Stick with the rubbish Microsoft include in Windows, it's trouble free and kinda light on resources rubbish compared to the rubbish you are talking about. -this post may contain too much usage of the word rubbish!
All antivirus programs are only useful for their manufacturers. None of them can be protect anyone and it isn't possible in any way. Their working principle is completely false and obsolete. These are only the manufacturer's company's cash making machines, but the computer users mostly cannot understand of it. They are simply victims of fake propaganda. Most anti-virus programs earn double-money for producers, in addition to the so-called 'sales revenue', there is also the spy income, which has lately been much higher than revenue. The last is a job ordered by major countries. The same applies to all modern mobile phones. They all follow you all the time, that is, in real time, they record your actions and location all the time, including video and sound recordings, not to mention your geographical location. Seems, the people likes such an activity..
I didn't know that Avast collected personal data, that's a kind of personal decision. But as an antivirus, it enjoys good reputation. The free version does a good job but nags with popups urging to buy premium. An equally good free alternative is AVIRA, which only produces one pupup after updating on startup.
Maybe you should NOT have skipped this. Enable silent mode or just disable GUI, either one will get rid of any notifications. Once setup, you just let it do its job. If you use a Minimal Protection (it is more than enough, add behavioural for an extra punch), it is super light. You do not even need web protection, there is an extension for that.
Use Avast for myself and all clients. For the weaker computers, only File Shield. Strong(er), Web and/or Behavioral. Also depends on the customer and how they use PC.
And do you think premium AVs will hesitate in collecting data just because you pay? Ask MS. And no, I didn't think they're free because they want to help, in fact I did mention they use the free version to push sales of their premium. But I suppose collecting data at the same time won't hurt their income.
Usually having an anti-virus program is better than having none at all. True, nothing can protect you from the biggest security threat, which is you, yourself. But even the most educated computer experts cannot possibly be 100% aware of every possible exploit, 100% of the time (same reason why no anti-virus, anti-malware, or anti-hack tool is 100% guaranteed). But I think of such security programs in the same manner of which I think of the need of a condom, which is that while it may not be 100% guaranteed, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. In life, it is always better to be safe, than it is to be sorry. As for Avast and AVG, they may both offer you a free alternative, just as Microsoft Defender is a free alternative which comes with Windows 8 and 10, but in all instances, you are the product (even with Microsoft Defender). The question is whether or not if you are OK with that fact or not?! Usually, the data collected is only data to help make their paid version better. However, not all programs are created equally. For example, AVG and Avast have become nothing more than nag-wage in my opinion, since even if you do buy the full version, they'll still nag you to buy more or renew, even 24 hours after you first activate your paid program (they'll immediately tell you to hurry and renew now, even with a full year ahead). Such programs are more designed as cash grabs as they always keep the unsuspecting user thinking the only way they can be safe is to continuously open their wallet and spend more. Personally, if you can afford to buy a decent program such as Malwarebytes or ESET, I would suggest you do so. Both have the option to collect data in order to improve future releases and improve security, but these are options you can disable if it really bothers you (I keep mine on since I do want to help improve the product).
It seems that tracking and spying is the sign of our times and we have to live with it. The irony of all this tracking and spying is that the champions in it are those that were once accusing communist states of spying on their citizens!
And why should they not? They see sheeple wherever they look, who will consume everything as long as it is free. They consume Ff Quantum because they are told it is great, and get built-in spyware and advertising, they install Win10 and can read today, that the default password manager can be accessed by others, and the face recognition can be fooled by a picture... These companies are in business, not public service! Their job is tio maximise profits, nothing illegal about it. Seeing retarded consuming, greedy people everywhere, they use whatever they can.
Avast free problem like others , way too much false positive , if you like to try any , please backup to restore later. .Like some body said , they have to make living but they should deal with repetitive false positive - pure tedious work.