Anyone else notice an increase in outbound traffic to Avast servers after install of the newest N360 version?

[Puzzler]

I’ve been tracking my internet traffic using my router’s traffic reports and there’s been a fourfold increase in outbound traffic from my computers to Avast servers. Anyone else experiencing this? If so, any idea why?

I know Norton and Avast had merged awhile back. Maybe the traffic volume is totally unrelated but I’m a little uneasy since Avast was cited in February 2024 by the FTC for selling browsing data of its customers.

“The Federal Trade Commission will require software provider Avast to pay $16.5 million and prohibit the company from selling or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes to settle charges that the company and its subsidiaries sold such information to third parties after promising that its products would protect consumers from online tracking” https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/02/ftc-order-will-ban-avast-selling-browsing-data-advertising-purposes-require-it-pay-165-million-over

[bjm]

• https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/norton-security-now-silently-installs-avast-software/

• https://hackerdose.com/security/norton-jumps-on-avasts-engine/

• Question - Anyone tried Norton V24? | MalwareTips Forums

• Serious Discussion - Norton seem to become "Tears of the Era" | MalwareTips Forums

• App Review - Norton 360 Standard v24 (Avast Engine) | MalwareTips Forums

• Advice Request - Do you think Avira and/or Avast technologies will be integrated into Norton products? | MalwareTips Forums

Norton brand antivirus protection now uses the Avast scan engine. This means that another anti-malware engine is disappearing from the market and the range of different solutions is shrinking.

The virus protection testers at AV-Comparatives.org have pointed this out, and Gen Digital Inc. has now also confirmed this to heise online. There are several indications of this. “The folder structure of the virus definitions and some core processes are now similar to identical. For example, the process aswEngSrv.exe , which has the same name for both products,” explains Peter Stelzhammer from AV-Comparatives when asked. He adds: “You can also find explicit references to Avast domains in an .ini file within the virus definitions directory in Norton”.

When asked by heise online, a Gen company spokeswoman replied: “Since the merger of NortonLifeLock and Avast in 2022, we have laid the foundation to closely link the products of the two industry leaders and create a new, world-class cyber security infrastructure. We are leveraging the best technologies from each gen brand to create a unified technology platform to deliver a better and more personalized experience for our customers.”

https://www.heise.de/en/news/Norton-relies-on-Avast-scan-engine-9866215.html

AI Overview
Gen Digital, a cybersecurity company encompassing brands like Norton, Avast, and LifeLock, utilizes the Avast threat detection engine within its security products, meaning that when you use a Gen Digital product like Norton, it leverages the advanced malware detection capabilities developed by Avast to protect users against cyber threats; essentially, Gen Digital leverages Avast’s technology as a core part of its security infrastructure.
Key points to remember:

• Merger:
  Avast was acquired by NortonLifeLock (now known as Gen Digital) which led to the integration of Avast’s security engine into Gen Digital’s products.
• Benefit:
  This allows Gen Digital to benefit from Avast’s robust threat detection network and machine learning capabilities.
• Brand names:
  While you may see “Norton” or “LifeLock” on your device, the underlying security engine powering the protection could be Avast.

Our family of consumer brands | Gen™ | Gen™

[Puzzler]

Thanks bjm. I knew about the Norton-Avast merger so not surprised by traffic being directed to Avast server. My concern is about the volume of the outgoing traffic. It’s literally four to five fold increase since the new N360 install. So is that AI related or what? When I check my router’s traffic log, majority of the outgoing traffic is to Avast and I don’t even have Norton Safe Search or Safe Web enabled on my browsers.

[bjm]

@Puzzler

So is that AI related or what?

Norton support via Social Support | Chat | Phone [here]