In view of the recent vulnerabilities found in Kaspersky and the possible actual corruption in AVG what can Avast! do to reassure users that they are safe? In a recent Security Now episode on TWIT, it was suggested that the use of an anti-virus program other than Microsoft's Defender can actually increase the potential for your computer being vulnerable. This opinion was based on the fact that since an anti-virus program must scan your activity and decide what to block or pass that it can actually become a portal (whether intentional or unintentional) for third party software to attach or collect information from your computer. They go on to say that they would question any "free" anti-virus program because other than the hope that a user will update to a paid program what would a company have to gain? In other words, they are suggesting that nothing is "free" and that would bring into question the honesty of free anti-virus programs.
I use both paid and free copies of Avast! and have so far found it to be a great program. I just need a little reassurance from the Avast! management.
Thanks!!