Spyware

[bob3160]

Iroc9555 and DavidR have both posted screenshots on page 2 of this thread.

Iroc's image isn't from avast! but from the service that displays the video.
David's images explained some things to you but, aren't images related to your claim.

[been]

Look at the bottom right of Iroc's image and you'll see the Avast pop-up which was also encountered by DavidR (in his screenshot) and myself. The pop-up (which is a standard avast toaster ad) is designed to promote Secureline and is triggered when a YouTube page containing a geo-blocked video is accessed. I think this supports my claim that Avast is inspecting users' traffic to market its products to them, but if anyone has another theory...

[bob3160]

I quite often see a toaster popup urging me to install GrimeFighter.
Grimefighter was never installed and doesn't work on my OS.
I've also seen a popup for SecureLine despite the fact that I own it and it's running
at the time the popup appeared.
Could it be ad tracking Maybe. Could it be coincidence Maybe
Unfortunately being on the internet also means giving up most of your privacy.
Something we may not like but something that is a fact.

[been]

Again, Bob, I invite you to look at the images posted by others. The toaster has a tick box for "Don't show again for this website", it's not coincidence.

[bob3160]

Again, Bob, I invite you to look at the images posted by others. The toaster has a tick box for "Don't show again for this website", it's not coincidence.

Every website you visit is first checked by avast! to make sure it's safe.
I'm sure avast! is also aware of the fact that the video can't be played  due to restrictions
that can be bypassed by SecureLine. Hence to suggestion to use it if you're interested.
What is the problem You can tell avast! not to display the option to purchase the product again.

[bob3160]

I am also pretty sure that the information passed on to you prior to installing avast! in the eula,
pretty well spells out what avast! can and can not do with the information harvested.
You agreed to all of this prior to installing avast!. Even if you didn't read all of the eula or if you totally
understood everything spelled out in the eula.
Just as you do with every other program installed on your computer. Including your operating system.
Don't feel bad, I hardly ever read the eula since I want to use the program not spend my time
becoming a Philadelphia lawyer.

[iroc9555]

Look at the bottom right of Iroc's image and you'll see the Avast pop-up which was also encountered by DavidR (in his screenshot) and myself. The pop-up (which is a standard avast toaster ad) is designed to promote Secureline and is triggered when a YouTube page containing a geo-blocked video is accessed. I think this supports my claim that Avast is inspecting users' traffic to market its products to them, but if anyone has another theory...

We also explained that that does not make avast! a spyware. Avast! has to. It must monitor which sites you visit in order to protect you. Every program, browser does anyways. Now, avast! throw at you a little advert ( advice ) on how to circumvent the problem of geolocation restriction by using another of its product does not make it a spyware. A spyware will collect info from your computer and your Internet activity and it will transmit it to someone else to use it against your best interests. Avast! is not doing that. It is looking after you.

[been]

This has nothing to do with advice or security, this is Avast using my private information against me to advertise at me. There is little in principle to distinguish between this Avast activity and the behaviour of deep packet inspection outfits such as Phorm which caused a great deal of controversy in the UK some years ago.

Avast told me at installation that I can opt out of this sort of data collection and (mis)-use via my account but last I looked it provides no such facility. How do I opt out?

[bob3160]

The simple solution is to change to another product and then have them collect your data.
You are pretty naive to think that you can actually use the internet without any data collection.