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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[–] dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 80 points 8 months ago (13 children)

If the software is free, but not open source, it's harvesting your data. How else do you think these companies stay in business?

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

So companies like Proton and BitWarden are harvesting your data with their free tiers?

[–] russjr08@bitforged.space 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I haven't looked into Proton, but BitWarden is open source both server side and client side.

[–] N2Narkosis@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 months ago

Proton is open source as well. Free tiers are supplemented by subscribers. https://proton.me/support/proton-plans#proton-free

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