Avast Closes Jumpshot Over Data Privacy Backlash

Antivirus software giant Avast has announced that it will wind down one of its subsidiary businesses just days after leaked documents revealed the extent to which the Czech company was selling users' browsing data to third parties. From a report: On Monday, Vice and PCMag published details about how Avast had been collating browsing data covering web properties such as Google Maps and Search, LinkedIn, and YouTube and then repackaging it for sale under a subsidiary called Jumpshot, which has claimed clients such as Google, Microsoft, Yelp, Pepsi, Home Depot, and Conde Nast. Although the data was not thought to contain any personally identifiable information, it is often possible to "de-anonymize" data by combining and aligning it with different data sets to unearth shared patterns. Jumpshot was founded back in 2010 but officially launched from a Kickstarter-funded project in 2012. In its original guise, Jumpshot offered a PC-based software that promised to rid machines of viruses, spyware, and the like, and the company was eventually bought by Avast.

They still don't learn

[weilawei]

And this is why no box I have to admin will ever run any closed-source commercial AV.

Re:They still don't learn

[ArchieBunker]

Last time I used ClamAV on a Windows box it would have taken a week to scan a terabyte hard drive. It's fine for scanning one questionable file and that's about all. The built in Windows AV is good enough.

Re:

[weilawei]

It's more about needing some form of AV across all platforms for security and compliance, not just Windows.

It's a liability to a business to be running software that's selling every click and keystroke your employees make.

Re:

[G00F]

A lot (like all) AV companies cheat in order to appear faster. Like not looking inside compressed or other packaged files. Sure, you right clicked that iso or zip and selected scan and said all clean, but the AV never "opened" and checked each file it contained.

There are other asinine default settings AV companies use.

Re:

[twocows]

MSE/Windows Defender appeared to the last time I checked. I remember seeing it looking inside of compressed files at some point in time while running a scan.

As I said regarding Sonos...

[QuietLagoon]

... trust takes years to earn, but it is lost in hours. Once lost, it takes even longer to earn once again. Avast has lost my trust.

Next month

[Ryzilynt]

They will quietly re-open the project under a different name.

"Free-throw" perhaps.

Re:

[arelas]

You beat me to the joke by about 2 minutes! Well played sir!

Jumpshot is dead, long live Jumpshot

[arelas]

Meanwhile in other news, Avast is planning a new company called Layup...

One down, how many more to go?

[sinij]

Considering that Avast's abuses are business as usual in mobile space, what can be done to stop systemic and widespread abuses by bad players?

Re:

[Zocalo]

At least for genuine companies you could start by making some examples in court, with serious penalties if found guilty. Avast Software s.r.o. is Czech and has its HQ in Prague, which more than likely mean that both Avast and their subsidiary are going to be liable under the GDPR. That Avast has reacted so promptly and drastically to what already looks very much like a serious breach of the aforementioned legislation only serves to make them look guilty as hell in my opinion - even Facebook took longer th

More information...

[em1ly]

here's the full report [vice.com] from motherboard/pc mag

Re:

[Aereus]

A full report using a hyperlink that has a callback URI to Slashdot...

Actual photo of the antivirus stealing data

[risc8088]

https://i1.wp.com/www.geeksare... [wp.com]

Avast sells/use private information.. ho my g..!

[grumpy-cowboy]

I shared it on Facebook.
Post a selfie of my outraged face on Instragram.
Post a Tweet about it #deletefacebook #privacyday #degooglelify

Sent from my Google Android phone