It’s supposed to be protecting you, right? Well, it is, but it’s doing more as well.

AV-Comparatives issued a report delineating what info your AV collects and transmits back to company.

Some aren’t listed here…BitDefender, for example. However, the principle is very disturbing. These companies are getting the full list of webpages and documents. They’re doing it for various reasons, BUT this information could be used by a potentially unscrupulous vendor for nefarious purposes. Also, it’s pretty creepy.

However, you’d better be reading your EULA’s, folks. If your “free AV” requires you to submit data, you really might want to rethink it, especially if data collecting third party ‘Toolbars’ are included. Also, if opting out of the data collection is possible, make sure you still get the same level of protection/features you were signing on for…because this might not apply.

Sources:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/avc_datasending_2014_en.pdf

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/antivirus-tracking-youd-surprised-sends/