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