Just over 1 month ago, Avast received considerable backlash over its browser Chrome extensions collecting browsing data of its users on the pretext of all of it being deidentified. While common wisdom would suggest learning from this experience and ceasing all such similar activities, the anti-virus maker couldn’t care less. Instead of using only browser extensions, the company ramped up data harvesting through the anti-virus application itself.
Recently, fresh revelations have come to light due to a joint investigation conducted by Motherboard and PCMag in which they have obtained internal documents from one of Avast’s subsidiary – Jumpshot – that gives us an insight into the entire scheme.
Firstly, the software collects all of your browsing data which is then accessed by Jumpshot. The latter in return takes it and uses it as a part of what makes up its product offerings. An example is of its “All Clicks Feed” which lets companies access your behavior on the internet and any clicks you make on any particular range of domains.
What’s not surprising is that these companies comprise of household names including but not limited to IBM, Yelp, Microsoft, Google, Unilever & TripAdvisor. Some of these companies have responded to the recent updates while some have remained silent.
[embedded content]
An example of a record obtained:
Device ID: abc123x Date: 2019/12/01 Hour Minute Second: 12:03:05 Domain: Amazon.com Product: Apple iPad Pro 10.5 – 2017 Model – 256GB, Rose Gold Behavior: Add to Cart.
One company that we have a deeper insight into is Omnicom Media Group, a marketing group based in New York who purchased data last year und ..
Support the originator by clicking the read the rest link below.
