Avast: Difference between revisions

| hq_location_country = [[Czech Republic]]

'''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 iswas 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ray|first=Tiernan|title=NortonLifeLock and Avast PLC to merge in $8.4 billion transaction|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/nortonlifelock-and-avast-plc-to-merge-in-8-billion-all-stock-transaction/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-10|title=NortonLifeLock and Avast to Merge to Lead the Transformation of Consumer Cyber Safety|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210810005994/en/NortonLifeLock-and-Avast-to-Merge-to-Lead-the-Transformation-of-Consumer-Cyber-Safety|access-date=2021-09-10|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref>

The company's main product is the [[Avast Antivirus]], along with tools such as the [[Avast Secure Browser]] and the [[Avast SecureLine VPN]].

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 KuceraKučera to join him in cofounding Avast as a cooperative.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> The cooperative was originally called Alwil and only the software was named Avast.<ref name="Wonder 2013">{{cite web | last=Wonder | first=Dan | title=Who Makes Avast? | website=Chron.com | date=17 June 2013 | url=https://smallbusiness.chron.com/avast-69305.html | 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>

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://social.techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/nortonlifelock-avast-merger/|access-date=2021-09-1012 December 2023|website=TechCrunch|date=11 August 2021 |languagearchive-url=enhttps://web.archive.org/web/20230202011554/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/nortonlifelock-USavast-merger/|archive-date=2 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2022 |title=CMA clears NortonLifeLock's £6bn Avast takeover |newspaper=UK Tech News |url=https://www.uktech.news/cybersecurity/nortonlifelock-avast-merger-20220902 |access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Barr |first=Greg |date=12 September 2022 |title=NortonLifeLock to change company name in wake of Avast acquisition |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/09/12/nortonlifelock-name-change-merger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=httphttps://archive.today/2022.09.13-09084220220913090842/https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/09/12/nortonlifelock-name-change-merger.html |archive-date=13 September 2022 |publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dexter|first=Alan|date=2021-08-16|title=Norton and Avast merge to form super-cybersecurity company|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/norton-and-avast-merge-to-form-super-cybersecurity-company/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}}</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.<ref name="pcpro2015"/><ref name="Nadel 2017"/> According to ''PC Pro'', the software does not "nag" users about upgrading.<ref name="PCMAG 2017 VPN"/><ref name="pcpro2015">{{cite news |date=April 2015 |title=Avast Free Antivirus |page=89 |newspaper=PC Pro|date=April 2015|page=89}}</ref><ref name="Nadel 2017"/> About 3% of Avast's users pay for a premium version (10% in the US).<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/>

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 the software has a small system footprint and has good malware protection, but does not have a quick scan option and lacks many additional features.<ref name="Nadel 2017"/>

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.phtoday/uKbYb20210329073046/https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation |archive-date=29 MarMarch 2021 |access-date=2021-09-28|website=www.vice.com|date=27 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast packaged detailed user data to be sold for millions of dollars|url=https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-27-avast-jumpshot-selling-user-data.html|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Engadget|date=30 January 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> The leaked documents showed that Jumpshot offered to provide its customers with "Every search. Every click. On every site." from more than 100 million compromised devices. In response, Avast announced on January 30, 2020, that it would immediately shut down Jumpshot and cease all operations due to the backlash of its users' data privacy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot|url=https://press.avast.com/avast-to-commence-wind-down-of-subsidiary-jumpshot|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-01|title=Website Metrics: Traffic Statistics, Analytics & Conversion|url=https://www.jumpshot.com/|access-date=2021-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101094748/https://www.jumpshot.com/|archive-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>