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Avast Antivirus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Avast Antivirus
Developer(s)Avast
Stable release
25.1.9816[1] / 4 February 2025; 14 days ago (2025-02-04) (Windows version)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Available in45 languages
TypeSecurity software, Antivirus software
LicenseFreeware, proprietary software
Websiteavast.com

Avast Antivirus is a family of cross-platform internet security applications developed by Avast for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Avast offers free and paid products that provide computer security, browser security, antivirus software, firewall, anti-phishing, antispyware, and anti-spam, among other services.[2]

Avast Free Antivirus is the base product in the Avast lineup. It provides important security features such as malware protection, phishing protection, data leak tracking and Wi-Fi security scanning.[3] The next level, Avast Premium Security, includes advanced features such as real-time ransomware protection, webcam protection, and remote access protection.[4] Avast Ultimate combines Avast Premium Security with additional services such as Avast Cleanup, Avast SecureLine VPN and Avast AntiTrack.[5]

Avast launched a freeware business product, Avast for Business, in February 2015. It includes antivirus protection, web threat scanning, browser protection, and a cloud management console.[6]

As of January 2015, Avast had the largest share of the market for antivirus applications.[7] In 2016 Avast has more than 400 million users and 40 % of the antivirus market outside China. Avast integrates more than 750 employees at its headquarters in the Czech Republic and has offices in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea and Taiwan. In September 2016 it completed the purchase of AVG Technologies, a historically rival company, for US$1.3 billion.[8]

In January 2020, multiple news sources reported that Avast Antivirus, through a subsidiary, was selling the browsing history of Avast Free product users. Though the company claimed all data was "de-identified", it was reported that the sold data could possibly in some instances be linked back to people's real identities, exposing every click and search they had made.[9][10][11] In response, Avast announced that it would close the subsidiary over the data privacy backlash.[12] In February 2024, the Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million for collecting user data.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NEW Avast version 25.1". community.avast.com. February 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "AVAST Software s.r.o.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Free antivirus". Avast. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Avast Premium Security". Avast. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Avast Ultimate". Avast. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  6. ^ Kovacs, Eduard. "Avast Launches Free Security Solution for Businesses", Security Week 24 February 2015. Retrieved on 23 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Avast worth 'upwards of $2 billion'; no IPO before 2017" Reuters. Published on October 29, 2015.
  8. ^ "AVAST! Information". web.archive.org. 2003-04-15. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  9. ^ "The Cost of Avast's Free Antivirus: Companies Can Spy on Your Clicks". PCMAG. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  10. ^ Cox, Joseph (2020-01-27). "Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data". Vice. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  11. ^ "Avast packaged detailed user data to be sold for millions of dollars". Engadget. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  12. ^ "Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot". Avast. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Avast to pay $16.5 mln to settle US charges linked to user data sale". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
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