FTC returns $15M to Avast users after secret browsing data sales
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is returning over $15 million to Avast customers after the company secretly sold their browsing history. The payouts follow a $16.5 million settlement with the cybersecurity firm, which admitted to sharing user information without consent. Avast collected and sold detailed browsing history through its subsidiary, Jumpshot. The information was passed on to major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Yahoo. Users were not informed of this practice, and no explicit permission was given. The settlement marks the end of a long-running dispute over Avast’s data-sharing practices. Customers who filed claims will soon receive their payments. The FTC’s ruling also prevents the company from selling browsing history for advertising moving forward.
