Avast shells out $17M to shoo away claims it peddled people's personal data

The FTC reached a $16.5 million settlement with Avast over allegations that it misrepresented its privacy practices and sold users’ browsing data to third parties via its Jumpshot subsidiary. The order prohibits Avast from selling browser data, mandates destruction of transferred data and derived algorithms, and requires express user consent and notifications to affected customers; Avast disputes the allegations but agreed to settle.