Avast to Pay $16.5M Fine For Selling Consumer Browsing Data

February 23, 2024 at 12:15PM The FTC fined Avast $16.5 million for allegedly selling consumer browsing data to third parties through its subsidiaries, despite claiming to protect users’ privacy. The FTC accused Avast of collecting and storing browsing data without consent, then selling it to over 100 third parties. Avast is now required to compensate … Read more

FTC Slams Avast with $16.5 Million Fine for Selling Users’ Browsing Data

February 22, 2024 at 10:39PM The U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined antivirus vendor Avast $16.5 million for selling users’ browsing data to advertisers despite claiming to block online tracking. Avast is banned from selling web browsing data for advertising and must notify affected users. Misleading privacy practices led to public backlash and the termination of … Read more

Avast shells out $17M to shoo away claims it peddled people’s personal data

February 22, 2024 at 08:04PM Avast has agreed to pay $16.5 million after the FTC accused the antivirus vendor of selling customer data to third parties. The company must destroy web browsing data transferred to its subsidiary, Jumpshot, and obtain express consent for data licensing from users. Avast disputes the allegations but has settled with … Read more

FTC Accuses Avast of Selling Customer Browsing Data to Advertisers

February 22, 2024 at 03:09PM The US government’s consumer protection agency is taking action against Avast for selling customer web browsing data. The Federal Trade Commission accused the company of collecting and selling data without consumer consent. Avast faces a $16.5 million fine and is ordered to stop selling browsing data. The data sold included … Read more

FTC to ban Avast from selling browsing data for advertising purposes

February 22, 2024 at 11:55AM The FTC ordered Avast to pay $16.5 million and banned it from selling users’ web browsing data. The complaint alleges Avast harvested consumers’ data without consent and mislead them about privacy protection. Avast must obtain consent before selling browsing data and delete shared data. The company’s surveillance tactics compromised privacy … Read more

FTC orders Blackbaud to boost security after massive data breach

February 1, 2024 at 05:25PM Blackbaud settled with the FTC after poor security and data retention led to a 2020 ransomware attack affecting millions of people. The company is ordered to improve security, delete unneeded customer data, and create an information security program. Blackbaud must also establish a data retention schedule and notify the FTC … Read more

Biden will veto attempts to rip up SEC breach reporting rule

February 1, 2024 at 12:19PM The Biden administration strongly opposes Senate Joint Resolution 50 and House Joint Resolution 100 that seek to nullify the SEC’s strict data breach reporting rule. The administration argues that the SEC rule is vital for transparency and incentivizing corporate investment in cybersecurity. However, there is disagreement among lawmakers regarding the … Read more

Wyden Releases Documents Confirming the NSA Buys Americans’ Internet Browsing Records

January 26, 2024 at 05:12PM Senator Ron Wyden released documents revealing that the NSA purchases Americans’ internet records, prompting a call for intelligence agencies to cease buying unlawfully obtained personal data from data brokers. Wyden emphasized the need for legal and ethical data practices, highlighting the potential privacy violations and the lack of informed consent … Read more

FTC Bans InMarket for Selling Precise User Location Without Consent

January 22, 2024 at 03:03AM The U.S. FTC has banned InMarket Media from selling precise location data without consumer consent and ordered it to destroy collected data subject to user approval. InMarket and Outlogic faced bans for allegations of improper location data use. InMarket allegedly harvested location data from various apps, while a study revealed … Read more

FTC bans one more data broker from selling your location info

January 19, 2024 at 12:14PM The FTC settled with InMarket, prohibiting it from selling Americans’ location data. The company collects data from its own and third-party apps, creating detailed advertising profiles without users’ consent. The FTC found InMarket’s data retention policy excessive and proposed measures including data deletion and consent enforcement. This is the FTC’s … Read more