I’ve been using avast for years with pleasure. Now i get a message that there’s a program update. When i want to install it i get the message that avast collects and sends information from the computer. Sorry but i won’t allow the installation then. I’m gonne search another free scanner then. I don’t like this kind of things… too bad for avast. Hope they ever gonna change this again!!!
no private info… it is info about files checked against known clean files
all AV are doing this now, and those who dont are working on it
around 200 000 new malware files are found evry day, so this is one way of handling that large amount of malware found, checking files against reputation
Thanks for your explanation Pondus. I didn’t know that. Just was a bit worried by that message. Maybe i’ll change my thoughts later. Still gonna wait a while for the update.
No matter WHAT information is Avast collecting, don’t you thing it should be CUSTOMER right to decide when, what and who is collecting ANYTHING?
if you want a AV with lower protection rate…turn it off
The “non-personal” information avast is collecting is to provide the user base with better protection.
If my information is used to help protect another user…great!
It’s called “the cloud” for a reason. But if you don’t want to help
avast and their users with better protection, so be it.
Good luck with an inferior product.
By the way your ISP has a record on every website you have ever visited.
That’s quite a bold statement. Are you really involved in the development of the the AVs out there or are you just guessing?
It is the trend. More and more we are seeing more software using “the cloud” to improve their product(s).
edit: Both Pondus and myself are users like you and are not employed by avast. We are users dedicated to
assisting others with their avast.
no guesswork
McAfee 2008. http://arstechnica.com/security/2008/09/mcafee-moving-to-the-cloud-for-antivirus-protection/
or F-secure. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=post;quote=1031140;topic=141918.0;last_msg=1031157
Cloud-based, real-time protection against all online threats
Norman. http://www.norman.com/home_and_small_office/products/norman_antivirus
Faster threat identification through cloud-based real time technology ensures that the protection is always up to date.
Kaspersky http://blog.kaspersky.com/ksn/
so surf the websites of Panda (the one that started with it) / Norton / TrendMicro / Bitdefender…
and you find the same
Blatant misdirect. Nobody was talking about the cloud. Besides, it wouldn’t necessary to send info to Avast just to get cloud updates. The info, that’s what it was about.
And they use the cloud to get the information.
Sorry but your prior posts did indirectly point towards using the cloud as an additional enhancement to off-line based detections.
Reply #6 and the text you quoted was in relation avast using the cloud for the transmission/receipt of files active/being scanned. So quoting only a small part of the post, is taking it in isolation and out of context. And the fact that other AVs are doing the same to improve overall detections.
…“By the way your ISP has a record on every website you have ever visited.”… By the way my ISP has no record on every website I visited. I’m the one who decide what and when they record any website! Did you ever heard about TOR?
Even Tor isnt secure like that, im sure your isp still has some info on you.
If Cloud information on files helps Avast make for better protection, then i’m all for it, as All Av’s are doing this type of thing nowadays. As No personal identifiable information states is sent, then that has no problem with myself, and For the top notch protection from internet based threats, then that is great…
When using an Antivirus you have to have some trust when using the programs…I’m sure Microsoft MSE/Windows Defender do same thing or something similar with there Malware Active Protection Service built into there antivirus. Though personally I tend to trust Avast more myself, as they’ve been in business in the security field numerous years…
This is getting way off topic.
Here is a review from MIT concerning TOR http://www.technologyreview.com/view/519186/security-flaw-shows-tor-anonymity-network-dominated-by-botnet-command-and-control/
Cast, NO they do NOT!
Para-Noid, I read that article and I still saying the same thing: When I’m using TOR, my ISP do not know nothing where I’m, what I’m doing…Of course, You have to update TOR every time when a new more secure version is available. Period.
If you think you are completely anonymous online you are either…
A) Naive
B) Foolish
C) Or both
The NSA and the British GCHQ have had the ability to intercept web traffic for years.
Not to mention the CIA, MI5 and Mossad.
They can track your every move. Someone, somewhere knows what you are doing online.
Privacy does not exist on the internet.
Maybe what you say is true. But I don’t need my AV to spy on me. And I am sure others feel the same way. Just because others do it doesn’t make Avast in the right.