Avast, caught selling users’ private data, will shut down the division that’s selling the data

Topic

New Reply

So what do you do when your company’s caught selling the surfing data from its “Free” antivirus product? You shut down the division that sells the dat
[See the full post at: Avast, caught selling users’ private data, will shut down the division that’s selling the data]

10 users thanked author for this post.

lmacri, Chessie, abbodi86, areader, AJNorth, Morty, wdburt1, rc primak, jburk07

Reply | Quote

Replies

Just like closing the barn door once the cattle have bolted.
But, it might be more like sweeping dirt under the carpet.

People would be wise to walk away from that company.

Byte me!

2 users thanked author for this post.

FakeNinja, rc primak

Reply | Quote

I very much agree. Here’s another story on it from the Register

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/01/30/avast_to_close_jumpshot/

2 users thanked author for this post.

Chessie, Morty

Reply | Quote

And of course all the data already sold will magically immediately disappear from all databases everywhere. (:eyeroll:)

-- rc primak

2 users thanked author for this post.

Chessie, Kranium

Reply | Quote

Anyone want to take bets that they just opened a “new” division called “ThreePoint” that just happens to employ the same team?

5 users thanked author for this post.

warrenrumak, Chessie, SueW, Kranium, woody

Reply | Quote

And what about cCleaner? A very useful tool for home users and those of us who support them. Avast own cCleaner.

See (from Oct 2019): https://www.zdnet.com/article/avast-no-plans-to-discontinue-ccleaner-following-second-hack-in-two-years/

And: https://www.ccleaner.com/about/privacy-policy

 

 

Arthur J Davis
UK

4 users thanked author for this post.

Lars220, Chessie, Kranium, woody

Reply | Quote

Wow. I had forgotten that link.

Interesting question….

Reply | Quote

[SonicMojo]

You would be wise to dump ccCleaner as fast as possible as well. Almost a guarantee that some (or all) of the data scraping tech used in Avast Free is also buried in that app somewhere…there were a number of scenarios and articles in the past about exactly what this shady app does if you opted into it’s Privacy/Data collection area.

I remember one version where you were unable to opt out at all.

I also find it very telling that the CEO of Avast (Now very concerned that all his customers are going to flock to exits) conveniently closes the division but says nothing about all the existing data that Jumpshot collected to now.

If anyone thinks he won’t try to score more value from those files – they are extremely naive.

Get far away from Avast.

Sonic

 

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by SonicMojo.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by SonicMojo.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by SonicMojo.

Reply | Quote

The shutdown represents an open admission that the business of gathering and selling consumer data cannot withstand the light of day.

If people really understood what is being done, it would be time for marching with pitchforks.

 

 

 

Reply | Quote

Unless they announce they are going to stop harvesting and retaining user data this is nothing more than a smokescreen.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Chessie

Reply | Quote

I guess Avast fell from grace,  10 years ago, people all over the place would recommend to me to install Avast, and look now. an antivirus we have to avoid for the sake of privacy

Just someone who don't want Windows to mess with its computer.

Reply | Quote

[nazzy]

I tried Avast Free once.   ONCE.

 

 

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by nazzy.

Reply | Quote

So, the data harvest will continue but not sold ?

1 user thanked author for this post.

Bill C.

Reply | Quote

Alex5723 wrote:

So, the data harvest will continue but not sold ?

Or the opposite.

Reply | Quote

Alex5723 wrote:

So, the data harvest will continue but not sold ?

Sounds like it to me.

Shutting down the company does nothing to the executable that are scraping your PC right now. That scraping will continue unabated and that data has to go somewhere.

Probably super easy to redirect it to whereever they need it go.

By far the lamest “change of heart” I have seen in a while.

Sonic.

 

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

Bill C.

Reply | Quote

I wonder how many other companies do this, but haven’t been caught. (yet)

Group B for WIN7 w/ ESU, plus trying out Linux builds in dual boot.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Chessie

Reply | Quote

Kranium wrote:

I wonder how many other companies do this, but haven’t been caught. (yet)

Probably would surprise us all to know…

Sonic

Reply | Quote

CEO says it is the “right thing to do”. Only if you get caught it seems like.

Reply | Quote

“If your right hand offends you, cut it off…‘  (from Mathew 5:30)

A company providing software to ensure user’s safety abusing its users is remarkably bad. It raises suspicions on all providers of such products and their products. I think that something like the following thread for Windows 7 might now be in order, but with a wider scope:

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/windows-7-av-solutions-beyond-eos/

 

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

2 users thanked author for this post.

Chessie, Cybertooth

Reply | Quote

If people are using free software or even cheap software and are outraged that their data is sold then they need to wake up.

Any installed  software on your system should be firewalled where possible. Obviously for software that requires updating this is not an option so you have to realise that data gleaned from your system is on sold.

I did use Avast but I stopped using it after they purchased CCleaner because they would update  CCleaner without my consent. I still use CCleaner 4.19 which is firewalled and it works well.

I went from Avast to Kaspersky but Kaspersky was taking 5 – 10 minutes to update which was a red flag for me. After this I went back to MSE for Windows 7 and there I remain.

I am starting to use Linux more and I do have Clam AV installed but mainly for testing purposes.

I consider the biggest threat is from your browser.

 

Reply | Quote

Kranium wrote:

I wonder how many other companies do this, but haven’t been caught. (yet)

anonymous wrote:

If people are using free software or even cheap software and are outraged that their data is sold then they need to wake up.

Any installed  software on your system should be firewalled where possible. Obviously for software that requires updating this is not an option so you have to realise that data gleaned from your system is on sold.

I did use Avast but I stopped using it after they purchased CCleaner because they would update  CCleaner without my consent. I still use CCleaner 4.19 which is firewalled and it works well.

I went from Avast to Kaspersky but Kaspersky was taking 5 – 10 minutes to update which was a red flag for me. After this I went back to MSE for Windows 7 and there I remain.

I am starting to use Linux more and I do have Clam AV installed but mainly for testing purposes.

I consider the biggest threat is from your browser.

 

I have found that in recent years I have had to verify more and more who phones home and then try to block it. At least on a PC you have more options. With Smartphones, it is much more difficult and with the plethora of apps and many being once and done installs it is much harder and then there are the ones you cannot remove.

To me what was clearly evident, is NOWHERE does Avast say they will not do it (collect data), just that they will not sell it. Given the depth to which these so-called “security suites” get into the OS’ drawers, it is ridiculous. This will just get worse and worse until the law makes the CEO, CFO, and CIO personally liable and responsible for abuses on their watch, and the penalties are calculated on the number of users of their product whether these users are OK with the data scraping or not. The penalties MUST affect the corporate bottom line, and the corporate officers financial comfort otherwise these abuses are just picked up by the corporation or considered more ‘shareholder value.’ Every time there is a hack, breach or data abuse story, the tech companies say I am so sorry, hang out a low level person, and send out the PR flacks. If they were accused of criminal activity or other malfeasance, I doubt the ‘I’m sorry’ would cut it.

I stopped using Norton and Symantec because with each one I had problems in which required Windows re-installs. I went to MSE at that time also.

Reply | Quote

No such thing as free. Your gonna pay some sort of price to help pay for support and people to upgrade the software. Has the freeware market stepped up its collection of data? Absolutely, and personally I would rather spend $25 a year for a paid solutions then any of these free options. Or if you insist on free, just use Windows Defender.

3 users thanked author for this post.

ryegrass, Cybertooth, Mark

Reply | Quote

Not sure the “paid” version is any guarantee either?

2 users thanked author for this post.

ryegrass, access-mdb

Reply | Quote

We offer two versions : Free version that harvests all kinds of data for use at our discretion,
and Pro version that harvests all kinds of data that we store for later use when you stop renewing.

We never sell your data.  We use it ourselves.

We never sell your data.  We give it to third parties, in exchange for advertising, or for hardware, or for technical or financial services.

3 users thanked author for this post.

ryegrass, G, jburk07

Reply | Quote

I removed the free AVG from the android tablet it was a crazy program and kept sending notificatons and had ads. I ignored them and the program probably did nothing but data mine. Any thoughts,  as I don’t think you need one. Does chrome protect itself?

Win 10 Home 22H2

Reply | Quote

On android there is a strong user vs root separation.  I agree that antivirus software is not useful.  But many apps do spy.   View the permissions for your apps, and if an app is asking for too much, remove it.  This tells how to view permissions  https://www.androidauthority.com/app-permissions-886758/  Do android system updates and chrome updates for security fixes.

Reply | Quote