Author Topic: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.  (Read 9702 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline RejZoR

  • Polymorphic Sheep
  • Serious Graphoman
  • *****
  • Posts: 9406
  • We are supersheep, resistance is futile!
    • RejZoR's Flock of Sheep
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #30 on: January 09, 2018, 08:33:48 PM »
While I support the way how avast! has evolved and improved, I'd also appreciate if they specified more clearly what exactly is being sent to avast! and that presented on a dedicated page. Like "www.avast.com/privacy". The EULA is quite frankly VERY vague in this regard. I've gone through the stuff several times and it didn't really tell me what feature does what, if it can be disabled and what exactly is being transmitted. So, I kinda understand the concerns of this user.
Visit my webpage Angry Sheep Blog

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #31 on: January 10, 2018, 11:19:27 AM »
And yet there is still no answer from Avast.

Everyone assumes that the software does not transmit private or personal data when sharing is disabled, but they won't confirm or deny.

That's really suspicious and does not engender trust.

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #32 on: January 10, 2018, 11:24:19 AM »
And yet there is still no answer from Avast.
Sure, Martin and Igor replied, see Reply #19/21.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #33 on: January 10, 2018, 12:28:51 PM »
And yet there is still no answer from Avast.
Sure, Martin and Igor replied, see Reply #19/21.

Nobody has confirmed what is sent when sharing is disabled. That's why I wanted Avast to confirm or deny that information (aside from license/version info) is being sent. It's not safe to assume when a company profits on the sale of the data, it's best to ask.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2018, 12:32:09 PM by SweetieBelle »

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #34 on: January 10, 2018, 12:43:19 PM »
You can address them directly (in quoting them) and/or send a PN.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #35 on: January 10, 2018, 12:59:02 PM »
You can address them directly (in quoting them) and/or send a PN.

This kind of thing should be public and known. The information should have been available, concise and clear.
That is why I didn't ask question the legal department instead.

I am not the only one that wants to know.

Offline bob3160

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Probably Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 48523
  • 64 Years of Happiness
    • bob3160 Protecting Yourself, Your Computer and, Your Identity
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #36 on: January 10, 2018, 02:55:26 PM »
You can address them directly (in quoting them) and/or send a PN.

This kind of thing should be public and known. The information should have been available, concise and clear.
That is why I didn't ask question the legal department instead.

I am not the only one that wants to know.
Who are the others ???
Free Security Seminar: https://bit.ly/bobg2023  -  Important: http://www.organdonor.gov/ -- My Web Site: http://bob3160.strikingly.com/ - Win 11 Pro v22H2 64bit, 16 Gig Ram, 1TB SSD, Avast Free 23.5.6066, How to Successfully Install Avast http://goo.gl/VLXdeRepair & Clean Install https://goo.gl/t7aJGq -- My Online Activity https://bit.ly/BobGInternet

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #37 on: January 10, 2018, 03:11:31 PM »
You can address them directly (in quoting them) and/or send a PN.

This kind of thing should be public and known. The information should have been available, concise and clear.
That is why I didn't ask question the legal department instead.

I am not the only one that wants to know.
Who are the others ???

Others share the concerns and if you also look around online you will find many ask the same thing in many different places. Privacy matters.

Offline bob3160

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Probably Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 48523
  • 64 Years of Happiness
    • bob3160 Protecting Yourself, Your Computer and, Your Identity
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #38 on: January 10, 2018, 03:15:32 PM »
You can address them directly (in quoting them) and/or send a PN.

This kind of thing should be public and known. The information should have been available, concise and clear.
That is why I didn't ask question the legal department instead.

I am not the only one that wants to know.
Who are the others ???

Others share the concerns and if you also look around online you will find many ask the same thing in many different places. Privacy matters.
Because it matters, you've already received a reply from Avast.
Free Security Seminar: https://bit.ly/bobg2023  -  Important: http://www.organdonor.gov/ -- My Web Site: http://bob3160.strikingly.com/ - Win 11 Pro v22H2 64bit, 16 Gig Ram, 1TB SSD, Avast Free 23.5.6066, How to Successfully Install Avast http://goo.gl/VLXdeRepair & Clean Install https://goo.gl/t7aJGq -- My Online Activity https://bit.ly/BobGInternet

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #39 on: January 10, 2018, 03:57:27 PM »
You can address them directly (in quoting them) and/or send a PN.

This kind of thing should be public and known. The information should have been available, concise and clear.
That is why I didn't ask question the legal department instead.

I am not the only one that wants to know.
Who are the others ???

Others share the concerns and if you also look around online you will find many ask the same thing in many different places. Privacy matters.
Because it matters, you've already received a reply from Avast.

I asked what data is sent when I disable the aforementioned cloud/data sharing items. There has been no answer, has there? No.

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #40 on: January 11, 2018, 02:52:32 PM »
@SweetieBelle: Where have you found that list on image in first post?

Offline Pondus

  • Probably Bot
  • ****
  • Posts: 37504
  • Not a avast user
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #41 on: January 11, 2018, 03:11:22 PM »

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #42 on: January 11, 2018, 03:47:12 PM »
@SweetieBelle: Where have you found that list on image in first post?
PDF.doc  >>  https://www.av-comparatives.org/data-transmission-internet-security-products/

That's what got me asking questions. The file is quite dated (2014) and many of the products have been updated and changed extensively since that time. For example, AhnLab's offering has a completely new engine. It's too bad there's no update to the file.

I have asked quite a few companies offering AV products so far. All but one still appear to transmit personally identifying information after opting out, sometimes in plaintext. (Avast not included because they have not answered)
The general rule is simply that you cannot opt out.

Emsisoft was very forthcoming, explained exactly what was sent, how the back end of various features work, how they protect the data and so on. Their EULA is very clear that they do not sell, rent or pass on any data that they do collect.
If you opt out, the product will still work, you will still get updates, but the program hashes will not be sent so you will have to define which programs are trusted or not yourself. This is expected.
The URL filtering is based on a predefined local list, as opposed to scanning each page or sending the URL to a remote server.

My findings have been rather disturbing in general and privacy has not been preserved for the majority of AV products. I know this is consistent with most applications and even windows of course, however being able to control ones data is a selling point. Not everybody will lock these products down, but the option should be there.

Windows 10 has come under fire for near useless privacy controls. There is still a lot of data transmitted, even unencrypted. (Typically that occurs when multiple encrypted transmissions have failed). It can even bypass hosts file imposed restrictions.
Products that are expected to be trustworthy should be scrutinised.

Deceptive and untoward conduct, or misconduct if you will, can have national security implications. People trust this software due to preconceived beliefs held in regard to antivirus and firewall programs.

Russia accused of spying on U.S. officials using Kaspersky software

Quote
OCTOBER 11, 2017, 7:38 PM According to multiple reports, Israeli spies tipped off the NSA that Russia was spying on them, using antivirus software made by the Russian company Kaspersky Lab. Frank Cilluffo, Director of the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University and former senior homeland security official to former President George W. Bush, joins CBSN to discuss what these allegations mean.

Offline Rundvleeskroket

  • Poster
  • *
  • Posts: 508
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #43 on: January 11, 2018, 03:58:22 PM »
The URL filtering is based on a predefined local list, as opposed to scanning each page or sending the URL to a remote server.

I would like to know if for instance Avast does this locally with their list of URLs that trigger a popup. Most days I get a popup trying to scare me into buying their VPN or some other paid extra. Exactly when I visit a site. Obviously this is triggered by that visit. It's too precise. Is this a local list or does Avast transmit every URL visited to themselves? Or maybe statistics about hits on the list. Aggregated or otherwise.

This when all the mentioned options known to transmit information have been disabled. So reputation services, Avast community, data sharing, cybercapture.

If a dev or PR person could weigh in, that'd be swell.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2018, 04:01:07 PM by Rundvleeskroket »

REDACTED

  • Guest
Re: Privacy and data being sent to Avast.
« Reply #44 on: January 19, 2018, 09:31:03 PM »
(...)

Have you got any answers from Avast by PM or the topic is going to be buried?