Could Antivirus products ... Spy on you?

[conceptualclarity]

This concern has been raised on MT particularly in connection with Chinese software.
http://malwaretips.com/threads/baidu-pc-faster-is-it-a-malware-malicious-software.27907/page-2
http://malwaretips.com/threads/av-c...-and-real-world-test.28272/page-2#post-208720
Qihoo 360, Kingsoft, Baidu, and Rising are mainland Chinese anti-viruses. I think there are one or two others.

Personally I am drastically less concerned about corporations compiling data on me than I am concerned about criminals and criminally inclined agencies of government such as the Internal Revenue Service, Obama's financial Gestapo.

 

[Chromatinfish 123]

There was a test on antivirus trustworthiness- Emsisoft scored the highest with ESET not so far behind. Honestly, I would only trust anything that:

- Has been reviewed on PCMag
- Has been tested on some "independent" testing labs
- Detected Save on VirusTotal

(However, when it comes to actual antivirus capability, I would turn away from PCMag and "independent" testing labs- they might collect money to boost scores)

 

[the unknwn]

baidu and qihoo that's why i dont install chinese av vendors although they use avira engine

 

[jackuars]

baidu and qihoo that's why i dont install chinese av vendors although they use avira engine

So NSA and Soviet? Time to stop targeting other countries mate.

 

[hjlbx]

I think the OP meant spying in the sense of surveillance for nefarious purposes...

Technically the answer is, Yes.

Here is an example:

They could monitor your system for the types of software you download and what is installed on your system ... and you would very likely be completely unawares. With this info they could do all manner of things - from selling that info to software marketing firms to providing those details its home-nation security agencies.

There really is no limit of what is possible...

There's a certain level of trust required of the user that an AV vendor will not do such a thing.

 

[Ramona]

Yes, they can spy. Read EULA and you will see many AV's spy on you, they don't care about you.

I don't know why people don't like chinese av vendors. I love Tencent and Qihoo.

 

[conceptualclarity]

There was a test on antivirus trustworthiness- Emsisoft scored the highest with ESET not so far behind.

It would be interesting to see that if you have the link.

 

[Alexstrasza]

It would be interesting to see that if you have the link.

A bit late, but I think this is what he meant: AV-Comparatives report on data transmission in Internet Security products

 

[conceptualclarity]

A bit late, but I think this is what he meant: AV-Comparatives report on data transmission in Internet Security products

Thanks, Alexstrasza.

 

[Chromatinfish 123]

A bit late, but I think this is what he meant: AV-Comparatives report on data transmission in Internet Security products

I don't think it was that- I don't believe in "independent" labs and will not... Thanks anyways

 

[Alexstrasza]

There aren't any other reports on data transmission in AVs as far as I know... that one is the closest

If you ever find that other report, let me know.

 

[Nirv5668]

Personally, I would rather an AV company spy on me to prevent other people spying on me...but I have always wondered why more people aren't concerned about AV companies. The NSA was revealed to be pretty much using every imaginable source to get information...except AV. I would be shocked if AV companies were not subjected to the same sorts of secret court orders (by various law enforcement) that VPNs, internet providers, search providers, e-mail etc. are. Meaning they turn over or start collecting data (ex: if they don't keep logs, a company can get court order to force them to start logging a particular user). I was waiting for this element during the whole Snowden thing, but nothing. However, having everyone start getting rid of AV after this sort of disclosure would be a disaster. Maybe law enforcement and intel agencies leave it alone for this reason. They have enough additional sources for information, but AV seems like a really good one because it has the ability to track everything.

 

[Entreri]

Free AVs...if they an established reputation I would not be worried.

Kaspersky has found various NSA malware. Kaspersky is rated #1 in the world according to the independent testing labs for many years.

I would think the NSA has the best tools of any spy agency by far. The US is the high-tech king for a long time. I don'think the Chinese can ever take that particular crown away.

I personally would not trust these AVs from Chinese companies. They would need years of rock solid protection before I would ever consider buying a Chinese AV. Btw, these Chinese companies were caught cheating by the independent labs.

 

[conceptualclarity]

Btw, these Chinese companies were caught cheating by the independent labs.

Would be interested in hearing any more details about this.