Author Topic: Official statement on the recent news about privacy  (Read 56329 times)

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Offline leonard53

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #75 on: February 02, 2020, 02:46:08 AM »
When entering the bedroom and finding your partner in bed with someone else, you don't want to hear: Darling, it's not what you think...
Even after a marriage of 10 years it SHOULD make you think.
That's the feeling I presently have about AVAST!

Offline Mike ALA

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #76 on: February 02, 2020, 11:48:57 AM »
And just how do you suggest they go about this:
When the data has had any identifiable data removed/anonymised (stripped out) and then aggregated, how does one go about identifying what data is held for that person making the enquiry, when personalised data has been removed.

They would under GDPR (even if this were the case having given permission for that data to be used) be entitled to know what information is held on them.  They would have to give personal information with which to make a search, a search on any anonymised and then aggregated data would return zero hits.

You can't just give them a print out of all of the aggregated data as they would have no right to that.

But that's where I would argue against you. In the leaks it's made clear that every install of AVAST has its unique ID, this ID changes if you uninstall and install AVAST again. That ID is also connected to the data collected and used by Jumpshot to identify the set of Data. It's that ID that allows the buyer of Data to follow a unique user through different sites and create a profile. It is very hard to believe that I as a user would not be able to have access to my own unique ID that I got when I installed Avast. It is also very hard to believe that AVAST wouldn't be able to connect that ID with an IP or username. In other words, maybe the buyer of Data is getting anonymized and then aggregated data, but for AVAST and the user that data is easily identifiable.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #77 on: February 02, 2020, 12:10:23 PM »
"but for AVAST and the user that data is easily identifiable"
I hope so. it's your data and you allowed it to be used by Avast.
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Offline Luukjr

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #78 on: February 02, 2020, 12:37:02 PM »
It would be nice if all comments on the Avast policy could be grouped in one topic.
OS: Windows 10 Home
Soft: Avast Premium Security  / Avast Cleanup / Malwarebytes Premium

Offline bob3160

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #79 on: February 02, 2020, 12:45:03 PM »
It would be nice if all comments on the Avast policy could be grouped in one topic.
It would be nice. I've forwarded your request to Avast
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Offline Kermit80

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #80 on: February 02, 2020, 06:14:47 PM »
But that's where I would argue against you. In the leaks it's made clear that every install of AVAST has its unique ID, this ID changes if you uninstall and install AVAST again. That ID is also connected to the data collected and used by Jumpshot to identify the set of Data. It's that ID that allows the buyer of Data to follow a unique user through different sites and create a profile. It is very hard to believe that I as a user would not be able to have access to my own unique ID that I got when I installed Avast. It is also very hard to believe that AVAST wouldn't be able to connect that ID with an IP or username. In other words, maybe the buyer of Data is getting anonymized and then aggregated data, but for AVAST and the user that data is easily identifiable.

That differs from the informations I get. Could you please post a link to your sources?

Offline Chuck58

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #81 on: February 03, 2020, 01:49:39 AM »
I see a lot of "Microsoft does this, Google does it, I have faith, the CEO of Avast says.

This isn't about what MS or Google did, or do. It's about what Avast did. I have no faith in what Avast's CEO said, because it's very much like a crook being caught and apologizing to his victims. He isn't sorry he did it; he's sorry he got caught.

I'm an Avast user for over 16 years. Rather, I was an Avast user. Avast is gone and will never be on my computers again. Once burned, twice cautious.
Home, vehicle, and person protected by Smith and Wesson.

Offline Azure Phoenix

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #82 on: February 03, 2020, 01:54:02 AM »
But that's where I would argue against you. In the leaks it's made clear that every install of AVAST has its unique ID, this ID changes if you uninstall and install AVAST again. That ID is also connected to the data collected and used by Jumpshot to identify the set of Data. It's that ID that allows the buyer of Data to follow a unique user through different sites and create a profile. It is very hard to believe that I as a user would not be able to have access to my own unique ID that I got when I installed Avast. It is also very hard to believe that AVAST wouldn't be able to connect that ID with an IP or username. In other words, maybe the buyer of Data is getting anonymized and then aggregated data, but for AVAST and the user that data is easily identifiable.

That differs from the informations I get. Could you please post a link to your sources?
I believe this could be one
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks

I feel that if Avast had promptly addressed the whole de-anonymization it would have significantly helped their public imaged

Offline bob3160

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #83 on: February 03, 2020, 02:37:38 AM »
But that's where I would argue against you. In the leaks it's made clear that every install of AVAST has its unique ID, this ID changes if you uninstall and install AVAST again. That ID is also connected to the data collected and used by Jumpshot to identify the set of Data. It's that ID that allows the buyer of Data to follow a unique user through different sites and create a profile. It is very hard to believe that I as a user would not be able to have access to my own unique ID that I got when I installed Avast. It is also very hard to believe that AVAST wouldn't be able to connect that ID with an IP or username. In other words, maybe the buyer of Data is getting anonymized and then aggregated data, but for AVAST and the user that data is easily identifiable.

That differs from the informations I get. Could you please post a link to your sources?
I believe this could be one
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks

I feel that if Avast had promptly addressed the whole de-anonymization it would have significantly helped their public imaged
The news broke on 1/28/2020 and Avast posted their explanation on 1/29/2020.
https://blog.avast.com/a-message-from-ceo-ondrej-vlcek

How much faster did you expect a reply?
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

Offline Azure Phoenix

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #84 on: February 03, 2020, 02:53:49 AM »
But that's where I would argue against you. In the leaks it's made clear that every install of AVAST has its unique ID, this ID changes if you uninstall and install AVAST again. That ID is also connected to the data collected and used by Jumpshot to identify the set of Data. It's that ID that allows the buyer of Data to follow a unique user through different sites and create a profile. It is very hard to believe that I as a user would not be able to have access to my own unique ID that I got when I installed Avast. It is also very hard to believe that AVAST wouldn't be able to connect that ID with an IP or username. In other words, maybe the buyer of Data is getting anonymized and then aggregated data, but for AVAST and the user that data is easily identifiable.

That differs from the informations I get. Could you please post a link to your sources?
I believe this could be one
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks

I feel that if Avast had promptly addressed the whole de-anonymization it would have significantly helped their public imaged
The news broke on 1/28/2020 and Avast posted their explanation on 1/29/2020.
https://blog.avast.com/a-message-from-ceo-ondrej-vlcek

How much faster did you expect a reply?
Unless I missed it. Nothing there addressed the de-anonymzation claims. Which as I said, I believe they should had.

Offline jraju

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #85 on: February 03, 2020, 03:43:00 AM »
Hi, are these lines convey simple things?
Your antivirus should protect you, but what if it's handing over your browser history to a major marketing company?
i repeat avast  .. a vast lost of confidence

Offline Kermit80

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #86 on: February 03, 2020, 03:50:33 PM »
That differs from the informations I get. Could you please post a link to your sources?
I believe this could be one
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks

thanks. I've read that article and I have a few concerns. It looks to be based on researches made by Wladimir Palant and PCmag itself.
When speaking about data aggregation, Palant states that PCmag research indicates that some Jumpshot customers could access browser histories of individual users. Still,  I can't find any real proof of that.


Offline jraju

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #87 on: February 04, 2020, 04:17:04 AM »
Hi, i really feel that avast has done a disservice to the mankind by falsely saying that it will protect, but instead , it did otherwise.It is unforgivable , whether the data supplying company or the received company use the data or not.
It is against mankind and i quit

Offline Mike ALA

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #88 on: February 05, 2020, 02:20:10 PM »
thanks. I've read that article and I have a few concerns. It looks to be based on researches made by Wladimir Palant and PCmag itself.
When speaking about data aggregation, Palant states that PCmag research indicates that some Jumpshot customers could access browser histories of individual users. Still,  I can't find any real proof of that.

I can't find any proof of that either. I requested that Jumpshot send me my data, they actually had an option about requesting your Data on their website well hidden deep inside it, but they shut down before I got any email back. You can ask yourself why that's an option if all data is annqonymized? I had hoped that I'd get some answers that way.
I've also requested my information from AVAST using the Privacy Portgal at https://www.avast.com/en-us/gdpr . The info I got on myself was only my email, adress and info I sent AVAST when I purchased a license. That also makes me wonder, doesn't AVAST consider the information mined with my installed AV as part of my personal information, or didn't they have anything from me? So many questions and AVAST is doing a lousy job of answering, just making it all way more suspect.

Offline bob3160

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Re: Official statement on the recent news about privacy
« Reply #89 on: February 05, 2020, 02:45:51 PM »
What I've been told following my inquiries regarding the data that was collected was the following,
“The data feed is controlled from our environment and has been turned off.
There is no action you need to take with your product. Data sent to Jumpshot will be deleted
once the wind-down process and corresponding legal obligations are completed.”
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