We will protect you, just give us your keys and don't look at us when we're in your home.
The updated policy explained that AVG was allowed to collect "non-personal data", which could then be sold to third parties. The new privacy policy comes into effect on 15 October, but AVG explained that the ability to collect search history data had also been included in previous privacy policies, albeit with different wording.That's not cool. At all. Like most businesses with insane privacy policies, AVG is saying the things you say:AVG's potential ability to collect and sell browser and search history data placed the company "squarely into the category of spyware", according to Alexander Hanff security expert and chief executive of Think Privacy.
An AVG spokesperson told WIRED that in order to continue offering free security software the company may in the future "employ a variety of means, including subscription, ads and data models."Translation: Oh, hey! Wha? Oh, that? We were totally going to tell you about that! You have all kinds of ways of protecting your privacy. Totally. Give me a few weeks to get back to you with those failsafes I'm talking about, but you don't see anywhere yet."Those users who do not want us to use non-personal data in this way will be able to turn it off, without any decrease in the functionality our apps will provide," the spokesperson added. "While AVG has not utilised [sic] data models to date, we may, in the future, provided that it is anonymous, non-personal data, and we are confident that our users have sufficient information and control to make an informed choice."