Avast fined $16.5 million for ‘privacy’ software that actually sold users’ browsing data

https://lemmy.world/post/13022427

Avast fined $16.5 million for ‘privacy’ software that actually sold users’ browsing data - Lemmy.World

> 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.

If the software is free, but not open source, it’s harvesting your data. How else do you think these companies stay in business?
If you pay tho they’re also harvesting your data. And if you don’t use your service they make a ghost profile and harvest that data.
The only way to fully prevent it is to remove the profit-motive altogether.
Sounds fun!