AVG, Frenemies and Your Browsing Data.

Published on September 20, 2015 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

Your browser isn’t “your” browser. You use it on the software company’s terms and conditions. The same for every piece of software on your computer.

You don’t expect your security software to be spying on you, right? seems contradictory, no? Well, guess again. The name of the game is big data. MS, Apple, Banks…you name it.

For some reason though, I never expected security software to do it. But it does.

AVG has updated its EULA (something everyone should read carefully on every product you’re planning to purchase or use): http://www.avg.com/gb-en/privacy-new#why-do-you-collect-my-data

It has the usual boiler plate language and ‘justifications’: We protect the info we collect. Yeah. Just like “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” “We use data that doesn’t identify you”. Sure. Just how do WE know that? Oh yeah, because you say so.

“We use data that does not identify you, called non-personal data, for lots of purposes, including to improve our products and services and to help keep our free offerings free.” AVG

“We collect information in three ways: when you provide us information, automatically, when you use our website or products, and when provided to us by third parties. Much of our automatic collection is done through the use of things like cookies and tracking beacons.” – ibid

This is a really good one. Can’t you see the used car salesman saying this (just substitute “repair record” for “privacy”)?

“If you are really interested in this privacy stuff, we’ve put together a few videos and to help explain what we do, why we do it, and how.” – ibid

I’ll fix them: I’ll report their grammar to Jafo.

Right…and try to guilt me into agreeing so I can get your “free” product. Wait…so it’s “free” because you sell my data, and I get supposed “privacy” and you don’t sell my data if I buy the “paid for” version? Why am I thinking of Don Vito Corleone?

Why is it LEOs and the FBI need warrants to track your car, etc. but these guys don’t?

What data can identify you? Not going to provide extensive quotes from their EULA. It’s all here:

http://www.avg.com/gb-en/privacy-new#why-do-you-collect-my-data

Always remember: “T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L.”:

"Gospodin," he said presently, "you used an odd word earlier--odd to me, I mean..."

"Oh, 'tanstaafl.' Means “There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.' And isn't," I added, pointing to a FREE LUNCH sign across room, "or these drinks would cost half as much. Was reminding her that anything free costs twice as much in long run or turns out worthless."

"An interesting philosophy."

"Not philosophy, fact. One way or other, what you get, you pay for."

“The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” - Robert Heinlein, GP Putnam 1966.

Have a good weekend, folks.

Sources:

Links in the post and http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/19/avg-privacy-policy-update/

Comments

Uvah

on Sep 20, 2015

I use AVG. So my A/V is acting like a double agent. It keeps out the spyware so it can have it all to itself. How greedy is that!

Might as well open it all up and give these jerkoffs a free ride. Sheesh!

WinMonster2

on Sep 20, 2015

If You use electronic devices of any kind IR: computers,smart phones,tablets there are a few things you should take for granted.

1) There is always someone watching or tracking what you are doing especially if you are connected to the internet.

2) That fancy new piece of hardware you just bought requires software of some kind to make it work and that software will inevitably transmit personal data whether it can identify you or not back to the company who made it.(Which will then sell it)

3) There is no such thing as the perfect security software that catches everything because there would not be any money it for the security companies if they

could block everything in one shot.

4) If you pay attention to what you download and install on your Computers and devices,and what they are installing with them you can avoid a lot of the drama

5) Never try to get something for free that normally cost money this almost always Guarantee a virus

Jafo

on Sep 20, 2015

Much "tracking" functionality of software or websites can be quite innocuous. .. anom not for on selling of data for advertising but for system functionality.

Wincustomize.com for example uses cookies to enable skin comment functionality. Disable the cookies and you won't be able to post comments.

There's nothing at all nefarious or evil involved.

I'm pretty sure Kaspersky gathers data ..... (what i use) probably needs to just to keep on top of who is being attacked or exposed to / by what....

StellioPaultos

on Sep 23, 2015

WinMonster2

reply 2

1) There is always someone watching or tracking what you are doing especially if you are connected to the internet.

Ehh... there's not that much free time in the world. and if there were, they're welcome to my data if it makes them happy. human beings can't help themselves, they form judgments based on what they find out (or think they do) and damn the consequences. those being, when they get some out-of-context facts that are then wrongly interpreted. so even as "they" are studying me for instance, they're limited in the same way that a match.com hookup is: they'll often end up seeing what they want to see, regardless of what is actually there. and I can rest safe knowing I remain enigmatic, no matter how many times I get scanned. everybody wins, way I see it

By the way, I lol'ed when I found out, match.com now wants to be called Match. Serious man, so serious. They're becoming app-based, instead of "using the internet" right? Btw, this is male-seeking-altarian-female.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!