Avast: Difference between revisions

| logo_caption = Logo used since 20232021

| hq_location_country = [[Czech Republic]]

In July 2021, [[Gen Digital|NortonLifeLock]], an American cybersecurity company, announced that it is in talks to [[Mergers and acquisitions|merge]] with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion. In September 2022, the [[Competition and Markets Authority]] approved the proposed takeover by NortonLifeLock so allowing the transaction to be completed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Starr|first=Dashia|title=Cybersecurity firms NortonLifeLock and Avast merge in $8B deal|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/cybersecurity-firms-nortonlifelock-and-avast-merge-in-over-8b-deal/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Carly|last=Page|title=Cybersecurity giants NortonLifeLock and Avast merge in $8.1B deal|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/nortonlifelock-avast-merger/|access-date=12 December 2023|website=TechCrunch|date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202011554/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/nortonlifelock-avast-merger/|archive-date=2 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2022 |title=CMA clears NortonLifeLock's £6bn Avast takeover |newspaper=UK Tech News |url=https://www.uktech.news/cybersecurity/nortonlifelock-avast-merger-20220902 |access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Barr |first=Greg |date=12 September 2022 |title=NortonLifeLock to change company name in wake of Avast acquisition |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/09/12/nortonlifelock-name-change-merger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=httphttps://archive.today/2022.09.13-09084220220913090842/https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/09/12/nortonlifelock-name-change-merger.html |archive-date=13 September 2022 |publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dexter|first=Alan|date=2021-08-16|title=Norton and Avast merge to form super-cybersecurity company|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/norton-and-avast-merge-to-form-super-cybersecurity-company/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}}</ref>

In late 2019, Avast [[browser extension]]s were found to collect user data, including browsing behavior and history, and send it to a remote server. The discovery led to the extensions of the Avast and AVG brands being temporarily removed from the [[Google Chrome]], [[Firefox]] and [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] extension stores, however, they returned a short time later as there was no concrete evidence that demonstrated a breach of private data of the users.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brewster|first=Thomas|title=Are You One Of Avast's 400 Million Users? This Is Why It Collects And Sells Your Web Habits.|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/12/09/are-you-one-of-avasts-400-million-users-this-is-why-it-collects-and-sells-your-web-habits/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Li|first=Abner|date=2019-12-18|title=Google removes Avast, AVG extensions from Chrome Web Store after data collection concerns|url=https://9to5google.com/2019/12/17/chrome-avast-extensions-removed/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=[[9to5Google]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-18|title=Some Avast extensions dropped from Chrome Web Store after data collection abuses|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/12/18/some-avast-extensions-dropped-from-chrome-web-store-after-data-collection-abuses/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Android Police|language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2020, a joint investigation by [[Vice (magazine)|Motherboard]] and [[PCMag]] found that the [[Avast Antivirus]] and [[AVG AntiVirus]] Free version were collecting user data, which was being resold to personalize advertising through a subsidiary, Jumpshot.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Cost of Avast's Free Antivirus: Companies Can Spy on Your Clicks|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks|access-date=2021-09-28|website=PCMAG|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210329073046/https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation |archive-date=29 MarMarch 2021 |access-date=2021-09-28|website=www.vice.com|date=27 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast packaged detailed user data to be sold for millions of dollars|url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-27-avast-jumpshot-selling-user-data.html|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Engadget|date=30 January 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> The leaked documents showed that Jumpshot offered to provide its customers with "Every search. Every click. On every site." from more than 100 million compromised devices. In response, Avast announced on January 30, 2020, that it would immediately shut down Jumpshot and cease all operations due to the backlash of its users' data privacy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot|url=https://press.avast.com/avast-to-commence-wind-down-of-subsidiary-jumpshot|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-01|title=Website Metrics: Traffic Statistics, Analytics & Conversion|url=https://www.jumpshot.com/|access-date=2021-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101094748/https://www.jumpshot.com/|archive-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>