Free is not free: AVG Updates its private policy, plans to sell user data

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Free is not free: AVG Updates its private policy, plans to sell user data -

AVG Sells Free User Data

By now you've probably heard about the privacy policy update AVG. It is widely reported that AVG, an antivirus software company, has updated its policy to explicitly inform its free users it can - and - sell their information. This information will be sold to advertisers and third parties to "make money", and allow them to continue to offer a free version of their software. The policy also states that AVG may collect data on the history of the search for their users. Although AVG says the data is "non-personnel" it has been proven that this type of data can be converted into credentials

While we applaud the AVG transparency, it is still disappointing -. Although surprising - practice form from a company in the area of ​​security. Many people trust companies like AVG (which is also the company's third antivirus software in the world) to keep them safe online, and this privacy policy appears to be a violation of that trust. AVG says that users can disable the data collection function if they like, but the practice is still worrying. updates the states of the AVG Privacy Policy:

"We collect non-personal data to make money of our free offers so that we can keep it free, including
Advertising ID associated with your device
Browse and search history, including metadata
service provider Internet or mobile network you use to connect to our products
The information about other applications that you might have on your device and how they are used. "

the new policy will take effect on October 15 AVG is currently aligning questions about a Reddit thread.

This news is yet another example of the cost of using a free provider, and an illustration of the adage "if it is free, you are the product." We recently exhibited similar examples free vendors selling user data in our "I'm Anonymous when using a VPN: 10 myths debunked." Article a Golden Frog, we do not sell user data, or use third parties, and we strive to maintain the highest level of trust among our customers.

Resources

Read more about this news on Wired, Engadget or Slate

Protect your privacy and security online - Try free VyprVPN

Read Golden Frog "I'm Anonymous when using a VPN: .. 10 myths debunked. "

the information in this article comes from the sources of information related all along.

Tell the President to "defend strong encryption" and Help Save Crypto

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Tell the President to "defend strong encryption" and Help Save Crypto -

Update - March 18: EFF, the organization behind the petition (with Access Now and the ACLU), grow a new phase of the campaign this week. Save Crypto asks President Obama tweeter users directly and ask him to defend crypto strong. You can visit the website Save Crypto tweet directly, including image or copy and past the text on Twitter :.

@ POTUS the time is now. Talk to safety without compromise. https://savecrypto.org. 100,000 people watching

update - December 9 :. This petition has crossed the threshold of 100,000 signatures, so that the White House will meet the site currently indicates that administration officials. will sit down with the creators of the petition to voice their concerns "this week" and they will report back with an answer after the meeting. You can also share your thoughts on strong encryption directly with the White House, or ask any questions you have

Update - November 9 :. Golden Frog and our sister company Foundry data officially joined the Stand Up for strong security effort! We are pleased to support the EFF and join forces alongside many other organizations and companies who care about encryption. As a society based on the principles of privacy and security, we believe that the Crypto savings is extremely important. Please join us in the fight for strong security, and sign the petition now

Update - October 20 : The petition must only 15,000 more signatures. Register now!

Last week, EFF, i2Coalition, Access and many other groups have launched now to save Act Crypto petition asking President Obama to stand behind encryption and protect the privacy and security when the creation of the Internet policies.

Edward Snowden also urged action on the issue, tweeting:

"It is not something to hide There is something to lose, it is time to.. beat, Internet. "

the groups behind the petition included Internet companies and nonprofits as well. These groups have filed a petition "We the People" on Whitehouse.gov and asked President Obama to "defend strong encryption" and "reject any law, policy or a mandate that would undermine our security."

you can sign the petition here.

We are strongly in favor of encryption, and encourage you to sign the petition and join the fight to protect encryption.

encryption is an essential tool to protect our privacy and security

and should definitely be protected by government policies. Tell the president you want strong encryption now.

the organizations behind this initiative include access, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Library Association (ALA), computer and communications industry Association (CCIA), the application progress, Dropbox , DuckDuckGo, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), fighting for the future freedom of the Press Foundation, Free Press, Human Rights Watch, the Coalition of the Internet infrastructure (i2Coalition), Institute of technology Open New America, Niskanen Center, Sonic, Taskforce, TechFreedom. and Twitter

Sign the petition now: https://www.savecrypto.org/


Related Reading

learn more about the benefits of encryption and encryption backdoors dangers.

learn more about the Battle of current encryption, and high technology companies by the government.

Read more news on this petition and beat Silicon Daily Dot.

The US government said "No" Encryption backdoors ... for now

10:30 AM Add Comment
The US government said "No" Encryption backdoors ... for now -

Last week, US President Obama announced that the government will no longer looking backdoors in encrypted communications. This means that the government will not pursue legislation to force technology companies to build this capability into their devices, nor the companies be forced to decipher or decode messages for law enforcement

the decision was described by the Washington Post .:

"as the president said, the United States will ensure that malicious actors can be held accountable - without weakening our commitment to strong encryption, "said the spokesman for the national security Council Mark Stroh. "As part of these efforts, we are actively engaged with private companies to ensure they understand public safety and risks to national security resulting from the use of their products and services encrypted malicious actors."

The decision to maintain the status quo is a positive step and a big "win" for technology companies and defenders of privacy. However, the discussion is far from over:

"The administration has decided not to seek a legal remedy now, but it makes sense to continue conversations with the industry," said FBI Director James B. Comey at a hearing of the Senate Homeland security and governmental Affairs October 8

with this news, it was reported that the tone of the discussion encryption has changed, and there is a more positive level of interaction between public enterprises and tech.

The decision is good news, but many still have reservations. Although no law requiring backdoors was adopted, none forbidding them was, either. And it is unlikely that the government has abandoned the idea of ​​accessing data. Some believe they will simply find another method that allows access without weakening encryption, or there will be a continuous push encryption backdoors "behind the scenes".

Continuous monitoring: France ratifies His own law on supervision

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Continuous monitoring: France ratifies His own law on supervision -

Shortly after CISA - a project of the US surveillance law - adopted by the United States Senate and continued forward, France ratified a law to monitor its own. As indicated by access, this law "threatens the privacy in the world" as it allows France to conduct mass surveillance at the international level. The bill, called "on surveillance measures the proposal of international electronic communications, "the was ratified last week and also includes provisions for data retention.

the bill is very invasive and has little integrated monitoring, so its power - and the potential for abuse - is great Internet users should be very concerned about their privacy following this bill Unfortunately, similar bills have been adopted in France.. including the "french Patriot Act." Some of these laws have been challenged and declared unconstitutional.

this is yet another alarming example of legislation on surveillance, the prosecution of a frightening trend in the whole world. Invasive, privacy violating the law recently adopted in Germany, Australia and Russia.

More in the news article press release and access Next Inpact.

Golden Frog visits Washington DC to Talk Online Privacy

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Golden Frog visits Washington DC to Talk Online Privacy -

We are in Washington DC this week to talk about privacy issues in line with congressional leaders and our friend the I2C industry !

gf_in_dc_1

the main issues that we will discuss this trip include:

Update ECPA

ECPA defines the rules when the police and the government can read email and other digital content. It has remained unchanged since 1986, despite all the technological changes that have taken place, and we believe ECPA needs to be updated in order to protect the rights of online privacy of Americans.

Protection Encryption

We firmly believe in encryption, and urge Congress to pass legislation that protects the rights of Internet users to encrypt their digital information. This right should be extended to data stored in the devices, the Internet and in the cloud.

Banning Backdoor Encryption

We are strongly opposed to encryption backdoor, and not believe in access to consumer information through backdoors mandated by the government. These backdoors introduce vulnerabilities in communications for consumers.

Addressing Communications Content Collection

We US believe intelligence agencies operated without effective supervision for too long and inexplicable massive surveillance programs, nontransparent should not continue to go unchecked more.

Our meetings

While in DC this week, we met the following people and groups. We shared our above discussion points, and had some great discussions on the way. Our meetings:

  • InCompass - Meeting with CEO Chip Pickering and others
  • Congressman Lamar Smith - President of Science & Tech / former chairman of the Judiciary Committee
  • Congressman Louie Gohmert - Meeting with his legislative director Austin Smithson
  • Senator Rand Paul - Meeting with his assistant Brandon Brooker
  • Member of Congress Pete Olson and his chief -Major Tyler Nelson
  • Chris Calabrese, vice president of policy at CDT
  • Congressman John Ratcliffe - Texas member of the judicial Committee
  • i2Coalition, including a meeting innovation House CTA where Congressman Will Hurd addressed the group
  • Congressman Farenthold Black - Texas member of the judicial Committee

More to come

is a picture of Golden Frog Co-CEO Ron Yokubaitis with Bijan CCIA, Karen Incompas, Christian and David I2C I2C.

gf_in_dc_3

Please check back later this week for a full summary of our visit, and details on what issues we discussed all in Washington DC.

VyprVPN are not affected by VPN Port Forwarding vulnerability

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VyprVPN are not affected by VPN Port Forwarding vulnerability -

It was recently reported that there is a vulnerability VPN providers that enable port forwarding, which could reveal the actual IP address of a user. We want our users to know that VyprVPN is not affected by this vulnerability.

What is the vulnerability?

As described by Graham Cluley Security News, "scientists have identified a serious vulnerability affecting VPN providers with port-forwarding service that allows an attacker to obtain the actual IP address of a user's computer. "

article explains that the attacker is the one that allows the transfer of port to "exploit the bug," and to do this, they must have an account with the provider of VPN users, have up port forwarding and must also know the IP output address of the user.

is VyprVPN Affected?

We have received some questions about this vulnerability, and wanted to let users know that Golden Frog VyprVPN is not affected. Because our connections do not share IP addresses, our service does not require port forwarding, so that we do not offer port forwarding. Since the vulnerability requires port forwarding, we are not affected by it.

If you have any questions please leave a comment on this blog and we will reply to you in more detail. More information on the vulnerabilities can also be found in these articles by IT World and ZDNet.

WhatsApp bloqueado no Brasil

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WhatsApp bloqueado no Brasil -

A justiça São Paulo determinou funcionamento o What do aplicativo WhatsApp deve ser bloqueado pelas principais OPERADORAS of telefonia móvel do Brasil por 48 horas from 0h nesta quinta- feira. O tem WhatsApp But 93 milhões de usuarios no Brasil e muitas pessoas USAM aplicativo o para fazer ligação em vez de comprar um plano de celular. That faith reportado este bloqueio ocorreu porque não o WhatsApp uma atendeu a criminal court of determinação caso. O bloqueio faith ocorrido depois de meses de pressão das OPERADORAS of telefonia móvel as docks reclamaram What WhatsApp o é "desregulado e ilegal" e o culparam aplicativo pela Redução das OPERADORAS of Clients.

Não faith a primeira vez o What WhatsApp faith ameaçado com um bloqueio no Brasil. Uma judicial faith determinação mandada às OPERADORAS em Fevereiro tambem. Infelizmente o bloqueio atual também pode ser o início of restrições but Severas internet without país, peas há legislação What criminalization postagem em Rede e Social confined to a liberdade expressão.

Como uma empresa What luta pela internet book e aberta usuarios para os ao Redor o mundo, a Golden Frog preocupa-se com esta profundamente restrição of discurso book. Muitos cidadãos procuram tecnologia, COME VPN, by a manter ajuda los-o acesso Internet e evitar censured. Mantenha acesso da sua rede social predileta no Brasil e em qualquer parte do mundo -. Free experienced já VyprVPN