Is AVG Selling YOU? - Comments Page 1

Thanks, Bob, for another example of solid, rational reporting. There's no need to be Chicken Little, but we shouldn't cross the line and become patsies, either.

You help us know where the line is.

Mac

A lot of useful common sense!

Thanks Bob!

I really appreciate you voice of level reasoning in the cesspool of Chicken Little thinking!

Bob,
What is the name of or location for the Google ID mentioned in this article? This is one more junk file I would like to delete periodically with CCleaner or manually as needed. Many thanks!

Agree with you
But did not understand below
But furthermore, if you buy a product, then you become a product (a lead for someone selling related products).

Thanks Bob. Once again you helped oit. I got rid of AVG. and went to another
Mike

I have to concur with you, Bob. Most all of the other "free" anti-virus programs are also selling "non-personal" data and perhaps even more. I'm grudgingly pleased that AVG has created a brutally clear privacy policy that consumers actually understand. For that, AVG should be commended. I think this "news story" is a reminder that "free" service on the Internet is not free -- the cost may not be apparent, but there is a cost to your privacy. AVG is being more honest than most.

It took almost 3 weeks to (I Hope) get AVG off my computers 6 months ago. I got suspicious when AVG pop-ups kept telling me that such-and-such a program was now loading 33% faster. I concluded that my computer's registry was being "tinkered" by AVG. Boy! Was I right! There wasn't a part or parcel of the hard-drive NOT being affected by AVG Free. As I said, it was so bad that it took 3 weeks of clean-up effort to quit having some sort of obvious AVG interference with my computer's operation. What's worse, I'm sure that only a new computer will insure AVG is really gone. Do not load anything having to do with AVG on any electronic device you care about!

Kaspersky, a software security company, was recently hacked.

AVG swears it doesn’t “sell or rent” personal data, then shares your email address. So now some hacker would know (a) your email address and (b) that AVG is the security software at that email address. That gives them a starting point on targeting you.

Perhaps it is worth a few extra dollars a year to pay for good security software, so that company doesn't have to sell your soul to raise money for their "free" software.

One other question: AVG says it is sharing your info to keep their software free. Does this mean that it does not apply to their paid version?

Hi,
I only use free versions of virus control,so if the company can make money from my information,then I think that's only fair.So long as no privileged information is being shared.By privileged information I mean the sort of stuff hackers are after.
Cheers,Ed.

I really like that saying “If you’re not the buyer, then you’re the product” but there is a middle ground that is almost like the under-ground, or flying low under the radar.
I am fully okay with AVG bartering our data. I totally agree with us having a GoogleID. I even accept targeted advertisement to the masses' devices! I don't mind if none of us mind spam.
But I opted out of such shenanigans from day one!
*I have 2 totally separate identities in life: One is my birth-right identity and the other is my digital identity, and the 2 shall never meet.
*I don't have a Google account, and don't use Chrome or gmail.
*I don't have a Facebook or a Tweeter account and don't own a parcel in the 'cloud'.
*I don't use any of the "FREE" versions of any product on the market, including AVG (or Avast or Avira, for that matter).
*I don't register at the supermarket with my credentials to get discounts, nor do I even have any credit cards or even a Starbucks awards account, for my daily caffeine intake.
*I learned a long time ago to use aliasing of my email account at Fastmail.fm which I pay for.
*I refuse to watch commercials on TV, won't wear any clothing that has company names/logos and I even promptly remove the license plate frame advertisements when I purchase my next car.
It is not the easiest or the cheapest way of leading an American 'consumerism' lifestyle but I do okay: Even if it means that I am forced to abstain from owning a smartphone and not being part of the totally 'connected' netizens. My aim has always been to be a marketeers worst nightmare; if not their Satan.
I don't even mind if I am called totally paranoid or even delusional!

Very Informative Bob I got rid of AVG free many moons ago when I discovered that their anti virus software was so intrusive that there was hardly one file or folder on my computer that the name AVG did not appear. These days I use one of the top 10 paid for Anti Virus programs that does not try to get into my bank account. I still run a sweep from time to time just to make sure that it has not sneaaked back into my computer through the back door
David Guillaume

At least give AVG kudos for the guts to make things simple and clearly defined. If only all others would make their verbiage as transparent!

Robert A. Heinlein said it best: "TANSTAAFL"

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Everything costs money/time and has to be paid for by someone. As you said, at least AVG is telling its users what is being collected and how the data is being used.

I'd HATE to see AVG's simple-plain-English translation of their agreement back-fire in their face. I think it sets a good example for other companies to follow, and you bet that they are ALL watching this 'experiment' in 'Plain-Speak' to see if there are negative repercussions which would push other companies to bury their perhaps even more nefarious intentions in even deeper legalese. I for one say GOOD WORK AVG! - THOUGH, (ah-hem) I don't use it, my ISP provides another real-time scanner for free. Though I have used it in the past without fear or problem - though that may have been naive - trust has to start somewhere. I mean, the NSA is NOT a covert company pulling the strings for AVG - though I've often thought that were the NSA to front an anti-virus program, it would learn FAR more than it does, or can, now. Perhaps the American Anti-virus Company (AVG)may soon be THE freeware of the coming decade. . . . .

How about an antivirus company coming out with an equally direct and plain-English user agreement, that says it will not share your information with anyone, for any reason, unless required by law.

Thank You once more, Bob :)

Thanks Bob, for another excellent article related
to possible invasion of privacy on the internet.

I downloaded AVG to simply try it (not buy it). It seemed to do its job well, and I liked some of the "flashy" screens. After trying it for a few days, I deleted it. But now my usual (3 yrs.) Kaspersky would not work! Maybe Win "Uninstaller" didn't get it all? There were a LOT of folders and files left behind all over the hard drive -about 5 hours of taking ownership and deleting. It still would not run. Did AVG from Czechoslovakia and Kaspersky from Russia have anything to do with this? No, AVG wouldn't do... That's crazy thinking!(?)

I went from AVG to Avast because it seemed to be a better product for me. Now I may return to AVG, to vote in favor of honesty and openness by free software providers.