The price of free software: Avast has been selling the browser history of its users

[Redaktion]

Although there are still freeware products that are completely free, others come with hidden traps that the user only gets to find out about via scandals. The free Avast antivirus is such a product — it turns out that the Czech firm behind it has been selling the browser history of its users to the highest bidder.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-price-of-free-software-Avast-has-been-selling-the-browser-history-of-its-users.452220.0.html

[Marcelino Deseo, Jr]

Free software is not freeware. You can download and use avast virus scanner free of charge (freeware) but you cannot get its source code, create a virus scanner out of it and distribute it (free software).

[Duble08]

Free software is not freeware. You can download and use avast virus scanner free of charge (freeware) but you cannot get its source code, create a virus scanner out of it and distribute it (free software).

I think you're mixing freeware up with open source.

Freeware - free software you can use without a license and can redistribute freely as long as you don't make a profit

Open source - free software without a license with access to an uncompiled source code that you can modify and redistribute freely.

[A]

@Duble08 - You are almost right but I think he is thinking of FOSS. (Free and Open Source Software). Cause even open source doesn't mean it is free.

There are plenty of paid software that have open source code.

[Codrut Nistor]

Free software is not freeware. You can download and use avast virus scanner free of charge (freeware) but you cannot get its source code, create a virus scanner out of it and distribute it (free software).

Thank you for being faster than me with that reply, Marcelino.
When I say "freeware" I only think about "free to download, free to use" apps. Being open source could be interesting for programmers. I have some basic coding knowledge, but to be honest, I don't care about the source code of the programs I use.

I think you're mixing freeware up with open source.

Freeware - free software you can use without a license and can redistribute freely as long as you don't make a profit

Open source - free software without a license with access to an uncompiled source code that you can modify and redistribute freely.

[Miguel Gandara]

Avast is not free software.

[Codrut Nistor]

Miguel, they also have a free antivirus in addition to the paid products. https://www.avast.com/index#pc

[Claudio Brandolino]

Miguel is correct "freeware" and "free software" are not the same thing. "Free software" means something specific.

I'm surprised the author is still insisting on his mistaken definition when a cursory look at the Wikipedia page for "free software" could disabuse them.

[Aatayyab]

While installing any software, the fine print in their terms and conditions bind you legally to give them permission to use your personal data for financial gains. In presence of such a digitally signed contract, it's difficult to prove them wrong or greedy in the court of law. Personally I don't allow anyone to profit off my personal information. And I won't recommend anyone to use Avast either if it's true that they sold user data.

[hakeem]

This was so helpful, wanna thank you and the whole team for such an eye opener such as this as i've been battling internet security for ears now to the point that i got scammed of $850, but he got my system upgraded,did everything and also traced those scammers and help recovered my money all from the comfort of his office. All thanks to him- ( onlinehacker4hire @ g mail . com ).

[Codrut Nistor]

Miguel is correct "freeware" and "free software" are not the same thing. "Free software" means something specific.

I'm surprised the author is still insisting on his mistaken definition when a cursory look at the Wikipedia page for "free software" could disabuse them.

Yes, they are slightly different, but in the end both can be downloaded and used by the average Joe for free. That's where I was pointing. Miguel said that "Avast is not free software" and we are getting way too deep into definitions here. Free software and freeware are about the same thing for most consumers. How many could tell why "Avast is not free software" but also "Avast is not free software but is free to use" are both valid statements?

[NickM]

Hardly the first anti-virus company to do that. The very popular free version of AVG back 10 years ago started doing this with very little to no notice.