Why is avast spying on me?

system · 2017-05-30T21:21:46.000Z

more and more avast functions like a virus

I go on google and pull up a spam call reporting site and within minutes avast is putting a popup ad on my screen trying to sell me anti spam call stuff for the iphone I don’t own.

Google analytics is all fine and well, but this really feels like I’m being spied on by avast, having that sort of instantaneous targeted advertising

mchain · 2017-05-30T22:23:13.000Z

Maybe.

Do you have an adblocker installed? Blocking ads will also speed up loading of web pages significantly.

Opera browser comes with an adblocker installed. I’ve yet to see anything avast related using Opera.

RejZoR · 2017-05-30T23:07:45.000Z

Douglas156 post:1:

more and more avast functions like a virus

I go on google and pull up a spam call reporting site and within minutes avast is putting a popup ad on my screen trying to sell me anti spam call stuff for the iphone I don’t own.

Google analytics is all fine and well, but this really feels like I’m being spied on by avast, having that sort of instantaneous targeted advertising

It’s not spying, it’s just matching ads to relevant content. You don’t seem to mind google doing EXACTLY the same thing, but with avast!, it’s somehow problematic? Just pointing out the obvious. I mean, you were on an anti spam webpage, doesn’t it make sense to mak an ad relevant?

How they do it is basically via Web Shield. They just have predefined rules and if they match for webpage name, it shows the relevant ad. I mean, it’s not like there is someone on the other side looking at what webpages you’re visiting. At least not on a personal level. They have cloud systems which aggregate data automatically and anonymously…

system · 2017-05-30T23:15:18.000Z

If it’s any help, I use Adblock, and it works for me on my CPU.

-JC20032017
8) 8) 8)

Rundvleeskroket · 2017-05-31T10:36:09.000Z

RejZoR post:3:

How they do it is basically via Web Shield. They just have predefined rules and if they match for webpage name, it shows the relevant ad. I mean, it’s not like there is someone on the other side looking at what webpages you’re visiting. At least not on a personal level. They have cloud systems which aggregate data automatically and anonymously…

Does this happen also when Data Sharing and Avast Community is unchecked in the privacy settings?

I think web shield should be able to operate locally. Without checking every site against a cloudbased list. Not for ads and not for actual AV.

system · 2018-12-08T13:27:30.000Z

I’m gonna do some necromancy on this topic because I’m done with avast now.

Over the past few months I’ve noticed with increasing regularity that every time I hop onto a porn site, Avast chimes in with a helpful “Everyone can see what you’re browsing use our security whatever” notification in the windows toolbar. At first I didn’t think too much about it, but now I’ve realized that it consistently happens only when I browse porn- or nsfw sites, and only on them.

The only conclusion I can draw from this is that Avast is literally spying on my internet browser. Why else would it only show me that pop-up at those times?

This is the last straw, and I’m now officially done with avast. The quality of this product has consistently dropped over the years, and I can’t in good conscience recommend this product to anyone anymore.

It’s a real shame, because it’s been my go-to anti-virus software for a great many years.

I heartily recommend every avast user to stop using this software completely, as to help stem these horrible business practices.

system · 2018-12-08T18:43:15.000Z

Do you have any recommendations for virus software?

bob3160 · 2018-12-08T22:57:26.000Z

oscar199 post:6:

I’m gonna do some necromancy on this topic because I’m done with avast now.

Over the past few months I’ve noticed with increasing regularity that every time I hop onto a porn site, Avast chimes in with a helpful “Everyone can see what you’re browsing use our security whatever” notification in the windows toolbar. At first I didn’t think too much about it, but now I’ve realized that it consistently happens only when I browse porn- or nsfw sites, and only on them.

The only conclusion I can draw from this is that Avast is literally spying on my internet browser. Why else would it only show me that pop-up at those times?

This is the last straw, and I’m now officially done with avast. The quality of this product has consistently dropped over the years, and I can’t in good conscience recommend this product to anyone anymore.

It’s a real shame, because it’s been my go-to anti-virus software for a great many years.

I heartily recommend every avast user to stop using this software completely, as to help stem these horrible business practices.

If you’re using the free version, only install the parts that are free. (custom install) or, remove the components that are paid items.

Claudiu7 · 2018-12-09T00:44:50.000Z

RejZoR post:3:

It’s not spying, it’s just matching ads to relevant content. You don’t seem to mind google doing EXACTLY the same thing, but with avast!, it’s somehow problematic? J

Google is free, for Avast! OP paid good money…

So, yes, somehow is problematic…

DavidR · 2018-12-09T01:06:05.000Z

Claudiu7 post:9:

RejZoR post:3:

It’s not spying, it’s just matching ads to relevant content. You don’t seem to mind google doing EXACTLY the same thing, but with avast!, it’s somehow problematic? J

Google is free, for Avast! OP paid good money…

So, yes, somehow is problematic…

Replying to a very old post isn’t advisable, much changes in 18 months.

If the OP (who hasn’t been active since 25 July 2017) is using a paid version then they can stop the promotions/ads for other avast products.

system · 2018-12-10T15:15:55.000Z

The problem isn’t that avast is using ads to finance it’s free version. I’m kind of fine with that.

The problem IS that avast quite literally monitors what websites you visit and tailors it’s ads by preying on your fears.

“Be afraid, someone could be looking at your porn habits right now just like we are. Give us money to prevent others from dong exactly what we are doing.”

It’s not much more than a hop, skip and a jump from here to being no better than the blackmail trojans they purport to protect you against!
I don’t want anyone to spy on me, and that includes the people protecting me from being spied upon.

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