Avast, a global cybersecurity leader, 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.
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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.
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“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.”
