System and security: Avast Antivirus warning about tracking cookies.
The quick scan feature of Avast Antivirus Free not only scans the important parts of the computer for malware, but also identifies other issues. One of the tasks that Avast does, is checking for tracking cookies.
The screenshot below shows how Avast Antivirus Free reported 4 tracking cookies on my Windows 10 laptop.
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It also happens from time to time, that during browsing the Internet, an Avast warning pops up, saying that it has found a tracking cookie on the computer.
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Does this mean that the computer is infected with some malware? Are tracking cookies a serious issue? What can I do to get rid of them? Do I need supplementary protection?
First of all, tracking cookies are no malware.. Online tracking is the process of gathering information about you through sophisticated analytics embedded on websites. Such websites download cookies to your browser, or identify you by unique data on your device. This information is used to identify you when you return to that site or other sites participating in the same tracking system.
As is said in the Avast AntiTrack - FAQs, such digital fingerprints can affect you in several ways:
- Advertisers may use information about your online behavior to spam you with targeted advertising.
- Certain websites may also show higher prices for products that you have been researching online, such as flight tickets.
- Many of your favorite websites store huge amounts of information about you, which is vulnerable to data breaches. If this data is breached, third parties can access and use your personal data.
Pushing the Resolve button in the Avast warning windows opens a new window where you are suggested to buy a subscription for Avast AntiTrack Premium. Are tracking cookies a reason to spend money for such software? Personally, I would answer this question with "No". Cookies can't harm your computer and you get easily rid of them by clearing them in your browser settings. An even easier way consists in configuring your browser to clear them when you close it, or even better use Private Browsing Mode, available with all major browsers, that automatically clears your browsing data when closing the browser.
However, how vulnerable you effectively are depends on your privacy settings!. If your computer and your browser are configured not to share any private data, the information stored in the cookie doesn't contain anything that might become some risk for you. If you don't worry about your privacy, tracking cookies may become a problem, but it's not by buying AntiTrack that this problem will be resolved, because there are other ways to gain access to your personal data. Also, it is not really to exclude that the Avast warnings are (partially) intended to scare you and make you buy their non-free products.
On the MS.Codes website, you can read the following recommendations in order to enhance your online privacy in addition to using Avast (or another) Antivirus:
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your Internet connection and mask your IP address.
- Regularly clear your browser cookies and cache to remove stored information about your online activities.
- Use strong and unique passwords for your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Be cautious when sharing personal information online, especially on social media platforms, and review and adjust your privacy settings regularly.
- Stay informed about the latest privacy threats and best practices through reputable sources and consider using additional privacy-focused tools and browser extensions to enhance your online privacy.
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