'Avast' will be fined approximately 2.5 billion yen for selling browser browsing data
Avast, known for its free security software
FTC Order Will Ban Avast from Selling Browsing Data for Advertising Purposes, Require It to Pay $16.5 Million Over Charges the Firm Sold Browsing Data After Claiming Its Products Would Block Online Tracking | Federal Trade Commission
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/ftc-order-will-ban-avast-selling-browsing-data-advertising-purposes-require-it-pay- 165-million-over
Avast sold privacy software, then sold users' web browsing data, FTC alleges - CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ftc-avast-browsing-data-privacy/
FTC to ban Avast from selling browsing data for advertising purposes
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ftc-to-ban-avast-from-selling-browsing-data-for-advertising-purposes/
Avast is a long-established security company that provides antivirus software, mobile apps, and browser extensions with privacy protection features that block tracking. However, in January 2020, it was discovered that the company was actually selling data to other companies through its subsidiary Jumpshot. Avast has since discontinued Jumpshot.
Free antivirus software ``Avast'' apparently sold user data to Google and Microsoft - GIGAZINE
On February 22, 2024, the FTC issued a ``1650 filing against Avast and its subsidiaries to resolve accusations that they sold data to third parties while promising to protect consumers from tracking.'' 'We will require you to pay us $10,000 and prohibit the sale or licensing of your browsing data for advertising purposes.'
FTC says despite its promises to protect consumers from online tracking, Avast sold consumers' browsing data to third parties /2
— FTC (@FTC) February 22, 2024
According to the FTC, Avast sold browsing data extracted from its products through a Czech subsidiary from 2014 to January 2020, including users' political leanings, location, and economic status. , religious beliefs, and health concerns. Avast not only failed to notify consumers that it was collecting and selling this data, but instead claimed that its products would reduce tracking on the internet.
The amount of user data sold to over 100 companies, including advertising companies, marketing companies, data analysis companies, and data brokers, is huge, and Jumpshot sold over 8PB (8000TB) of data from 2014 to 2020. It has been with.
'Avast promised users that its products would protect the privacy of their browsing data, but the opposite was true,' Samuel Levin, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. 'The tactics violated consumer privacy and violated the law.'
Avast says it uses a special algorithm to remove identifying information before transmitting users' data to customers, but the FTC says it did not do enough to anonymize it.
For example, Jumpshot's agreement with advertising conglomerate Omnicom allows Omnicom to link Avast data with data obtained from data brokers on an individual user basis.
The FTC and Avast have agreed that Avast will pay $16.5 million in restitution to consumers, and the settlement includes a ban on selling data under the Avast brand in the future and This includes obtaining explicit consent in advance when collecting browsing data for advertising purposes.
After the data sale was discovered, Avast was merged with Gen Digital , an American and Czech-based multinational company that owns Norton, AVG, Avira, CCleaner, and more.
A Gen Digital spokesperson told the media, 'While we disagree with the FTC's allegations and factual findings, we are pleased to have resolved this matter and will continue to serve our millions of users around the world.' I hope we can continue to provide that.'
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