Leaked: Avast antivirus is selling highly sensitive web browsing data to the world's biggest companies

[Dex4Sure]

So the wan***rs that you are get caught, fess up, cough up an excuse and expect users to believe you and still download your crap ware? I'd rather user WD than this POS they call anti virus.

WD has been better than Avast for long time... WD is my preferred free AV and in fact my preferred AV out of all free or paid. Simply cause its integrated in the OS already and does not cause issues during larger feature updates. Once they introduce caching for their AV then I don't think there's any reason to use 3rd party AV's.

 

[RKRN3]

WD has been better than Avast for long time... WD is my preferred free AV and in fact my preferred AV out of all free or paid. Simply cause its integrated in the OS already and does not cause issues during larger feature updates. Once they introduce caching for their AV then I don't think there's any reason to use 3rd party AV's.

What is caching that you want Defender to start doing?

 

[ForgottenSeer 823865]

What is caching that you want Defender to start doing?

He means , WD scan the same files over and over in real-time, result is the latency when you open a folder full of files creating a serious impact on the system responsiveness.
Caching is a mechanism that discard previously scanned files and prioritize only the new ones, result is fastest scans and better responsiveness of the system.
This what WD lacks at the moment.

 

[ForgottenSeer 823865]

it would take work and Microsoft not willing to do it
heck, they can barely do a tweak with their security without breaking stuff

Don't expect too much, MS is a company with multiple departments ignoring what the others are doing LOL.

 

[spaceoctopus]

About two or three years ago, me and my friends on MT were commenting about how Avast's business practices will explode in their face one day...well well

 

[Outpost]

Don't expect too much, MS is a company with multiple departments ignoring what the others are doing LOL.

I confirm. This happens in almost any large company. Not only in the IT field.

 

[spaceoctopus]

This case from Avast, makes the spying case from Kaspersky(if it ever existed) look silly.There are some pretty serious points there. So much data siphoning, Avast is a real privacy threat. Its understood that you need some advertisement to maintain a free product.Well now...if it is only free users who are targeted?And what about their Vpn?A gold mine for tracking and data mining while making the user believe he has total anonymity.The perfect trap.

 

[Outpost]

This case from Avast, makes the spying case from Kaspersky(if it ever existed) look silly.

As for Kaspersky... the evidence of "alleged" espionage never arrived, so it's easier it never happened.

 

[ForgottenSeer 823865]

As for Kaspersky... the evidence of "alleged" espionage never arrived, so it's easier it never happened.

Just an CIA/NSA idiot employee who allowed auto-uploading of malicious files.
However, it was demonstrated that any solution with cloud network, able to upload files, can have its criteria modified to upload specific files.

 

[Captain Awesome]

A message from Avast's CEO

To all our valued stakeholders – customers, partners, employees, and investors.

blog.avast.com

 

[Outpost]

A message from Avast's CEO

To all our valued stakeholders – customers, partners, employees, and investors.

blog.avast.com

He couldn't say otherwise. He tries to close the barn door after the horse has escaped.

 

[upnorth]

Makes me wonder if they got a warning.

In the case of a likely infringement, a warning may be issued. In the case of an infringement, the possibilities include: a reprimand or a temporary or definitive ban on the processing. In some countries, public bodies may also be subject to administrative fines.

What if a public administration fails to comply with the data protection rules?

Sanctions if a public administration doesn’t respect EU data protection law may include suspension of activity, warnings or fines.

ec.europa.eu

 

[RKRN3]

My IP, not my account, seems to be blocked by Avast forum mod as I stated some actual facts about this scandal. One of their uberevangelist still sides with them lol. he says he would still use it and don't care about the data already gone. I hope Avast is taken off its existence soon.
Edit 1: Unblocked now I think.

 

[spaceoctopus]

A good move from Avast to terminate jumpshot...well...if they were for the good of customers, why thet didn't terminate(evil) jumpshot before?!And it was done fast $$$
Trust, once it's lost, it is difficult to get it back.

 

[ForgottenSeer 823865]

Trust, once it's lost, it is difficult to get it back.

That is assuming basic customers cared. Luckily for Avast , they don't. I can say the vast majority of people using Avast aren't even aware of this drama.
I just check with few (Average Joe) friends using it, reactions?

1- i wasn't aware, that is not very cool, but it is ok...
2- don't care, it is free,

that summed it all. LOL

 

[spaceoctopus]

That is assuming basic customers cared. Luckily for Avast , they don't. I can say the vast majority of people using Avast aren't even aware of this drama.
I just check with few (Average Joe) friends using it, reactions?

1- i wasn't aware, that is not very cool, but it is ok...
2- don't care, it is free,

that summed it all. LOL

True

 

[Mountainking]

That is assuming basic customers cared. Luckily for Avast , they don't. I can say the vast majority of people using Avast aren't even aware of this drama.
I just check with few (Average Joe) friends using it, reactions?

1- i wasn't aware, that is not very cool, but it is ok...
2- don't care, it is free,

that summed it all. LOL

The problem is word of mouth and techies advising friends to switch or not recommend avast at all in the first place. It will take time but their user base will be affected.

 

[ForgottenSeer 823865]

The problem is word of mouth and techies advising friends to switch or not recommend avast at all in the first place. It will take time but their user base will be affected.

This will have little influence, honestly how many will make the switch, unless the said friends do it for them.
What will truly impact Avast will be Windows Defender, why install a 3rd party AV when you have already one?

 

[Azure]

That is assuming basic customers cared. Luckily for Avast , they don't. I can say the vast majority of people using Avast aren't even aware of this drama.
I just check with few (Average Joe) friends using it, reactions?

1- i wasn't aware, that is not very cool, but it is ok...
2- don't care, it is free,

that summed it all. LOL

Pretty much. Average Joe is just sitting comfortably in his sofa drinking a cup of coffee unaware of what is happening in internet land.

With that said there is something Avast can't ignore and that is any possible legal repercussion their data harvesting could warrant. There are probably not going to get fined though.

I'm curious if after this scandal and removing Jumpshot will Avast consider keeping their free antivirus. I can imagine them removing their free antivirus.

 

[ForgottenSeer 823865]

I'm curious if after this scandal and removing Jumpshot will Avast consider keeping their free antivirus. I can imagine them removing their free antivirus.

That is if they don't replace it or find some workaround, they may just make a clearer EULA or a popup saying people are agreeing to have their data collected, if not the installation won't continue.
Bet how many will stop the install? not the majority.