The free Antivirus softer provider, Avast is winding up the operations of its subsidiary company known as “Jumshot”. The subsidiary was started by Avast in 2015. Its core operations incorporate examine the consumers’ online behaviors through their clicks, searches and purchase trends across several groups from more than 150 websites. Like, Google, Amazon, Walmart and Netflix. 
Avast and Its Users Data
Recently, Avast has been alleged to gather data regarding what its consumers did online and then sent it to Jumpshot. Who afterward tried to sell the information to some of its clients, as reported in media. However, Avast claims that its user’s personal information. For instance names, contact details or emails have never been sold or even shared with anyone. This claim of Avast is evident in the statement of its CEO, which was made public on 29th January 2020.
“Protecting people is Avast’s top priority and must be embedded in everything we do in our business and in our products. Anything to the contrary is unacceptable”.
Avast CEO Apologized
Nevertheless, there seems to be some issue regarding the privacy of data of Avast users and perhaps that is why, after acknowledging the issue concerning users’ data, Ondrej Vlcek the CEO of Avast has made an apology to its stakeholders.
“I realize the recent news about Jumpshot has hurt the feelings of many of you, and rightfully raised a number of questions – including the fundamental question of trust. As CEO of Avast, I feel personally responsible and I would like to apologize to all concerned”.
Implication for The Shut Down of Jumshot
Overall, the shut down of Jumshott extends beyond Jumpshot and Avast practices. It shows that sometimes. How security technology runs the risks of going beyond its rightful boundaries and thereby brings to the breach of user privacy. This might be because the data related to masses are hot sell in the market. Almost every, organization in the market tries to have a greater chunk of information concerning internet users. So that they can sell it to other organizations or use it to their advantage in the best way possible.
Although, Ondrej Vlcek has claimed that Avast is abiding the laws related to user data protection but given the decision for the shut down of Jumshot. It will be of vital importance that relevant authorities should conduct an audit of Avast and Jumshot. So that real issues pertaining to consumer’s data protection can be pinpointed. This will be in the interest of technology organizations and their users as a whole.
