations, makers of 3D and photo programs such as Bryce, Poser, RayDream Studio, Carrara, Kai's Power tools, Painter, and much more. Viewpoint used to be called Metastream: a very cool way to view 3D content on the web. They changed the name to Viewpoint to concentrate on 3D content for the web, and sold off their software products to Corel, Curious software, Adobe and others. I've always loved their cool 3D products and even 3D models on the web. They have some of the most realistic rendering I've seen, and what was very inexpensive software.

This whole forum is just a bunch of rumors about a very useful and cool program. It's time to shut this thread down. Visit http://www.viewpoint.com and see what neat 3D models and interactive media they create. It's the coolest stuff on the web!

Best,

-Zaphod

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