Author Archives: Avast Blog

Avast Mobile Security locks down a perfect score | Avast

In January, independent IT-security institute AV-TEST conducted a study of twenty mobile security products for Android. The goal was to test the three main pillars of a strong mobile security solution — malware detection, false positive prevention, and performance impact. Avast Mobile Security was evaluated in the study and aced all categories.

Tech companies wrestle with keeping users safe | Avast

Zuckerberg apologizes for Cambridge Analytica ‘breach’

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg finally broke cover after nearly a week of silence as the fallout from the row over how a data company, Cambridge Analytica, was able to access the profiles of some 50m people who hadn’t consented to share their data with the company.

Key vulnerabilities: devices and people | Avast Business

You’ve probably heard countless terms relating to cybersecurity, but here we are going to focus on just one: attack surface. An “attack surface” is simply the number of possible ways an attacker can get into a device or network and extract data. It’s an especially important measurement for SMBs because most think they are too small to be a target, but a quick look at their attack surface shows that it is in fact quite large, increasing their exposure to risk.

Convenience vs. privacy: the Facebook situation | Avast

Everyone’s favorite social media site is currently the subject of hot debate, and we’re here to keep you grounded amidst the madness. First, let’s talk about what happened. Back in 2014, a quiz made the rounds on Facebook. 270,000 users took the quiz, which harvested data not just about them, but also their friends. As a result, the quiz aggregated the private info of 50 million Facebook users. All that data was then allegedly sold to the Trump presidential campaign.

Consumers can lead the way in pressuring tech companies to respect security and democracy | Avast

The example on everyone’s minds is, of course, Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, now further confirmed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. The Kremlin’s use of social media to stoke existing partisan tensions in the U.S., achieved through a sophisticated multi-million-dollar operation, resulted in the indictment in February of thirteen Russian nationals and three companies.

Speeding Up and Cleaning Your Mac | Avast Essential Guide

Unfortunately, Macs might be the sports cars of the IT business, but just like any car, they need proper maintenance to keep running. In this guide we’ll walk you through the essentials — and even some great secrets — to clean up invisible clutter and tune up your MacBook, iMac, or Mac Pro beyond its limits.  

Five endpoint threats affecting small businesses | Avast Business

Endpoints are an easy target for hackers, so it’s essential that small businesses protect themselves. Connected employees, vulnerable software and weak antivirus all contribute to this being a favorite target of hackers. And, as the list below details, there are many types of cyberattacks that target endpoints, from phishing to malvertising.