Hack Alert privacy feature - of what use is it?

AVG Protection
8

Those "shortened links" are, to me, extremely suspicious and dangerous.  I have to click on them to know what the real URL is.  Not a good idea if you are promoting 'security'
Anyway, I went to the 'official website' and was totally disappointed with the lack of usable information.

Just about every one of the points made I am well aware of and following.

 
What I really want to know is why you are so willing to tell me that x breaches were found but not what they are without purchasing a seemingly useless product.  Every other product like this returns with something like:
  • Password **c***4** was found on (some date)
  • Userid (my ligitimate email address) was found
Both of those responses are useless.  It is not possible for me to search where,or when a password with those characteristics might have been used.  Without telling me where the email address was found, I can do nothing about it.
9

Hello John. Again, this is Shawn, writing back.

In my absence, my colleagues tried to help you with your further expressed concern. Regrettably, you appear less than satisfied with their response, hence again your concern being escalated to my attention.

Again, I would like to emphasize, from my past written message, having received confirmation of two potential password compromises, associated to your email address(es), is the purpose of the Hack Alert privacy feature. Simply updating your email password(s), will ensure your email is not potentially compromised.

And the fact that you have some 200 various passwords, associated to your email address(es), is impressive to say the least, and is all the more reason you likely need not be concerned about your email account being compromised. For more information, specific to AVG BreachGuard, you are encouraged to review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), as follows:

| AVG

7

Hello John. Again, this is Shawn from the AVG Senior Support team, writing back to you. Thanks carrying your concern, from your past forum thread (not related to your present concern) to a new thread. This way we can keep the discussion(s) on topic.

I suspect you are referencing the recent Hack Alert privacy feature, now afforded in the latest version of AVG AntiVirus, which is further associated to AVG BreachGuard.

You referenced two detections, associated to your email address, and that the information is useless. I beg to differ in opinion. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by simply updating your email password(s), to ensure your email is not potentially compromised, which is the purpose of the feature. 

With regard to wanting to try a subscription of AVG BreachGuard, Data Breach & Leak Prevention Software | AVG BreachGuard, which has more premium features, not afforded in the AVG AntiVirus Hack Alert feature, upon subscribing to a paid subscription, in the event you are not satisfied with the afforded premium features, AVG offers a 30-day moneyback guarantee. Again, nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

I trust this explanation and information help clarify your concern. Regards, Shawn

6

Hi John,

We understand your concern.

Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused.

We have escalated the case to our Senior team. They will get back to you as soon as possible.

Your patience is appreciated.

1

This came from a comment tat I made concerning the infamous "Missing Duplicate File Finder".  I was asked to breaks this out into a separate issue, so here it is:

Well, here's another tidbit for you.  This new monitoring for leaked passwords is WAY too expensive, and, the way it is without paying an exorbitant fee to AVG, it provides NO information.  Maybe if I we willing to throw more money into the AVG well I might see what use it is, but I AM NOT WILLING TO THROW more of my money out the window.
I got two hits.  One of them I never heard of and, since it was 2 years ago, and I can not determine where it was leaked to change the **************** password.  This report is useless.
The other one is also useless, it was over 5 years ago and has a partial password that I can not find in my hundreds of different passwords. I have to PAY to use the 'free' trial ( I don't think so).This is also a useless report.
You, AVG, would do better to remove this useless "CARP" and get 'Duplicate File Finder' back as promised last year (and the year before).  Right now I have no intention of renewing my subscription that I have been paying for since about 2016 (or before).
I am getting more of the same, mostly useless, information for free as a AAA customer, they do however, monitor way more than a few user names (e.g. phone numbers, SSN, Debit/Credit Cards, Bank Accounts, Passport, and a lot more), and, as I said, it costs me NOTHING above my AAA Membership.

5

That is exactly what I am referencing.
I have somewhere over 200 DIFFERENT passwords.  The Hack Alert did not tell me what the password or site or the email address where the breach occurred.
I update my email addresses fairly regularly.

I will look at it again in light of these are ONLY email addresses (I have way less than 200 email addresses).
Perhaps a clearer explanation of what it is showing would help.  
I'll get to this, maybe, after I handle some medical concerns.

P.S. I do NOT like the idea of having to sign up for something to see what it does.  Make the manual for AVG BreachGuard readable (unless that is what https://is.gd/UTbtKg is.

2

Hello John. Again, this is Shawn from the AVG Senior Support team, writing back to you. Thanks carrying your concern, from your past forum thread (not related to your present concern) to a new thread. This way we can keep the discussion(s) on topic.

I suspect you are referencing the recent Hack Alert privacy feature, now afforded in the latest version of AVG AntiVirus, which is further associated to AVG BreachGuard.

You referenced two detections, associated to your email address, and that the information is useless. I beg to differ in opinion. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by simply updating your email password(s), to ensure your email is not potentially compromised, which is the purpose of the feature. 

With regard to wanting to try a subscription of AVG BreachGuard, Data Breach & Leak Prevention Software | AVG BreachGuard, which has more premium features, not afforded in the AVG AntiVirus Hack Alert feature, upon subscribing to a paid subscription, in the event you are not satisfied with the afforded premium features, AVG offers a 30-day moneyback guarantee. Again, nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

I trust this explanation and information help clarify your concern. Regards, Shawn

4

And if you are of further interest to try out AVG BreachGuard, I can offer you a 30-day trial subscription, which is our guarantee to try our product, to determine if it best serves your needs. If you are not satisfied with the product, you are welcome to cancel the subscription, anytime within the trial period, and you will not be charged.

Write back, and let me know your interest in a trial subscription, and I will follow-up by email, with instruction to secure a trial subscription. Best Regards, Shawn

3

Hello John. Again, this is Shawn, writing back.

In my absence, my colleagues tried to help you with your further expressed concern. Regrettably, you appear less than satisfied with their response, hence again your concern being escalated to my attention.

Again, I would like to emphasize, from my past written message, having received confirmation of two potential password compromises, associated to your email address(es), is the purpose of the Hack Alert privacy feature. Simply updating your email password(s), will ensure your email is not potentially compromised.

And the fact that you have some 200 various passwords, associated to your email address(es), is impressive to say the least, and is all the more reason you likely need not be concerned about your email account being compromised. For more information, specific to AVG BreachGuard, you are encouraged to review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), as follows:

| AVG