this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2024
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1016
Avast fined $16.5 million for ‘privacy’ software that actually sold users’ browsing data (www.theverge.com)
submitted 8 months ago by wanderingmagus@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Avast, the cybersecurity software company, is facing a $16.5 million fine after it was caught storing and selling customer information without their consent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the fine on Thursday and said that it’s banning Avast from selling user data for advertising purposes.

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[–] the_post_of_tom_joad@sh.itjust.works 61 points 8 months ago (2 children)

If you pay tho they're also harvesting your data. And if you don't use your service they make a ghost profile and harvest that data.

[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 21 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The only way to fully prevent it is to remove the profit-motive altogether.

[–] GreatDong3000@lemm.ee 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I love it when people say "if you don't pay you are the product" as if paying for youtube premium, google one, reddit premium or spotify will stop them from harvesting your data haha that's how naive we were back when we thought data was collected only for ads.

[–] the_post_of_tom_joad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

how naive we were back when we thought data was collected only for ads.

Yeah their cozy relationship is terrifying considering Edward Snowden's revelations. It's such a simple workaround the constitutional right to privacy. Simply buy data from a willing company. And we wonder why they don't make laws against private companies' data mining... 🤔