Data Protection Authority Investigates Avast for Selling Users' Browsing History

The Czech data protection authority has announced an investigation into antivirus company Avast, which was harvesting the browsing history of over 100 million users and then selling products based on that data to a slew of different companies including Google, Microsoft, and Home Depot. From a report: "On the basis of the information revealed describing the practices of Avast Software s.r.o., which was supposed to sell data on the activities of anti-virus users through its 'Jumpshot division' the Office initiated a preliminary investigation of the case," a statement from the Czech national data protection authority on its website reads. Under the European General Protection Regulation (GDPR) and national laws, the Czech Republic, like other EU states, has a data protection authority to enforce things like mishandling of personal data. With GDPR, companies can be fined for data abuses. "At the moment we are collecting information on the whole case. There is a suspicion of a serious and extensive breach of the protection of users' personal data. Based on the findings, further steps will be taken and general public will be informed in due time," added Ms Ivana Janu, President of the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection, in the statement. Avast is a Czech company.

Not Unexpected

[SuperKendall]

Honestly if a company is called "Avast" I am thinking they are pirating something of mine, happy to find out it's just data.

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[bobstreo]

Honestly if a company is called "Avast" I am thinking they are pirating something of mine, happy to find out it's just data.

You know, I have to wonder what the carbon footprint of all the reporting/data sharing is. /s

If you're using Windows 10, Edge browser, Avast AV, and browsing Facebook, you could probably exceed your data cap in a few days.

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[invictusvoyd]

you could probably exceed your data cap in a few days.

.. you and the "others" in your box ..

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[satanicat]

Imagine how profitable it could be to remove data caps all together... =)

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[war4peace]

I was using Avast on all my PCs, uninstalled it from all the moment the first news piece popped up. Replaced it with Avira.

Free has a cost.

[ah802]

Been using it for years and don't have any undue spam so far.

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[jellomizer]

The problem is the lack of reporting on the cost of free.

It is like buying a car with no money down, but they don't tell you what the purchase price is.

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[LenKagetsu]

Ublock Origin. Solves 100% of problems. They could have every piece of data on you and it would be completely useless.

I've said it before

[thegarbz]

And I'll say it again. The only companies that have any vested interest in keeping your data secure is those companies that provide analytics from your data as a core part of their business. Advertisement companies sell "access" to you. Companies which don't have this primary income stream will instead just sell you and your information wholesale.

Installed avast and https stopped working

[lordofshadows]

Installed avast and https stopped working, turns out they are monitoring https traffic through cert trickier (similar to what employers do) hard to find a good anti-virus provider these days

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[Howitzer86]

I've used Avast since 2003, back when their notifications had a male voice with that thick Czech accent... lately though Windows has been ignoring my power and screensaver settings, keeping everything on 24/7. I ignored that until it burned an image of the taskbar into my brand new LCD monitor. My attempt to resolve that gave hints that it was caused by Avast, but I wasn't ready to let go until these articles came out. When I finally did suddenly my power and screensaver settings started working again.

Goodb