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Avast acquired AVG back in 2016. So yes, all that data ends up in the same company.

errr... sure, if your antivirus is free. There are a lot of good paid antivirus that don't have these problems.

Of course, lately, paying for an antivirus hasn't had the same value - windows defender, the much better browser sandbox and the fact that you don't really download executables anymore have contributed to reducing the risk of going without an anti-virus.

Windows Defender and common sense is enough on Windows based systems IMO. And on mac you don't need one.