Question About AVAST! Collecting Personal Information

system · 2014-07-18T22:29:15.000Z

Just attempted to install the latest free version and noticed in the terms of agreement that AVAST is monitoring use and traffic of computers that have it installed on them. Which is the exact reason we are installing your software, to eliminate nefarious companies from monitoring our systems by dropping trojans on them.

Does the Enterprise version have the same verbiage in it’s terms and agreements? or does the corporate install of Avast preclude monitoring enterprise assets? I was ready to pull the trigger to convert from McAffee EPO to Avast, but am having serious second thoughts now. It would be nice to get some clarity on this matter.

bob3160 · 2014-07-18T22:33:52.000Z

Your inquiry would probably get a better and faster answer in the following Forum:

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=33.0

system · 2014-07-20T00:22:45.000Z

My experience watching Avast Free is that it definitely attempts to send out data. I doubt you will find an antivirus product that does not, free or paid. The data is there to take and they will try and take it. Judging from the postings on this forum, people trust their antivirus software, some to the extreme. I see no basis for this trust. The only safe way to use AV software is to firewall it from connecting out, like you would any other software (I hope). Updates to the virus definition files can be installed manually.

system · 2014-07-20T03:33:31.000Z

I think they do track you or at least the programs has algorithms to do so, not sure if they send that information back though. Despite my settings that disable all the pop up that I can and opting out of the community function, once and while I get a Avast ad that is specific to the website I am visiting. For example just now, I visted the BBC and I got a Avast VPN ad for Bypass Content Restrictions, obviously to get around BBC geo restrictions on their content.

bob3160 · 2014-07-20T13:35:12.000Z

Updates to the virus definition files can be installed manually.

That would result in fewer updates and increased exposure. Your computer, your choice. :)

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