Did you ever wonder why companies like Oracle or Adobe always wants to install unwanted software such as McAffee along with their free Java or Acrobat Reader ?
Or why so called “Best Antivirus Software” such as Avast or Symantec comes for free from your provider or pre-installed on your PC ?
Are those companies so generous? Do they only want your best?
You guessed it : No, of course not. They want money. Not just your money.
They get paid for every single installation of this unwanted piece of software!
So why is that ?
Because the unwanted software gets paid because it collects your data and they sell it.
Ok, you don’t believe me right ?
So here is an example:
Avast recently confirmed that they collect your data while running on your PC and scanning for viruses (see here if you don’t believe me)
Jumpshot is selling your data for just as much as US$ 500 per month! per account (see their pricing on www.jumpshot.com)
Avast claims that they don’t make money out of that but do you believe this ?
Do you believe McAffee, Ask with their Ask Toolbox and others don’t make money with collecting your data?
I personally don’t.
UPDATE:
It’s a funny coincident that Tim Cook yesterday talked about the very same subject. His speech at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is really worth reading and most of what he said speaks my mind. You can find his speech on the verge .
He said for instance:
“You might like these so-called free services, but we don’t think they’re worth having your email or your search history or now even your family photos data-mined and sold off for God knows what advertising purpose,” … “And we think someday, customers will see this for what it is.”
Don’t trust the evil!
Regards,
Marcus