October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Avast FTC Settlement: Can You Still File a Claim?

The deadline to file an Avast FTC settlement claim has passed, and the FTC says all available funds have been distributed. Here’s what people who already filed should know.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

You can no longer file a claim for the Avast FTC settlement. The claims deadline was June 5, 2025, and the FTC says all available funds have been distributed. If you filed a valid claim, check the FTC’s Avast settlement page for refund information and the administrator’s contact details.

Can you still file an Avast settlement claim?

No. The FTC settlement page says it is no longer accepting claims, the filing deadline has passed, and all available funds have been distributed. An old claim notice or claim number does not reopen the filing period.

The FTC announced the refund process for people who bought Avast antivirus software between August 2014 and January 2020. Eligible consumers were expected to receive notices by email between February 24 and March 7, 2025. Those dates and the application instructions below describe the closed process; they cannot be used to submit a new claim.

What to do if you already filed

For current refund information, start at the official FTC Avast settlement page. The FTC’s payment announcement directs consumers with payment questions to refund administrator Rust Consulting at 1-866-290-0165. Verify contact details on FTC.gov before calling or responding to a message.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
McAfee Total Protection 2027 Antivirus Software for 3 Devices | Auto-Renews
  • THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
  • PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
  • SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
  • GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
  • MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.

The FTC reported that payments were made by check, PayPal, and Zelle. Its announcement said checks should be cashed within 90 days and PayPal payments accepted within 30 days. Check your own payment notice and the current FTC page for instructions that apply to your payment.

How the claim process worked before it closed

During the filing period, consumers used the FTC’s Avast page to reach the settlement administrator’s application site, then entered the claim number and confirmation code from their notice email. FTC consumer guidance said claimants did not need receipts or other proof of purchase. These historical steps are not a way to file now.

Rank #2
Sale
Malwarebytes Standard, Premium Security| Amazon Exclusive | 18 Months, 2 Devices | Windows, Mac OS, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome [Online Code]
  • AWARD WINNING Antivirus, anti-malware, anti-spyware & more
  • 24/7 REAL TIME PROTECTION against emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses- without slowing you down.
  • PROTECTS YOUR DEVICES ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS: Get cyber protection for your computers, smartphones, or tablets- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
  • DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INSTANTLY
  • UNMATCHED THREAT DETECTION: We found malware on 40 percent of devices that already had a third-party antivirus installed.

How much money was paid out?

The FTC’s figures refer to different stages of the settlement, not a guaranteed payment per person.

Figure What it represents Source
$16.5 million The settlement amount required for consumer redress. FTC, 2024
Nearly $15.3 million The total the FTC later said it was distributing in payments. FTC, 2025
103,152 payments The number of valid claimants the FTC said received payments. FTC, 2025

The settlement amount and the later distribution total are not the same figure. The FTC’s announcement does not establish a standard individual award, so there is no reliable per-person amount to promise.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Bitdefender Total Security – Complete Antivirus and Internet Security Suite – 5 Devices | 2 year Subscription | PC/Mac | Activation Code by Mail
  • SPEED-OPTIMIZED, CROSS-PLATFORM PROTECTION: World-class antivirus security and cyber protection for Windows (Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11), Mac OS (macOS X Yosemite 10.10 or later), iOS (11.2 or later), and Android (5.0 or later). Organize and keep your digital life safe from hackers
  • SAFE ONLINE BANKING: A unique, dedicated browser secures your online transactions; Our Total Security product also includes 200MB per day of our new and improved Bitdefender VPN
  • ADVANCED THREAT DEFENSE: Real-Time Data Protection, Multi-Layer Malware and Ransomware Protection, Social Network Protection, Game/Movie/Work Modes, Microphone Monitor, Webcam Protection, Anti-Tracker, Phishing, Fraud, and Spam Protection, File Shredder, Parental Controls, and more
  • ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING: Your product-specific code is printed on a card and shipped inside a protective cardboard sleeve. Simply open packaging and scratch off security ink on the card to reveal your activation code. No more bulky box or hard-to-recycle discs
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the FTC alleged about Avast

The FTC alleged that Avast collected browsing information through its antivirus software and browser extensions, then sold detailed, re-identifiable data through its subsidiary Jumpshot without adequate notice or consent. The agency said this conflicted with privacy claims about blocking tracking. These are allegations attributed to the FTC and are presented in the context of its settlement with Avast.

In June 2024, the FTC announced a finalized order that included prohibitions on selling or licensing browsing data from Avast-branded products for advertising, deletion requirements, consumer notices, and a comprehensive privacy program. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine said: “Avast promised users that its products would protect the privacy of their browsing data but delivered the opposite.”

Best Value
Sale
McAfee+ Premium 2027 Antivirus Software, Unlimited Devices | Auto-Renews
  • THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
  • PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
  • SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few clicks, and your info stays protected on public Wi-Fi every time you connect.
  • PERSONAL DATA SCANS – Take your info off the market. We’ll find your personal information on sites selling it, then guide you on how to remove it.
  • SOCIAL PRIVACY MANAGER – Decide what you share. McAfee finds the privacy settings buried in your social accounts and fixes them.
Rank #4
Sale
McAfee Total Protection 2027 Antivirus Software for 5 Devices | Auto-Renews
  • THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
  • PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
  • SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
  • GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
  • MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.

How to avoid refund scams

  • The FTC says you never have to pay money to file a claim or receive a refund.
  • Do not pay a fee or share account credentials in response to an unsolicited message about an Avast refund.
  • Navigate to FTC.gov yourself to verify settlement information and contact details rather than relying on links or phone numbers in unexpected messages.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.