In the world of cybersecurity, the trust between a user and their antivirus provider is paramount. When this trust is broken, it can be nearly impossible to regain. This is the challenge with AVG and Avast, two popular antivirus solutions owned by the same parent company, Gen Digital.
In the past, these two companies were mired in controversy. The trouble began when Avast’s Online Security browser extension was found to be gathering an excessive amount of user data, far beyond what was necessary for the extension to function. This included users’ location, search history, gender, age and even personal shipping information. The allegations escalated when it was discovered that this data was sold to corporate clients through a subsidiary of Avast named Jumpshot. This practice raised serious ethical questions and landed Avast and AVG in hot water with privacy advocates.
Following public outcry and investigations by security experts and journalists, Avast shut down Jumpshot in early 2020 but the damage was done. The discovery of these unethical business practices led to the removal of AVG and Avast from many recommendation lists, despite their previously solid reputations in the antivirus market.
Since then, Avast and AVG have undergone significant changes to restore user confidence and ensure that privacy isn’t compromised. They have closed down the data-aggregating subsidiary, Jumpshot, and have received certifications from data privacy advisors such as TrustArc. Avast and AVG have also committed to working closely with privacy experts to responsibly manage users’ data.
Today, both AVG and Avast claim to no longer pose a privacy threat to users, and they continue to provide robust virus protection. However, their past actions serve as a stark reminder that choosing an antivirus goes beyond considering its technical merits. Users must also consider the company’s ethical stance and practices, and whether they can trust it with their sensitive data. In this case, despite improvements, the shadow of past missteps continues to hang over AVG and Avast, highlighting the importance of a strong ethical framework in cybersecurity companies.