AVG Technologies#AVG Secure Browser

AVG Technologies was founded by Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach in 1990 under the name Grisoft in Brno, Czechoslovakia.{{cite web | title=Anti-virus makers spring from an unexpected source | website=Financial Times | date=7 September 2017 | url=https://www.ft.com/content/5a2ec1c2-e410-11de-bed0-00144feab49a | access-date=30 December 2018|first=Jan|last=Cienski}} Initially, Grisoft sold IT equipment and third-party software, in addition to its own antivirus product.{{cite web | title=Vznikne antivirový gigant, pražský Avast kupuje původně brněnskou AVG | website=iDNES.cz | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://www.idnes.cz/ekonomika/domaci/ceska-antivirova-firma-avast-kupuje-rivala-avg-za-32-miliard-korun.A160707_101955_ekonomika_lve | language=cs | access-date=3 January 2019}} Grisoft grew as the country loosened its international trade policies, so it could exchange technology with companies in Europe. By 1998, Grisoft had 13 employees.{{cite news|date=31 August 1998|title=Czech Detection: Grisoft targets the U.S. antivirus-software market, but will the two California titans even notice?|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|first=David|last=Rocks}}

Grisoft later expanded to the US market, creating an American company called AVG. Grisoft also expanded to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries.{{cite web | title=Avast koupí konkurenční AVG za 32 miliard | website=Novinky.cz | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://www.novinky.cz/internet-a-pc/software/408553-avast-koupi-konkurencni-avg-za-32-miliard.html | language=cs | access-date=3 January 2019}} For a time, the company was focused on bulk sales of antivirus software to computer manufacturers that sold PCs with Grisoft's software pre-installed. It started marketing software directly to consumers in 2006.{{cite news|title=Grisoft Updates Security Lineup To v. 7.5|publisher=TechWeb|date=3 October 2006}} In 2008, Grisoft changed the name of its parent company to AVG, the name already used for its software and for its American subsidiary.{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Grisoft changes name to AVG Technologies | website=Network World | date=7 February 2008 | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/810652/lan-wan-grisoft-changes-name-to-avg-technologies.html | access-date=1 December 2018}} TA Associates invested an additional $200 million into the company that year for a minority stake in the business.Lynn Cowan, "Eight IPOs Line Up, Including AVG And Greenway," VentureWire (27 Jan 2012).

In 2001, Grisoft was sold to a venture capital firm Benson Oak Capital. The firm then sold a 65 percent interest in Grisoft to Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors for $52 million in 2005.{{cite web | last=Krazit | first=Tom | title=Intel invests in Czech security company | website=InfoWorld | date=6 September 2005 | url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2671554/security/intel-invests-in-czech-security-company.html | access-date=30 December 2018}}{{cite web | last=Gitlin | first=Elle Cayabyab | title=Intel acquires US$16 million stake in Grisoft | website=Ars Technica | date=8 September 2005 | url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/09/5290-2/ | access-date=30 December 2018}} The investments were used to fund a series of acquisitions. Grisoft bought spyware company Ewido Networks in 2006{{cite web | last=Naraine | first=Ryan | title=Grisoft AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 | website=PCWorld | date=21 August 2007 | url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/136193/article.html | access-date=31 December 2018 | archive-date=15 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815163341/http://www.pcworld.com/article/136193/article.html | url-status=dead }} and browser security company Exploit Prevention Labs in 2007.{{cite web | title=Grisoft to acquire Exploit Prevention Labs for undisclosed sum | website=Computerworld | date=20 December 2018 | url=https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/200716/grisoft_acquire_exploit_prevention_labs_undisclosed_sum/ | access-date=31 December 2018 | first=Sandra | last=Rossi | archive-date=1 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701184743/https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/200716/grisoft_acquire_exploit_prevention_labs_undisclosed_sum/ | url-status=dead }} In 2009, AVG announced the acquisition of Sana Security, which analyzes software behavior.{{cite web | title=AVG Buys Sana's Behavior-Based Security Tech | website=PCMAG | date=13 January 2009 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2338797,00.asp | access-date=31 December 2018|first=Neil|last=Rubenking}} This was followed by the acquisition of mobile security startup DroidSecurity and iMedix Web Technologies in 2011,{{cite web | title=AVG Acquires Mobile Security Startup DroidSecurity For Up To $9.4 Million | website=TechCrunch | date=10 November 2010 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/10/avg-droidsecurity/ | access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://investors.avg.com/mobile.view?c=250967&v=202&d=3&id=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50ZW5rd2l6YXJkLmNvbS9maWxpbmcueG1sP2lwYWdlPTgyMTgxMjEmRFNFUT0xJlNFUT0xMTcmU1FERVNDPVNFQ1RJT05fUEFHRSZleHA9JnN1YnNpZD01Nw%3D%3D |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160812164042/http://investors.avg.com/mobile.view?c=250967&v=202&d=3&id=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50ZW5rd2l6YXJkLmNvbS9maWxpbmcueG1sP2lwYWdlPTgyMTgxMjEmRFNFUT0xJlNFUT0xMTcmU1FERVNDPVNFQ1RJT05fUEFHRSZleHA9JnN1YnNpZD01Nw%3D%3D |title=AVG TECHNOLOGIES N.V. filed this Form 20-F on 04/26/2012 |publisher=AVG Technologies N.V |date=26 April 2012 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |access-date=12 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} parental control software company Bsecure in 2012,{{cite web | title=AVG Acquires 'Online Family Protection' Software Maker Bsecure | website=TechCrunch | date=1 November 2011 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/avg-acquires-online-family-protection-software-maker-bsecure/ | access-date=5 January 2019}} and remote monitoring company Level Platforms in 2013.{{cite web | title=AVG acquires LPI Level Platforms, providing more cloud services to SMBs | website=IT Business | date=12 June 2013 | url=https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/avg-acquires-lpi-level-platforms-providing-more-cloud-services-to-smbs/36197 | access-date=5 January 2019}}

AVG Technologies filed an initial public offering in February 2012. Additionally, former Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs was appointed CEO of AVG.{{cite web | last=Ludwig | first=Sean | title=AVG buys web privacy firm PrivacyChoice & its smart Privacyfix dashboard | website=VentureBeat | date=21 May 2013 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/05/21/avg-buys-privacychoice/ | access-date=4 January 2019}} He led the effort to create a simple one-page privacy policy that discloses what data the company collects from users and what information about free users it sells to advertisers.{{cite web | last=Osborne | first=Charlie | title=AVG releases transparent privacy policy: Yes, we will sell your data | website=ZDNet | date=18 September 2015 | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-releases-transparent-privacy-policy-yes-we-will-sell-your-data/ | access-date=5 January 2019}}

In 2014, AVG announced the acquisition of Location Labs, a cybersecurity company focused on mobile devices, for an estimated $220 million.{{cite web | last=Stynes | first=Tess | title=AVG Technologies to Buy Location Labs | website=WSJ | date=3 September 2014 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/avg-technologies-to-buy-location-labs-1409764421 | access-date=31 December 2018}} AVG was acquired by Avast for $1.3 billion in July 2016.{{cite web | last=McMillan | first=Robert | title=Avast Software to Buy AVG Technologies for $1.3 Billion | website=WSJ | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/avast-software-to-buy-avg-technologies-for-1-3-billion-1467896539 | access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite web | title=Avast acquires antivirus maker AVG for $1.3BN to gain scale and dive into IoT security | website=TechCrunch | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/07/avast-acquires-antivirus-maker-avg-for-1-3bn-to-gain-scale-and-dive-into-iot-security/ | access-date=30 December 2018|first=Natasha|last=Lomas}} By this time, AVG had 600 employees, $155 million in annual revenue, and 95 million users. The combined entity became the world's largest antivirus company, with an estimated 20% of the market.{{cite web | title=Security CEO Says Pivoting From Antivirus Will Be 'Far Easier' After Billion-Dollar Acquisition | website=Fortune | date=7 July 2016 | url=http://fortune.com/2016/07/07/avg-avast-deal-ceo-gary-kovacs/ | access-date=5 January 2019}} There were Avast or AVG installations on 160 million mobile devices and 240 million desktop computers.{{cite web | last=Sayer | first=Peter | title=Free antivirus pays off: Avast buys AVG for $1.3 billion | website=PCWorld | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3092808/security/antivirus-merger-avast-offers-1-3-billion-for-avg.html | access-date=5 January 2019}} The new combined entity incorporate their technology into combined software products and developed a new channel program to market them to small business owners.{{cite web | title=AVG stellt neueste Versionen seiner Sicherheits- und TuneUp-Suiten vor | website=ZDNet.de | date=10 January 2017 | url=https://www.zdnet.de/88285868/avg-stellt-neueste-versionen-seiner-sicherheits-und-tuneup-suiten-vor/ | language=de | access-date=5 January 2019}}{{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=5 January 2019}} A few months later, an American private equity firm, TA Associates, bought a 25 percent interest in AVG for $200 million.

In 2015, AVG acquired the VPN company Privax{{cite web | last=Osborne | first=Charlie | title=AVG acquires desktop, mobile VPN firm Privax | website=ZDNet | date=6 May 2015 | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-acquires-desktop-mobile-privacy-firm-privax/ | access-date=5 January 2019}} and an Israeli-based gallery app company called MyRoll.{{cite web | last=Sawers | first=Paul | title=AVG acquires Israeli photo-management startup MyRoll, plans to integrate the technologies | website=VentureBeat | date=12 November 2015 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/11/12/avg-acquires-israeli-photo-management-startup-myroll-plans-to-integrate-the-technologies/ | access-date=5 January 2019}} It also released new software products for businesses that incorporate the technology of both companies. In July 2017 AVG acquired Piriform Software, a UK-based company that developed CCleaner, a cleanup utility with 130 million installations.{{cite web | last=Thubron | first=Rob | title=Avast acquires Piriform, the maker of CCleaner and Speccy | website=TechSpot | date=20 July 2017 | url=https://www.techspot.com/news/70213-avast-acquires-piriform-maker-ccleaner-speccy.html | access-date=5 January 2019}}

AVG develops and markets software for IT security, privacy, performance optimization, and other utility services on desktop computers and mobile devices.{{cite web | title=Compare All AVG Products - Find the Perfect Software | website=AVG.com | date=4 January 2019 | url=https://www.avg.com/en-us/all-products | access-date=5 January 2019}} It is one of the largest brands of cybersecurity software.{{cite web | last=Sawers | first=Paul | 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=3 January 2019}}

AVG is best-known for its antivirus product. AVG AntiVirus is a freeware program that relies heavily on heuristic analysis to determine if a program's code is behaving like malicious software.{{cite news|title=Grisoft Adds Partners -- The Czech vendor targets U.S. VARs with antivirus offering|newspaper=VARBusiness|date=21 August 2006}} It scans a computer's documents, programs, and emails for suspicious behavior,{{cite web | title=Antiviry: AVG 6.0 | website=iDNES.cz | date=22 January 2002 | url=https://www.idnes.cz/technet/software/antiviry-avg-6-0.A020121_0049656_bezpecnost | language=cs | access-date=3 January 2019}} then rates each file's risk based on its behavior and alerts the user of files with a high rating. AVG Antivirus has features intended to protect the user's PC from malware, phishing, and viruses. It also has firewall, identity protection, anti-ransomware, anti-spam, and webcam control features for paid users.{{cite web | title=AVG Internet Security - Unlimited | website=PCMAG | date=4 December 2018 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/review/365233/avg-internet-security-unlimited | access-date=5 January 2019}}{{cite web | last=Plus | first=PC | title=AVG Internet Security 2011 | website=TechRadar | date=12 February 2011 | url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/utilities/anti-malware-software/avg-internet-security-2011-927248/review | access-date=3 January 2019}}

Avast also develops software for data backup, parental controls, and other services.{{cite web | title='Freemium' Model Works Well For AVG Technologies | website=Investor's Business Daily | date=5 August 2013 | url=https://www.investors.com/stock-lists/global-leaders/freemium-model-works-well-for-avg/ | access-date=4 January 2019}}{{cite news|title=AVG Maker Grisoft Launches Anti-Spyware|publisher=TechWeb|date=19 June 2006}} AVG produces a variety of other computer optimization and utility software products. For example, a browser extension called AVG SafePrice looks for better deals online when the user is on a shopping site.{{cite web | title=AVG AntiVirus Free | website=PCMAG | date=22 October 2018 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/review/364460/avg-antivirus-free | access-date=31 December 2018|first=Neil|last=Rubenking

}}

A majority of AVG's revenues come from free users upgrading to paid versions.

AVG Secure Browser is a web browser that has built-in ad blocker. The browser works on Windows, macOS and Android.{{cite web|last=|first=|title=What Is AVG Secure Browser? How to Download/Install/Uninstall It?|website=minitool.com|publisher=MiniTool Software Ltd.|date=August 3, 2022|url=https://www.minitool.com/news/avg-secure-browser.html|access-date=March 22, 2025}} As of 2024 it had approximately 0.02% market share.{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Browser Market Share Report for 2024 Q1|website=cloudflare.com|publisher=Cloudflare, Inc.|date=May 3, 2024|url=https://radar.cloudflare.com/reports/browser-market-share-2024-q1|access-date=March 22, 2025}}

In May 2012, AVG Technologies issued a copyright claim, referred to as a 'takedown request,' for a YouTube video of 1987 pop song "Never Gonna Give You Up", performed by British singer Rick Astley.{{cite news|url=http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/original_rickroll_video_returns_youtube_after_24-hour_copyright_hiatus |title=Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus |newspaper=Pcgamer |publisher=MaximumPC |date=24 May 2012 |access-date=26 May 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/news-rickroll-meme-death-greatly-exaggerated-791074 |title=News of 'Rickroll' meme death greatly exaggerated |publisher=MSNBC |date=25 May 2012 |access-date=26 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526143721/http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/news-rickroll-meme-death-greatly-exaggerated-791074 |archive-date=26 May 2012 }} The video was restored within 24 hours by YouTube. The video's name refers to the internet meme commonly referred to as 'Rickrolling,' where someone pranks others by tricking them into going to the video.

AVG's browser add-on, AVG Secure Search, has been criticized as being adware,{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-security-toolbar-is-the-worst-foistware-ive-ever-seen/|title=AVG Security Toolbar is the worst foistware I've ever seen|last=Protalinski|first=Emil|website=ZDNet|access-date=22 September 2016}} since it is frequently bundled with other software and is often mistakenly installed, and exhibits malware-like behavior. AVG Secure Search is also advertised to users of the free versions of AVG products.{{Cite web|url=https://support.avg.com/answers?id=906b0000000DA01AAG|title=How do I make these AVG popups STOP??? {{!}} AVG|date=13 August 2015|language=en-US|access-date=22 September 2016}} Although the add-on offers legitimate malware-blocking capabilities, the default behavior of changing the web browser's default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to AVG Secure Search is reminiscent of a potentially unwanted program (PUP), problems uninstalling the add-on have been widely reported, and the add-on could potentially make a web browser more vulnerable to attacks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.howtogeek.com/239950/dont-use-your-antivirus-browser-extensions-they-can-actually-make-you-less-safe/|title=Don't Use Your Antivirus' Browser Extensions: They Can Actually Make You Less Safe|date=26 January 2016 |access-date=22 September 2016}} {{citation needed span|date=February 2025|AVG fixed these problems in its browser extension.}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.avg.com}}

{{Gen Digital}}

{{Antivirus software}}

Category:Avast

Category:1991 establishments in Czechoslovakia

Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange

Category:Computer security software companies

Category:Czech brands

Category:Gen Digital acquisitions

Category:Software companies of the Czech Republic

Category:Software companies established in 1991