This extension bases its website ratings (similar to Web of Trust) on user feedback. That sounds good until you realize that trolls or bots appear to be able to manipulate and politicize the ratings.

I want to know if a site will protect my privacy, or might be the source of malware or phishing attempts. Avast probably does a good job of that, as do many other browser security extensions.

But Avast's system also seems to steer Web surfers away from legitimate news sites that don't promote the views of the "right" politicians.

For instance, I'm seeing warning signs on the websites of two TV stations in my town. Avast Online Security indicated that "We didn't find any phishing threats or malware here, but many of our users gave the site a thumbs down."

Both sites are affiliates of major networks. One TV station is more than 50 years old and the other is my city's first TV station, dating back to 1949.

Both have been online since the mid '90s. I know people that work for each station. I've trusted the stations and the news they produce for decades.

It's odd that two TV station websites in my city suddenly have become untrustworthy. It makes me think that the ratings have been manipulated.

I can't prove the manipulation, obviously. But I have other malware/phishing deterrents on my computer and have never had problems with these two sites. Still don't.

These are mainstream media sites. There are people who don't like the stations (and many other legitimate news sources like them) simply because they're programmed to hate all legitimate news media. We see these idiots online on social media now every day.

So, I suspect these stations' ratings are the work of bots, or a group of people working in concert to diminish a legitimate source of news because it's not a political ally.

I really just want to know if a site is safe to browse, that's it. If I don't like their viewpoints, I can figure that out on my own and move on.

And if Avast can't protect their own rating system from manipulation, I'm sorry, but that is a reason to distrust their products.

This product is free and has lots of competition. So, I'm moving on.

FYI: This extension is owned by the same company as AVG Online Security. I would think what I'm writing here applies to that extension as well.