Avast is a Czech-based network security software company. The company’s main product is the antivirus software of the same name. Last year, Norton, another well-known security software company, said it was in merger talks with Avast. The two companies have officially completed this month. merge.

The developer of “I don’t care about cookies” recently announced on the official website that he has received an acquisition request from Avast and has agreed to the acquisition. In the future, this extension will still be free, and the developer himself will also Continue the development of this extension.

Nowadays, when a user visits a website (mostly some overseas websites), the website usually pops up a cookie notice, asking the user whether to accept cookies, and whether to accept only necessary cookies or all cookies (EU regulations require that anyone using cookies to track users website must obtain the user’s permission in advance).

I don’t care about cookies is an open source extension (GPLv3 based) that can automatically handle cookie pop-up notifications on most websites, after installation the user does not have to click these buttons to submit cookie preferences to the website, in most cases it will Block or hide cookie-related pop-ups. When the website needs to work properly, it automatically accepts cookies (sometimes all, sometimes only necessary cookies).

The developer stated on the official website:

After maintaining the project myself for 10 years, Avast offered to acquire the project so we could help each other create better products, and I decided to accept the offer. I don’t care about cookies is now officially a part of Avast. I will continue to work on this project and the extension will remain free to use. It is no longer necessary to rely on donations to keep the project running.

Avast’s party has not issued a press release for the acquisition, so the purpose of the acquisition is unclear. In the future, Avast may integrate the I don’t care about cookies function into some of its products, but Avast has a precedent of maliciously collecting user privacy and selling user privacy in 2019 and 2020, so it is also possible after the acquisition. Will use this extension to collect user data.