The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reaching out to consumers who purchased antivirus software from Avast, following allegations of deceptive marketing practices. In a complaint filed in February 2024, the FTC asserted that Avast misled users by promoting its software as a protector of consumer privacy, claiming it would block third-party tracking. However, the agency highlighted that Avast failed to adequately disclose its practice of collecting and selling detailed, re-identifiable browsing data.
Settlement and Compensation
As part of a settlement agreement with the FTC, Avast has agreed to pay .5 million, which will be allocated to compensate affected consumers. This settlement also imposes restrictions on Avast, prohibiting the company from misrepresenting its data usage and from selling or licensing browsing data from its products for advertising purposes. Additional requirements have been established to ensure greater transparency moving forward.
The FTC is in the process of emailing notifications to approximately 3.7 million consumers who purchased Avast antivirus software between August 2014 and January 2020. Eligible individuals can expect to receive an email notice by March 7, 2025. Those who qualify are encouraged to file a claim online at www.ftc.gov/Avast, with payment amounts varying based on the total number of claims submitted.
The deadline for filing claims is set for June 5, 2025. Consumers seeking assistance or clarification regarding the claims process can reach out to the claims administrator at 866-290-0165 or via email at info@AvastSettlement.com. Importantly, the FTC emphasizes that individuals will never be required to pay money or provide sensitive account information to submit a claim or receive a refund.
For those interested in tracking refund data, the FTC offers interactive dashboards that provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds issued in various cases. In 2024 alone, FTC actions resulted in over 5 million in refunds to consumers nationwide, underscoring the agency’s commitment to protecting consumer rights.
