Avast
You ’d remember that few type of software package are as trusty as some of thebest antivirus programs , but it turns out that perceptions can be lead astray . Avast , one of the most recognizable antivirus solutions for PCs , was found to be on the Q.T. collecting and selling user data to third - company corporation for a period of six years .
According to theFTC , Jumpshot , an Avast subsidiary ( that was “ voluntarily closed ” in 2020 ) , was selling users ’ browse datum to over 100 unlike company between 2014 and January 2020 . The FTC also found that Jumpshot amassed over eight petabytes ( that ’s 8,000 tebibyte ) of shop data . The datum included thing that no antivirus should ever be sell to corp , such as entropy related to wellness and medical condition , spiritual notion , political leaning , finance , and more .
Avast
WhenPCMagandMotherboard ( Vice)initially publish an investigation regarding Avast sell user data , the troupe take that the data was first stripped of name information before being sold . However , Jumpshot also had deals with advert companies like Lotame and Omnicom , allow them to fit up the data with their own sources , making individual users easier to name .
Samuel Levine , director of the FTC ’s Bureau of Consumer Protection , said in an announcement : “ Avast promised users that its products would protect the privateness of their browsing data , but present the opposite . Avast ’s come-on - and - switch surveillance tactics compromised consumer ’ privacy and broke the law . ”
1 . Avast promised user it would protect their browsing data from on-line tracking — but then did the exact opposite.@FTC ’s action against Avast score clear that browsing data point is sensitive , and firms that betray this data could be violate the law.https://t.co/R41ci2LE8j
& mdash ; Lina Khan ( @linakhanFTC)February 22 , 2024
The FTC notes that Jumpshot bring in “ tens of millions in gross revenues , ” all by selling datum collected through Avast — and the customers were never appropriately informed .
“ Not only did Avast fail to inform consumers that it collect and sold their browse datum , the companionship claim that its products would decrease tracking on the internet , ” according to the FTC . The software predict to halt “ annoying tracking cookie ” that accumulate data on browse bodily process , as well as harbour the substance abuser ’s privacy .
Gen Digital , the society that owns Avast , also has a number of other products related to internet and personal computer security measure . This includes Norton , Avast , LifeLock , Avira , AVG , Reputation Defender , CCleaner , Recuva , Speccy , and Defraggler .
The company addressed the situation in a program line toPCMag , saying : “ We are committed to our military mission of protect and empowering people ’s digital life sentence . While we dissent with the FTC ’s allegement and word-painting of the fact , we are pleased to resolve this topic and wait forward to continuing to serve our zillion of customers around the cosmos . ” In addition to the $ 16.5 million fine and exacting orders not to betray or permit collected user information for advertising purposes , Avast will have to inform the affected users that their data was previously sold .
