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| name = Avast Software s.r.o.
| logo = Avast logo 2021.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2021
| image = Praha Nusle Pikrtova 1a.jpg
| image_size = 250px
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| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = [[Prague]]
| hq_location_country =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl
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[[File:Eduard Kučera, Milada Kučerová, Jarmila Baudišová, Pavel Baudiš, foto Milan Bureš.jpg|thumb|Avast founders [[Eduard Kučera]] (left) and [[Pavel Baudiš]] (right) in 2016 with their spouses, who run the [[Foundation (nonprofit)|non-profit]] Avast Foundation for [[community development]]]]
'''Avast Software s.r.o.''' is a Czech [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[Computer security|cybersecurity software]] company headquartered in [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]], that [[Research and development|researches and develops]] computer security software, [[machine learning]], and [[artificial intelligence]]. Avast has more than 435 million monthly active users<ref name="avastataglance"/> and the second largest market share among [[Antivirus software|anti-malware application]] vendors worldwide as of April 2020.<ref name="Statista">{{cite web | title=Market share held by the leading Windows anti-malware application vendors worldwide, as of April 2020| website=Statista | url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/271048/market-share-held-by-antivirus-vendors-for-windows-systems/ | access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref> The company has approximately 1,700 employees across its 25 offices worldwide.<ref name="avastataglance"/> In July 2021, [[Gen Digital|NortonLifeLock]], an American cybersecurity company, announced that it
Avast was founded by [[Pavel Baudiš]] and [[Eduard Kučera]] in 1988 as a [[cooperative]]. It had been a [[Private limited company|private]] company since 2010 and had its [[Initial public offering|IPO]] in May 2018. In July 2016, Avast acquired competitor [[AVG Technologies]] for $1.3 billion. At the time, AVG was the third-ranked antivirus product.<ref>{{cite news|title=Avast Buys Piriform, the Company Behind CCleaner and Recuva|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/business/avast-buys-piriform-the-company-behind-ccleaner-and-recuva/|work=BleepingComputer|language=en-us}}</ref> It was [[Dual-listed company|dual-listed]] on the [[Prague Stock Exchange]] and on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and was a constituent of the [[FTSE 100 Index]] until it was acquired by NortonLifeLock in September 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://research.ftserussell.com/products/index-notices/home/getnotice/?id=2605498|title=NortonLifeLock Inc (USA): Merger with Avast (UK) - Update Changes in FTSE UK Index Series|date=7 September 2022|access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref>
The company's main product is
Avast produces Avast Online Security, which is its main [[Browser extension|extension]], but it also has extensions like Avast SafePrice and Avast Passwords.
==History==
Avast was founded by [[Eduard Kučera]] and [[Pavel Baudiš]] in 1988.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013">{{cite web | title=Avast emerged from Communism to shine in security | newspaper=USA Today | date=20 October 2013 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/20/avast-software-mcafee-the-great-czech-startup-story/3002031/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> The founders met each other at the Research Institute for Mathematical Machines in Czechoslovakia.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> They studied math and computer science, because the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia would require them to join the communist party to study physics.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> At the institute, Pavel Baudiš discovered the Vienna virus on a floppy disk and developed the first program to remove it.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/><ref name="Blesk.cz">{{cite web | title=Příběh superobchodu s antiviry: Avast koupí AVG ukázal um "zlatých českých ručiček" v IT | website=Blesk.cz | date=8 July 2016 | url=https://www.blesk.cz/clanek/zpravy-udalosti/405850/pribeh-superobchodu-s-antiviry-avast-ukazal-um-zlatych-ceskych-rucicek-v-it.html | language=cs | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Download3K 2014">{{cite web | title=Interview with Avast's COO Ondřej Vlček | website=Download3K | date=19 November 2014 | url=https://www.download3k.com/articles/Interview-with-Avast-s-COO-Ond-ej-Vl-ek-00903 | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> Afterwards, he asked Eduard
The cooperative was changed to a joint partnership in 1991, two years after the [[velvet revolution]]<ref name="Avast Foundation 2017">{{cite web | title=Who We Are | website=Avast Foundation | date=8 August 2017 | url=https://foundation.avast.com/who-we-are | access-date=8 August 2017 | archive-date=13 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043621/https://foundation.avast.com/who-we-are | url-status=dead }}</ref> caused a regime change in [[Czechoslovakia]]. The new regime severed ties with the [[Soviet Union]] and reverted the country's economic system to a [[market economy]].<ref name="Blesk.cz"/><ref name="Wonder 2013"/> In 1995, Avast employee {{ill|Ondřej Vlček|cs}} wrote the first antivirus program for the [[Windows 95]] operating system.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> In the 1990s, security researchers at the Virus Bulletin, an IT security testing organization, gave the Avast software an award in every category tested, increasing the popularity of the software.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> However, by the late 1990s, the company was struggling financially.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> Alwil rebuffed acquisition offers by [[McAfee]], who was licensing the Avast antivirus engine.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/>
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By 2001, Alwil was experiencing financial difficulties, when it converted to a freemium model, offering a base Avast software product at no cost.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> As a result of the freemium model, the number of users of the software grew to one million by 2004<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> and 20 million by 2006.<ref name="Wonder 2013"/> Former Symantec executive [[Vince Steckler]] was appointed CEO of Avast in 2009.<ref name="The CEO Magazine 2016">{{cite web | title=Vince Steckler | website=The CEO Magazine | date=22 September 2016 | url=https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/vince-steckler/ | access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref> In 2010, Alwil changed its name to Avast, adopting the name of the software,<ref name="Wonder 2013"/> and raised $100 million in venture capital investments.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 May 2012|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/05/fighting-cyber-crime|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=8 August 2017|title=Security Czechs}}</ref> The following December, Avast filed for an [[initial public offering]], but withdrew its application the following July, citing changes in market conditions.<ref name="Roy 2015"/> In 2012, Avast fired its outsourced tech support service iYogi, after it was discovered that iYogi was using misleading sales tactics to persuade customers to buy unnecessary services.<ref name="Dunn 2012">{{cite web | last=Dunn | first=John E | title=Avast suspends antivirus support company after mis-selling allegation | website=Network World | date=16 March 2012 | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2186885/lan-wan/avast-suspends-antivirus-support-company-after-mis-selling-allegation.html | access-date=9 August 2017 | archive-date=11 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911230948/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2186885/lan-wan/avast-suspends-antivirus-support-company-after-mis-selling-allegation.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2013, Avast had 200 million users in 38 countries and had been translated into 43 languages.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> At the time, the company had 350 employees.<ref name="Prague Post 2015">{{cite web | title=Avast becomes most valuable IT company in the CR | website=Prague Post | date=11 March 2015 | url=https://www.praguepost.com/economy/45638-avast-becomes-most-valuable-it-company-in-the-cr | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref>
In 2014, CVC Capital bought an interest in Avast for an undisclosed sum. The purchase valued Avast at $1 billion.<ref name="Tan Cimilluca 2014">{{cite news | last1=Tan | first1=Gillian | last2=Cimilluca | first2=Dana | title=CVC Capital Near Deal to Invest in Antivirus Company Avast | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=30 January 2014 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cvc-capital-near-deal-to-invest-in-antivirus-company-avast-1391040888 | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="TechCrunch 2014">{{cite web | title=Security Software Firm Avast Gets CVC Capital Investment, Now Valued At $1B | website=TechCrunch | date=5 February 2014 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/05/security-software-firm-avast-takes-cvc-capital-investment-at-a-1b-valuation/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> Later that year, Avast acquired mobile app developer Inmite in order to build Avast's mobile apps.<ref name="VentureBeat 2014">{{cite web | title=Malware buster Avast buys up mobile app maker in move to be mobile friendly | website=VentureBeat | date=24 July 2014 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/07/24/avast-acquires-czech-mobile-dev-shop-inmite/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Avast's online support forum was compromised in 2014, exposing 400,000 names, passwords and email addresses.<ref name="Kirk 2014">{{cite web | last=Kirk | first=Jeremy | title=Avast takes community forum offline after data breach | website=Network World | date=26 May 2014 | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2177161/lan-wan/avast-takes-community-forum-offline-after-data-breach.html | access-date=9 August 2017 | archive-date=1 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101055234/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2177161/lan-wan/avast-takes-community-forum-offline-after-data-breach.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Meyer 2014">{{cite web | last=Meyer | first=David | title=Security company Avast suffers embarrassing forum hack | website=Gigaom | date=27 May 2014 | url=https://gigaom.com/2014/05/27/security-company-avast-suffers-embarrassing-forum-hack/ | access-date=9 August 2017 | archive-date=29 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329141517/https://gigaom.com/2014/05/27/security-company-avast-suffers-embarrassing-forum-hack/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2015, Avast had the largest share of the market for antivirus software.<ref name="Roy 2015">{{cite web | last=Roy | first=Abhirup | title=Avast worth 'upwards of $2 billion'; no IPO before 2017 | website=Reuters | date=29 October 2015 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-avast-ceo-idUSKCN0SN2MJ20151029 | access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref> In July 2016, Avast reached an agreement to buy AVG for $1.3 billion.<ref name="fortune">{{cite news|newspaper=Fortune|date=7 July 2016|url=https://fortune.com/2016/07/07/security-software-avast-buy-avg/|access-date=8 August 2017|title=Security Software Firm Avast to Buy Rival AVG for $1.3 Billion in Cash}}</ref> AVG was a large IT security company that sold software for desktops and mobile devices.<ref name="VentureBeat 2016">{{cite web | title=Avast acquires rival AVG for $1.3 billion to create a security software giant | website=VentureBeat | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/07/07/avast-acquires-rival-avg-for-1-3-billion-to-create-a-security-software-giant/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, Avast acquired UK-based [[Piriform (company)|Piriform]] for an undisclosed sum. Piriform was the developer of [[CCleaner]].<ref name="venturebeat">{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/19/avast-acquires-piriform-maker-of-popular-system-cleaning-program-ccleaner/|title=Avast acquires Piriform, maker of popular system cleaning program CCleaner|last=Sawers|first=Paul|date=19 July 2017|work=[[VentureBeat]]|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> Shortly afterwards it was disclosed that someone may have created a malicious version of CCleaner with a backdoor for hackers.<ref name="Olenick 2017">{{cite web|url=https://exenation.com/avast-ccleaner-used-to-spread-backdoor-to-two-million-plus-users/|title=Avast CCleaner used to spread backdoor to two million plus users|date=19 September 2017|website=eXe Nation|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-date=27 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327093801/https://exenation.com/avast-ccleaner-used-to-spread-backdoor-to-two-million-plus-users/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Avast had its [[Initial public offering|IPO]] on the London Stock Exchange in May 2018, which valued it at £2.4bn and was one of the UK's biggest technology listings.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/2c700df8-541a-11e8-b3ee-41e0209208ec Cyber security group Avast valued at £2.4bn in IPO]. ''[[Financial Times]]''. Aliya Ram in London 10 May 2018.</ref>
{{ill|Ondřej Vlček|cs}} assumed the role of CEO and co-owner of Avast Plc in July 2019.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-02/ceo-waives-salary-and-bonus-forever-in-bet-on-tech-firm-s-stock|title=CEO Waives Salary and Bonus Forever in Bet on Tech Firm's Stock|date=1 July 2019|access-date=2 July 2019|language=en}}</ref> A day later, he changed his annual pay to $1 and pledged his board director's compensation of $100,000 to charity.<ref name="bloomberg.com"/> In October 2019, [[Jaya Baloo]] joined Avast as their Chief Information Security Officer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast appoints Jaya Baloo as Chief Information Security Officer|url=https://press.avast.com/avast-appoints-jaya-baloo-as-chief-information-security-officer|website=press.avast.com|language=en-us|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref>
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In April 2020, Avast released a new secure, private mobile web browser for Android based on technology acquired from previously unreported acquisition of Tenta, a Seattle-based startup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/avast-acquires-seattle-startup-tenta-leading-release-new-secure-browser-android/|title=Avast acquires Seattle startup Tenta, leading to release of new secure browser for Android|date=17 April 2020|website=GeekWire|language=en-US|access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref>
In July 2021, [[Gen Digital|NortonLifeLock]], an American cybersecurity company, announced that it is in talks to [[Mergers and acquisitions|merge]] with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion. In September 2022, the [[Competition and Markets Authority]] approved the proposed takeover by NortonLifeLock so allowing the transaction to be completed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Starr|first=Dashia|title=Cybersecurity firms NortonLifeLock and Avast merge in $8B deal|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/cybersecurity-firms-nortonlifelock-and-avast-merge-in-over-8b-deal/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Carly|last=Page|title=Cybersecurity giants NortonLifeLock and Avast merge in $8.1B deal|url=https://
==Products==
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Avast develops and markets business and consumer IT security products for servers, desktops, and mobile devices.<ref name="Avast 2017">{{cite web | title=Download Free Antivirus for PC, Mac & Android | website=Avast | date=9 August 2017 | url=https://www.avast.com | access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> The company sells both the Avast product line and the acquired AVG-branded products.<ref name="PCMagReview">{{cite web | last=Rubenking | first=Neil J. | title=Avast Free Antivirus 2017 | work=PC Magazine | date=23 February 2017 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471522,00.asp | access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> As of late 2017, the company had merged the AVG and Avast business product lines and were working to integrate the corporate departments from both companies.<ref name="Kuranda 2017">{{cite web | last=Kuranda | first=Sarah | title=Avast Launches New Business Portfolio And Partner Program, Combining Its Channel Forces With AVG | website=CRN | date=6 September 2017 | url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/300091581/avast-launches-new-business-portfolio-and-partner-program-combining-its-channel-forces-with-avg.htm | access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Avast has developed utility software products to improve battery life on mobile devices, cleanup unnecessary files on a hard drive, find secure wireless networks<ref name="Avast Free Mac Security 2017">{{cite web | title=Avast Main Page: For Home/For Business | url=https://www.avast.com/en-us/mac | access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> or create a VPN connection to the internet.<ref name="PCMAG 2017 VPN">{{cite web | title=Avast SecureLine VPN | website=PCMAG | date=7 August 2017 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420857,00.asp | access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
Avast and AVG consumer security software are sold on a [[freemium]] model, where basic security features are free, but more advanced features require purchasing a premium version.<ref name="PCMagReview"/> The free version is also supported by ads.<ref name="PCWorld2009">{{cite news|title=Can You Trust Free Antivirus Protection?|first=Erik|last=Larkin|newspaper=PC World|date=October 2009|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/170587/free_antivirus_software.html|access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> Additionally, all Avast users provide data about their PC or mobile device to Avast, which is used to identify new security threats.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> Antivirus scanning, browser cleanup, a secure browser, password management, and network security features are provided for free, while firewall, anti-spam, and online banking features have to be purchased.
The Avast business product family includes features for endpoint protection, Wi-Fi security, antivirus, identity protection, password management, and data protection.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/> For example, the desktop product will look for vulnerabilities in the wi-fi network and run applications suspect of having malicious software in an isolated sandbox.<ref name="Williams 2017">{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Mike|date=28 September 2017|title=Avast Business Antivirus review|url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/avast-business-antivirus|access-date=28 September 2017|website=TechRadar}}</ref> The Avast Business Managed Workplace monitors and manages desktops, and assesses on-site security protocols.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/> The company also sells management software for IT administrators to deploy and manage Avast installations.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/>
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The Avast antivirus product for business users received 4 out of 5 by [[TechRadar]] in 2017.<ref name="Williams">{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Mike|date=2018-10-10|title=Avast Business Antivirus review|url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/avast-business-antivirus|access-date=2021-09-28|website=TechRadar|language=en}}</ref> The review said that the software had good features, protection, configuration and an "excellent interface", but it took up a lot of hard disk space and did not cover mobile devices.<ref name="Williams"/> According to Tom's Guide, the mobile version is inexpensive and packed with features. PC Magazine said that the mobile version "has almost all the security features you could want."<ref>{{Cite web|title=avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus (for Android) Review|url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/avast-mobile-security-antivirus-for-android|access-date=2021-09-28|website=PCMAG|language=en}}</ref>
AVG has also generally performed well in lab tests. A review in Tom's Hardware gave the AVG software seven out of ten stars.<ref name="Nadel 2017">{{cite web | last=Nadel | first=Brian | title=AVG AntiVirus Free: Nearly the Best | website=Tom's Guide | date=3 August 2017 | url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/avg-free-antivirus,review-2206.html | access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> The review highlighted that
==Collection and sale of user data==
In late 2019, Avast [[browser extension]]s were found to collect user data, including browsing behavior and history, and send it to a remote server. The discovery led to the extensions of the Avast and AVG brands being temporarily removed from the [[Google Chrome]], [[Firefox]] and [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] extension stores, however, they returned a short time later as there was no concrete evidence that demonstrated a breach of private data of the users.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brewster|first=Thomas|title=Are You One Of Avast's 400 Million Users? This Is Why It Collects And Sells Your Web Habits.|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/12/09/are-you-one-of-avasts-400-million-users-this-is-why-it-collects-and-sells-your-web-habits/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Li|first=Abner|date=2019-12-18|title=Google removes Avast, AVG extensions from Chrome Web Store after data collection concerns|url=https://9to5google.com/2019/12/17/chrome-avast-extensions-removed/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=[[9to5Google]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-18|title=Some Avast extensions dropped from Chrome Web Store after data collection abuses|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/12/18/some-avast-extensions-dropped-from-chrome-web-store-after-data-collection-abuses/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Android Police|language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2020, a joint investigation by [[Vice (magazine)|Motherboard]] and [[PCMag]] found that the [[Avast Antivirus]] and [[AVG AntiVirus]] Free version were collecting user data, which was being resold to personalize advertising through a subsidiary, Jumpshot.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Cost of Avast's Free Antivirus: Companies Can Spy on Your Clicks|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks|access-date=2021-09-28|website=PCMAG|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation |archive-url=https://archive.
On the basis of the information revealed, on 11 February 2020 the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection announced that it had initiated a preliminary investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uoou.cz/en/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=200156&id=1896|title=Statement on Avast case|date=11 February 2020|website=The Office for Personal Data Protection|language=en|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref>
In February 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] fined Avast $16.5 million for collecting user data and reselling that data. The collection was done under their program to ensure that such collection of user data was not happening.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-ftc-proposes-order-banning-avast-selling-browsing-data-ads-2024-02-22/|title=Avast to pay $16.5 mln to settle US charges linked to user data sale|date=22 February 2024|newspaper=Reuters|accessdate=25 February 2024}}</ref>
==See also==
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[[Category:2018 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Companies in the PX Index]]
[[Category:Companies in the Central European Blue Chip Index]]
[[Category:CVC Capital Partners companies]]
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