[darkthorn]

I don't know if any of you have read something about this but I would like to leave here an alert.

It seems the Security company AVG has decided to start selling users browser history data to advertisers as a way of getting some profit from its free anti virus software also named AVG. If you have this antivirus installed on your pc this means that they will collect your data and later sell it to third parties. This policy compromises your privacy and in my humble opinion users should do something about it, like changing antivirus.

This new privacy policy starts on 15 October, so if you are using this antivirus maybe you should start to consider another free option like Bitdefender free or Avira.

[Fergal]

It is quite worrying that companies sell on your data like that. Would the fact that they track and store that kind of information slow down your PC?

[sprite1950]

Thank you for this information darkthorn. I do use AVG free and had no idea this was the case. It is indeed very worrying and I will consider changing my antivirus provider. Is there any you would recommend?

[vcolaco]

It is quite worrying that companies sell on your data like that. Would the fact that they track and store that kind of information slow down your PC?

I think performance of the computer may suffer little from it. In fact, keeping this "snooping" quiet is the best way to keep it working and accepted. But the big issue here is that they use your information (no use calling it classified) for their profit.

[darkthorn]

Thank you for this information darkthorn. I do use AVG free and had no idea this was the case. It is indeed very worrying and I will consider changing my antivirus provider. Is there any you would recommend?

At the moment I am using Avira which is also free but Bitdefender free is also a good antivirus, both of them don't use much PC resources. Before I was using Avast but it seems to consume much more resources than the other two I mentioned.

[Alexandoy]

Pardon me for saying this. Last week there was a rash of posts in Facebook purporting to the fee that Facebook will charge users and to waive the fee, you should share that item. Is this thread in that category of spam?

[lejla1311]

Well, that is very disturbing, especially for me since I am using AVG. That is so wrong. I am really worried now. I will have to change my security company definitely.

[vcolaco]

Pardon me for saying this. Last week there was a rash of posts in Facebook purporting to the fee that Facebook will charge users and to waive the fee, you should share that item. Is this thread in that category of spam?

Alexandoy those are usually rumours that re-emerge, from time to time, and is utter spam. This information that darkthorn posted is documented, and is part of the new user agreement for AVG.

[darkthorn]

Pardon me for saying this. Last week there was a rash of posts in Facebook purporting to the fee that Facebook will charge users and to waive the fee, you should share that item. Is this thread in that category of spam?

That Facebook story is an old hoax. What I shared here can be found in AVG website as also in several sites about technology. This information is official and you can check it on AVG website and other well known websites:

http://www.avg.com/us-en/privacy-new
http://now.avg.com/understanding-the-ne ... cy-policy/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2491600,00.asp
http://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-releas ... your-data/
http://news.softpedia.com/news/avg-prou ... 2146.shtml

[catesjets]

MSE is the way to go

[imadmaaziz]

sorry but i'm happy with AVAST it is the best to save my needed because i'm worried that AVG will not work for me as i need :3 any way thanks for sharing mate

[Braids]

Thanks for the info and sugestions. I have AVG installed in my PC and tablet but i gonna unistalled them because of that. In the tablet is only because i use some apps to earn money but in the PC i rarely need a antivirus

[Vens]

Yay, let's put spyware into anti-spyware software.

[Happyland]

It seems like "free" it not totally free. If you want something for free there is some kind of price (hidden or seen) that is paid. In this case giving up a part of your privacy is payment. Paying money is not the only thing worth something. Your habits are valuable and someone wants to see it. There are many privacy tools to alert you and prevent such tracking and dissemination.

Companies tend not to do things in isolation. If one company is doing something it is because the competition is doing it. Giving up your privacy is widespread. Always read the privacy policy of a site and be prepared for a change to that policy.

[DirkZiff]

Hint: Linux + DuckDuckGo.

І love DuckDuckGo!!! Іn combination wіth оthеr secure аnd private providers suсh аs ShazzleMail уоur browsing аnd emailing privacy іs undеr control. І usе DuckDuckGo аs mу browser аnd send аll mу emails privately vіа ShazzleMail

[MeowsePad]

I'm glad that I haven't used AVG for years! I'm happily using Avast now instead. Avast also offers much better protection. AVG used to be good, but their protection is no longer adequate.

[vathsala]

Is it ? We are using AVG and Avast since a long time. Now i am worried whether AVG sold our info to any scrupulous hackers . If it is so , already the damage is done, so now atleast let me switch on to Avira and uninstall AVG