This was considered a direct violation of the user’s privacy.īelow is the detailed list of the user data sent to Avast servers:
In the month of October this year, it was revealed by Wladimir Palant that Avast and AVG browser extensions available on various web browsers were found to be collecting user data that could be utilized to reconstruct the user’s web browsing history and browsing behavior.
Recently, the tech firm removed few browser extensions belonging to Avast and AVG from the Google Chrome Web Store, after Wladimir Palant of Adblock Plus (an open-source browser extension developed by Eyeo GmbH) claimed that the security extensions were indeed acting as spyware in disguise.Īccording to Wladimir Palant, “The amount of data that is being collected and sent is beyond the scope of necessity for the extension to function, especially when compared to other solutions from competitors such as Google Safe Browsing.” At least that's what I'm reading.Google is tightening its grip with many measures on their part to resolve privacy and security loopholes concerned with the company’s products.
That's why all the large browsers, Mozilla, Google, Microsoft etc removed the Avast browser extensions after being advised that that they were pulling user data via their malware detection software without disclosing where and what it was being used for. The problem is when the companies we trust to protect us from harvesting are doing the harvesting themselves. Heck Apple themselves might have purchased data from them as they were a trusted source on various web metrics and site visits and a useful resource for those spending money on web advertising. Jumpstart FWIW was a fairly well-regarded and very well-known "analytics" firm who dealt with a wide swath of big businesses who needed reliable information on internet marketing: Site traffic, where leads originate, browser shares, conversion rates, etc. You have to actively opt out.Īs for Google, Microsoft etc buying data it was apparently from Jumpstart and almost certainly predated the Avast purchase of the company this past year. We all tend to allow it tho when they make it sound so innocuous, and in fact it's the default in a lot of operating systems and applications. It can still end up collecting user data for other purposes. Sometimes companies call it analytics for "improving the app and/or user experience". Not to mention some firm laws put in place governing any and all collection and or sale of that data because these conniving corporations will simply come up with ever more creative ways of spying on and monetising individuals. Their needs to be some sort of education for people to understand best practices for and why they should be protecting their identity and personal information. Why anyone would willingly opt in to data collection in the first instance is what I will never understand.