The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it is distributing claim forms to consumers who purchased antivirus software from Avast, which was marketed with deceptive privacy claims. This follows a complaint filed by the FTC in February 2024 alleging that Avast misled users about its software's ability to protect their privacy. According to the FTC, while Avast claimed its software would block third-party tracking, it failed to adequately disclose that it collected and sold detailed, re-identifiable browsing data through its subsidiary, Jumpshot.
Avast reached a settlement with the FTC, agreeing to pay $16.5 million for consumer compensation. The settlement also prohibits Avast from misrepresenting how it uses collected data and bans the sale or licensing of browsing data from Avast-branded products for advertising purposes.
Notices are being sent via email to 3,690,813 consumers who purchased Avast antivirus software between August 2014 and January 2020. These consumers are eligible to apply for refunds and will receive an email notice by March 7, 2025.
Eligible individuals can submit their claims online at www.ftc.gov/Avast. The amount each consumer receives will vary based on several factors, including the total number of claims filed. The deadline for filing claims is June 5, 2025. For assistance with filing a claim or any questions regarding the process, consumers can contact the claims administrator at 866-290-0165 or info@AvastSettlement.com. Importantly, the FTC does not require any payment or account information submission as part of this refund process.
The FTC provides interactive dashboards with state-by-state breakdowns of refunds issued in its cases. In 2024 alone, FTC actions resulted in over $285 million in refunds nationwide.
The Federal Trade Commission's mission is to promote competition and protect consumers through education and enforcement efforts. It assures that it will never request money transfers or promise prizes as part of its operations. Consumers can learn more about various topics at consumer.ftc.gov or report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
