Global security leader and renowned intimacy
educator promote digital freedom by giving power back to consenting
adults
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Sept. 8,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avast (LSE: AVST), a
global leader in digital security and privacy, has partnered with
certified sexologist, psychologist, and intimacy
expert Shan Boodram to raise
awareness around the ways people inadvertently put their privacy at
risk by exchanging intimate photos or other personal content
online. Through this campaign, Avast will give consenting adults
the tools they need to enjoy safe and private connected lives
without compromising their safety and privacy online should they
choose to store or send nude or intimate photos. Nothing is more
personal than our personal photos. Still, recent research shows
that despite the potential for photos falling into unintended
hands, we are all doing it, as a third of Americans have admitted
to sharing nude photos.
Technology has permanently changed how we form, grow, and
maintain interpersonal relationships, resulting in more people
exchanging personal information online. However, most people don't
observe best practices when sending and storing intimate digital
content like photos or videos safely. While the only 100% guarantee
against the misuse of personal images is to not send them
electronically in the first place, Avast believes that protecting
digital freedom is critical to maintaining a safe and private
online experience and that digital citizens should have access to
tools and education to take control of their online identities.
In today's world, we must take ownership and control over our
data, especially around the challenge surrounding personal data.
The CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) found
that 2.2 trillion SMS and MMS messages are sent annually, with
6 billion texts sent daily, signifying the complexity of data
sharing in the modern climate. Privacy and security are about more
than just cyber threats: reputable digital freedom comes when users
understand how to control their 'digital self.'
According to a survey by Avast of
over 2,000 participants:
- Of those who have sent an intimate photo of themselves to
someone else, 80% of them worry that their intimate photos could
fall into the wrong hands.
- While those who received an intimate photo of someone else, 86%
of those men said they've saved intimate photos of someone on their
personal devices compared to 79% of women. Comparably, 78% of women
and 82% of men said they keep intimate photos of themselves on
their devices.
- And wait for it, 1 out of 3 Americans have accidentally shared
a text message or photo with the wrong person.
- A third of Americans have shared a nude photo, and 73% do so as
often as once a month.
- Most respondents admitted keeping their own photos (79%) and
others (82%) saved on their personal devices in a
password-protected folder (48%) or on their device's gallery
(46%).
- Half of those who send intimate photos said they do so at least
once a week (52%), and another 29% send them once a month or
more.
"Here's some guidance, before considering sending these photos
and worrying about them falling into the wrong hands, establish a
code of trust with the person you're sharing them with," says
Shan Boodram, Intimacy Expert &
Certified Sexologist. "Have an open conversation to ensure privacy
on both parties' end and be aware of the ways to share and send
photos as safely as possible."
For adults who choose to exchange and store intimate images
online responsibly, Avast has tools to help users do so
privately:
- Photo Vault (iOS, Android) allows users to store
password-protected photos safely inside the Avast One app. These
photos are saved to an encrypted folder and only accessed via PIN,
Touch ID, or Face ID.
- Secure Browser is a private browser that eliminates tracking
and protects every search you do online. Avast's Secure Browser
product keeps sensitive data safe, blocks malicious websites and
downloads with powerful anti-phishing technology, and forces
websites to use encryption to ensure device websites use encryption
to secure their data.
"We don't see the sharing of intimate photos as a fad or trend,
but as a part of our ever-growing digital lives, so the need for
critical online safety measures is more important than ever.
Whether it's sexting or researching, be confident sharing yourself
online. But, even more importantly, be aware. Some of our most
personal decisions involve the internet, even those we previously
considered safe from legal scrutiny, like our search history. And
not every hottie out there has our best interests at heart. So,
stay confident, have fun — and stay safe." says Emma McGowan, Consumer Privacy and Security
expert at Avast.
Avast's free products, Avast Secure Browser and Avast One
Essential are available for download and compatible with
various services and operating systems. The Avast Photo Vault is
now available for all users who have downloaded the Avast One
Essential on mobile devices (iOS, Android). To take control
of your online images or for more information on Avast and their
suite of security and privacy products, visit
https://www.avast.com/privates
* Data from a survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of
Avast from May 6 to May 12, 2022,
with a panel of 2,000 Americans split evenly by gender and
generation into the United
States.
For more information, please visit Avast.com.
About Shan Boodram
Shan Boodram is an intimacy
expert and certified sexologist with a B.A. in psychology and has
spent 15 years discussing sex, relationships, self-love, and
sensuality. Shan is a best-selling author with her book The Game of
Desire and was the host of Quibi's #1 daily show, Sexology with
Shan Boodram. She has 70+ million
YouTube views and has served as an expert on projects on all major
streaming and TV networks with write-ups in The New York Times, Forbes, TIME magazine, and more.
Her podcast Lovers and Friends with Shan
Boodram is available everywhere for listeners to indulge in
as she takes a deep dive into topics relating to sex and
relationships. Currently, Shan is an expert on Peacock's new dating
show, Ex-Rated, hosted by Andy
Cohen, and appeared as an expert and workshop facilitator on
Netflix's #1 dating show, Too Hot to Handle.
About Avast:
Avast (LSE: AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is a global leader in
digital security and privacy, headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. With over 435 million
users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands
that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving
IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is
among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and
artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in
real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac
are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE
Labs and others. Avast is a member of Coalition Against
Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Visit:
www.avast.com.
Keep in touch with
Avast:
- For security and privacy insights, visit the Avast blog:
https://blog.avast.com/
- For in-depth technical analysis of threats, visit the Avast
Decoded blog: https://decoded.avast.io/
- For handy guides, advice and tips, visit Avast Academy:
https://www.avast.com/c-academy
- For more information about Avast visit:
https://www.avast.com/en-gb/about and
https://www.avast.com/company-faqs
- Follow us on Twitter: @Avast
- Join our LinkedIn community:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/avast
- Visit our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/avast
Media Contact:
PR@Avast.com
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SOURCE Avast Software, Inc.