Avast and AVG Firefox Extensions Added Back to Mozilla Addons Site

Mozilla has allowed the AVG and Avast Online Security extensions back into their addons site after the extensions reduced the amount of tracking data being sent to Avast's and AVG's servers.

The AVG Online Security and Avast Online Security extensions check if an URL the user is visiting is a malicious, phishing, or a scam site and warn the user.

At the beginning of December, Mozilla removed the Avast Online Security, AVG Online Security, Avast SafePrice, and AVG SafePrice extensions from the Firefox addons site after it was discovered that they were sending a large amount of user tracking data to Avast.

At the time, Avast told BleepingComputer that they were making changes to the extensions to meet Mozilla's requirements and that they would be available again when finished.

"Avast is working with Mozilla to resolve this issue. We have already implemented some of Mozilla's new requirements and will release further updated versions that are fully compliant and transparent per the new requirements. These will be available as usual on the Mozilla store in the near future," Avast told BleepingComputer in a statement.

In a statement to BornCity.com, Avast stated that they have reduced the amount of data sent by the Avast Online Security and AVG Online Security extensions and have also updated their privacy policies to explain exactly what is sent.

"Privacy is our top priority and the discussion about what is best practice in dealing with data is an ongoing one in the tech industry. We have never compromised on the security or privacy of personal data. We are listening to our users and acknowledge that we need to be more transparent with our users about what data is necessary for our security products to work, and to give them a choice in whether they wish to share their data further and for what purpose. We made changes to our extensions including limiting the use of data and these changes are explained clearly in our Privacy Policy. Our browser extensions Avast Online Security and AVG Online Security are back on the Chrome Store, and on the Mozilla Store (since 12/17). It’s important to us that users understand that we’re listening to concerns about transparency and data use, and striving to do better and lead by example in this area."

With these changes, the Avast Online Security and AVG Online Security extensions are back in the Mozilla addon site and will display a confirmation dialog that asks users to confirm if they wish URLs to be scanned.

Tests by BleepingComputer shows that only the URL being visited and some unknown information is being transmitted.

This is much less than the previous versions, which transmitted the page title, the referer, your OS version, your country code, whether you previously visited the page, and more.

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