REDWOOD CITY, Calif.,
June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Avast (LSE:AVST), a global cybersecurity leader, today
announced the launch of its new privacy product, Avast BreachGuard,
which is designed to give people control over their personal data
that resides on the internet. Avast BreachGuard detects and
notifies users of data breaches affecting their credentials,
assists in the removal of personal information from unwanted third
party databases, and analyzes online accounts for privacy
vulnerabilities.
Sixty-three percent of people Avast surveyed said they believe
their information can be found on the dark web. Everyone who uses
the internet risks their personal information being compromised as
cybercriminals increasingly target large companies which store
their customers' confidential data. In 2019, there were 1,473 data
breaches in the United States
which exposed more than 164.68 million sensitive records.
Consumers' online privacy is also vulnerable to third-party data
miners on webpages. While legal, these trackers constantly observe
browsing behavior and use that information to target people for
advertising and marketing purposes. For individuals, not being able
to control how their data is used and exploited has been a
challenge, with nearly half of US-based internet users surveyed by
Avast (46%) expressing fear of having their personal information
exposed via connected devices.
"The majority of people we talk to say they believe that their
information is already on the dark web. This is deeply worrying to
them, but it's overwhelming and frankly too difficult for an
individual to monitor the nearly daily breaches to make sure their
information is safe. It leaves people feeling overwhelmed and
helpless," said Chandler Givens,
head of consumer privacy at Avast. "People are increasingly aware
of the need to redraw the lines around online privacy and Avast is
deeply committed to delivering privacy tools that give people the
tools to take back control of what's rightfully theirs."
Avast BreachGuard provides detection, resolution, and ongoing
monitoring and prevention to ensure users' privacy is safeguarded
at all times. Product features include:
- 24/7 Breach Monitor: Avast BreachGuard automatically
scans the dark web for leaked personal information, immediately
alerting users when their information appears in a data breach or
in a database on the dark web. To reduce the risk of identity
theft, users receive advice on how to fix the issue and secure
their accounts.
- Data Broker Removal: Avast BreachGuard enables customers
to reclaim their personal information by sending a request to
remove it from data broker databases through an automated process.
This could prevent real-world consequences of privacy
infringements, such as price discrimination where, for example, an
insurance company might raise your rates based on your internet
search history.
- Privacy Setting Advisor: Avast BreachGuard offers
resources to enhance your online privacy proactively, including
personalized tips for optimizing privacy settings on common
services such as Facebook and Google. It also monitors for privacy
setting updates and alerts customers to changes that they should
consider making in areas like privacy, sharing, and location
data.
- Privacy Score: Avast BreachGuard includes a dashboard
that displays an individual's privacy score and areas for
improvement, similar to a credit score. It keeps track of your
progress as you resolve any privacy vulnerabilities and lets you
know what you can do to improve your score.
- News Feed: Avast BreachGuard also includes a real-time
news feed of breaches as they happen.
"BreachGuard takes the burden off the individual to monitor and
manage all the possible privacy vulnerabilities in their online
life," said Givens. "We watch the dark web, the breach notices, and
the data brokers so you don't have to, putting the knowledge and
the tools in your hands to improve your online privacy."
Avast BreachGuard is available today for download in
the United States, and will be
made available to other markets later this year. The software costs
$39.99 for a one-year subscription.
To download, please visit https://www.avast.com/breachguard.
About Avast
Avast (LSE:AVST) is a global leader in digital security and
privacy products. With over 400 million users online, Avast offers
products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from
threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The
company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in
the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence
technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital
security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and
certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs, and others.
Visit: www.avast.com.
Media contact:
pr@avast.com
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SOURCE Avast