For some reason I don't remember now, I decided to run msconfig late last night. I found that there were two new services, VirtualTier Configurator Agent and VirtualTier Messaging Agent. What the hell?! So I start digging around, seeing where these services are being referenced from and such. I find them in the Windows/System32 folder, then I find some XML configuration files that are raising all kinds of red flags about it maybe being spyware because of the names of the settings within.
Finally, when I'm poking through the registry I find a clue as to why VirtualTier is installed on my machine. Turns out the Air Miles Announcer uses it to pop up a frameless Flash animation to announce when new Air Miles-y thingies are happening.
Okay, so now I don't think it's spyware, but it sure gave me a fright - I hate the idea of having to fix up this entire machine again, it's been so personalized for all its users now.
If any of you know any more about PureLogic VirtualTier, please fill me in. So far, I'm thinking it's just used for the frameless Flash animations. And after looking up PureLogic's website and perusing it a bit, I now understand how they make those frameless pop-up advertisements in websites; I didn't realize there were tools to let them run in their own window without a border or control box.