I'm pretty consistent on keeping consistent, at least when it comes to my 'puters. I keep an eye on what I'm installing, and also check frequently on what may have been installed and needs to be updated. In addition, I do my best to make sure I know the file and directory structure and keep things organized so I can find what I want when I want it.
With all that in mind, imagine my surprise when I see what seems to be a new directory, with programs and contents that I don't recall installing, sitting off the root of my system -- a new directory for something called "CallingCard" with a program/executable inside named "CallingCard.exe" along with a few other applets and such. I don't recall installing any such thing and practice more than enough safe computing that I am fairly certain this wasn't something that could have snuck on my computer without me knowing it, and yet... there it sits. Where'd it come from? How did it get there?
Ah, more of my most favorite (to despise) method of having software wind up on a computer -- "sneak on ware", software that is snuck onto a computer without the computer owner knowing how it got there.
In this particular case, it seems that CallingCard.exe is part of the package "LogMeIn" which provides remote support once the CallingCard application is started up. It was installed on my system when I installed a 'new' (beta) version of the SlingPlayer application -- a new public beta version that was made available by the folks at SlingMedia (the makers of the SlingPlayer). It seems that the folks at SlingMedia anticipate enough issues with their software that they pre-install the LogMeIn application so that they can help the remote computer users that are using their products by remote control.
There's a discussion about the application and how it got installed here. I hit that page via a little Google searching.
Honestly, I probably wouldn't have had a problem with the installation of the software on my system if it was properly installed (there's no add/remove or uninstall entry for it) and if I had been notified it was going to be installed, or even better, if I was offered the opportunity to choose whether or not to install the software, but sneaking the software onto my system, even if I am participating in a public beta and have accepted some terms that would seem to have allowed the install of the software, is not cool.
There is, reportedly, no way the software gets run without local operator intervention. That's fine, and I assume that is the case, but I really hope the folks at SlingMedia re-think having this software get installed on customer systems without more notification and a way to opt out of the install.