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Avast Caught Selling User Data to Marketers

Posted: January 31, 2020 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, AI, Malware

"Nothing in life is free."

A lot of people use Avast's antivirus to protect their computer.  It costs you nothing out of pocket and it's a pretty effective little cybersecurity tool. Sound to good to be true right? That's because it is. Did you know that, by default, Avast not only collects your browser activity, but it also sells it to marketers via Jumpshot? A company that (according to its Linkedin profile):
"Provides insights into consumers’ online journeys by measuring every search, click and buy from more than 150 marketplaces across 1,600 categories, including Amazon, Google, Netflix, and Walmart."
In other words, if you use Avast, companies can view your "clickstream data" to learn your online behaviors, down to the literal millisecond!  And while the company buying your data doesn't have access to your other personal information, you are assigned a "Device ID," which is a number assigned to your browser data. And, think about it... If they can see what you're doing and you go to Facebook or any other social media site, it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who you are.  So even though Avast states that your data is anonymous, if you go to a personal site or check your email, they'll be able to figure it out pretty quickly

Is My Data Being Sold?

Did you install Avast with the default settings and click "I agree" without looking at what you're agreeing to? If yes, then at the very least your browsing history is being sold via Jumpshot. That being said, it's the main desktop app that collects your data, not the browser extension.

How Do I Stop This?

Our best advice to you is to:
  1. Uninstall Avast.  Once it's uninstalled, they can no longer harvest your data.
  2. Use more reputable cyber security software.  Cyber security is no joke, ESPECIALLY if you run a small business. Schedule a free consultation with Craig, who can help you choose the cyber security that best fits your needs.
 

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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