Thanks to Graham Cluley, for posting about about changes coming to AVG on 15 October.
https://grahamcluley.com/2015/10/week-avg-flogs-web-browsing-search-history/?utm_source=Cluley&utm_campaign=0a74fb0618-Graham_Cluley&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8106850f4a-0a74fb0618-58859205
Warn people who use this program to opt out of allowing AVG to scoop up the web browsing activities and data collection on a user.
I just installed AVG Free and wanted to read about this but the link is currently not properly directing, at least not now for me. Is there an updated link?
edit to add and how does one opt out?
I can not get grahamcluley.com to load.
I suspect the link will work once his site is up again.
I checked a site that checks to see the status of websites and here's what it showed.
Open Avg
Click on "Options"
Scroll down to "Advanced Settings" and click on it.
Click on "Privacy Preferences"
Uncheck what you don't want (especially "Personalization")
Click on "Apply" or, if you didn't change anything, "OK"
If you're not going to run a scan or do something else..... Close AVG
After Graham Cluley's site come back up, go ahead and check to see if he suggests anything else.
The link is working again.
part of the story from the above link
QuoteAVG's new privacy policy says that it collects "non-personal data" from users of its free products:
We collect non-personal data to make money from our free offerings so we can keep them free, including:
Advertising ID associated with your device;
Browsing and search history, including meta data;
Internet service provider or mobile network you use to connect to our products; and
Information regarding other applications you may have on your device and how they are used.
Sometimes browsing history or search history contains terms that might identify you. If we become aware that part of your browsing history might identify you, we will treat that portion of your history as personal data, and will anonymize this information. We may also aggregate and/or anonymize personal data we collect about you.
and
QuoteAVG says that you will be able to turn off the information-sharing if you don't approve. But, of course, they're relying on users not doing that. It's the same method many other technology companies have made over the years to get their users to accept changes - if they're unlikely to opt in to something, require them to opt out.
Thanks all!!