They definitely made more than that selling data what a fucking joke

If the software is free, but not open source, it's harvesting your data. How else do you think these companies stay in business?

$16.5 million is not even a slap on the wrist

Five years ago, I posted on Reddit about how Avast had installed a browser without my consent and set it as default while I was out of town and away from my computer. That post has had comments added to it several times a year ever since, meaning that they're still trying that nonsense. They stole my data without my consent by importing all of my browser data, and now it's come out that they blatantly sold it without my consent as well.

I said it then, and I say it now: If you install something without my knowledge or consent, you're a virus, plain and simple.

Cybersec company ❌

Advertisement/Data mining ✔️

Jesus Christ.

Remember when Google's Motto was "Don't be Evil" It was supposed to be a jab at Microsoft, but it feels like every year tech companies find news ways to just be fucking evil.

PS. Google kind of fails to live up to that motto too, I don't even know if it's still an official motto.

This is a careful reminder to be VERY SCEPTICAL about not only "anti-viruses" (like bro, Windows defender is good enough), but also browsers. There is a high probability that the company is either a data broker or fintech... looking at you, Opera.

Do we know how much money they made on it? If it was more than $16.5 then it was still a good step on their balance sheet.

This stuff needs to be fined at the full income they made from the tool plus some penalty. Corporations only care about their balance sheets.

That's horrifying. I remember using the avast private browser when I was younger as to not get tracked by Google chrome, but i was just getting tracked by avast instead. :(

And I'm sure that fine was as high or higher than the profit they made from the data... what, it wasn't?!

Cost of doing business

This is fucking garbage.

When a company gets caught with their hand in the cookie jar, it's not a punishment to put one of the cookies back.

Fines should be ten TIMES what the company made from their misbehaviour, not ten percent.

Ah, the snake oil turned out to be poisonous.

that is one of two reasons why I stopped using their software.

Too many scare-ware screens and too much bloatware that you have to be mindful about not installing.

Can't believe a company with a notorious history of spying on users is at it again for the 234th time!

Is there a class action lawsuit?

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Avast, the cybersecurity software company, is facing a $16.5 million fine after it was caught storing and selling customer information without their consent.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the fine on Thursday and said that it’s banning Avast from selling user data for advertising purposes.

From at least 2014 to 2020, Avast harvested user web browsing information through its antivirus software and browser extension, according to the FTC’s complaint.

“We are committed to our mission of protecting and empowering people’s digital lives,” Avast spokesperson Jess Monney said in a statement to The Verge.

“While we disagree with the FTC’s allegations and characterization of the facts, we are pleased to resolve this matter and look forward to continuing to serve our millions of customers around the world.”

In January, the FTC reached a settlement with Outlogic (formerly X-Mode Social) that prevents the data broker from selling information that can be used to track users’ locations.

The original article contains 398 words, the summary contains 155 words. Saved 61%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

They should be put out of business and those responsible jailed

this, i prefer the service based on Free and Open Source Software,