AVG Technologies

AVG Technologies B.V.

Type| Subsidiary
Fate| Merged into Avast, brand still used
Founded| 1991; 35 years ago (1991)
Founder| Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach
Headquarters| Brno, Czech Republic

Area served

| Worldwide
Products| Software
Parent| Avast
Website| www.avg.com

AVG Technologies B.V.[1] is a brand of cybersecurity, privacy, performance and utility software applications for desktop computers and mobile devices developed by Avast, a part of Gen Digital. As of 2026, AVG offers anti-virus, a secure browser, firewall, anti-tracking, VPN, and device performance software for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.[2] Many are offered as freeware, earning revenues from advertisers and from users that upgrade to paid versions to access more features.

AVG was founded in 1991 in Czechoslovakia.[3] In the early 2000s, AVG expanded internationally and used money from venture capital investments to fund a series of acquisitions. AVG went public on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2012. Avast acquired AVG for $1.3 billion in July 2016.

In 2022, Avast and Norton became Gen Digital.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Software
* 2.1 AVG AntiVirus
* 2.2 AVG Secure Browser
* 2.3 AVG PC TuneUp
* 3 Controversy
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## History

AVG Technologies was founded by Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach in 1991 under the name Grisoft in Brno, Czechoslovakia.[3] Initially, Grisoft sold IT equipment and third-party software, in addition to its own antivirus product.[4] Grisoft grew as the country loosened its international trade policies, so it could exchange technology with companies in Europe.[3] By 1998, Grisoft had 13 employees.[5]

Grisoft later expanded to the US market, creating an American company called AVG.[5] Grisoft also expanded to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries.[6] 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.[5] It started marketing software directly to consumers in 2006.[7] In 2008, Grisoft changed the name of its parent company to AVG, the name already used for its software and for its American subsidiary.[8] TA Associates invested an additional $200 million into the company that year for a minority stake in the business.[9]

In 2001, Grisoft was sold to a venture capital firm Benson Oak Capital.[3] The firm then sold a 65 percent interest in Grisoft to Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors for $52 million in 2005.[3][10][11] The investments were used to fund a series of acquisitions.[3] Grisoft bought spyware company Ewido Networks in 2006[12] and browser security company Exploit Prevention Labs in 2007.[13] In 2009, AVG announced the acquisition of Sana Security, which analyzes software behavior.[14] This was followed by the acquisition of mobile security startup DroidSecurity and iMedix Web Technologies in 2011,[15][16] parental control software company Bsecure in 2012,[17] and remote monitoring company Level Platforms in 2013.[18]

AVG Technologies filed an initial public offering in February 2012.[19] Additionally, former Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs was appointed CEO of AVG.[20] 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.[21]

In 2014, AVG announced the acquisition of Location Labs, a cybersecurity company focused on mobile devices, for an estimated $220 million.[19] AVG was acquired by Avast for $1.3 billion in July 2016.[22][23] By this time, AVG had 600 employees, $155 million in annual revenue, and 95 million users.[3] The combined entity became the world's largest antivirus company, with an estimated 20% of the market.[24] There were Avast or AVG installations on 160 million mobile devices and 240 million desktop computers.[25] The new combined entity incorporate their technology into combined software products and developed a new channel program to market them to small business owners.[26][27] A few months later, an American private equity firm, TA Associates, bought a 25 percent interest in AVG for $200 million.[3]

In 2015, AVG acquired the VPN company Privax[28] and an Israeli-based gallery app company called MyRoll.[29] It also released new software products for businesses that incorporate the technology of both companies.[27] In July 2017 AVG acquired Piriform Software, a UK-based company that developed CCleaner, a cleanup utility with 130 million installations.[30]

## Software

Main articles: Software:AVG AntiVirus and AVG PC TuneUp

AVG develops and markets software for IT security, privacy, performance optimization, and other utility services on desktop computers and mobile devices.[31] It is one of the largest brands of cybersecurity software.[32]

AVG also develops software for data backup, parental controls, and other services.[33][34] AVG produces a variety of other computer optimization and utility software products.[32][19] For example, a browser extension called AVG SafePrice looks for better deals online when the user is on a shopping site.[35]

A majority of AVG's revenues come from free users upgrading to paid versions.[33]

### AVG AntiVirus

AVG is best-known for its antivirus product.[34] AVG AntiVirus is a freeware program[34] that relies heavily on heuristic analysis to determine if a program's code is behaving like malicious software.[5][36] It scans a computer's documents, programs, and emails for suspicious behavior,[37] then rates each file's risk based on its behavior and alerts the user of files with a high rating.[36] AVG Antivirus has features intended to protect the user's PC from malware, phishing, and viruses.[35] It also has firewall, identity protection, anti-ransomware, anti-spam, and webcam control features for paid users.[35][38][39]

### AVG Secure Browser

AVG Secure Browser is a web browser that has built-in ad blocker. The browser works on Windows, macOS and Android.[40] As of 2024 it had approximately 0.02% market share.[41]

### AVG PC TuneUp

AVG PC TuneUp is a software suite for Microsoft Windows computers that allows users to "manage, maintain, optimize, configure, and troubleshoot a computer system."[42]

## Controversy

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.[43][44] The video was restored within 24 hours by YouTube.[43][44] 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.

In 2016, AVG's browser add-on, AVG Secure Search, was criticized as being adware,[45] for being bundled with other software and mistakenly installed. AVG Secure Search was also advertised to users of the free versions of AVG products.[46] Some reviews at the time noted that, 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 was reminiscent of a potentially unwanted program (PUP), problems uninstalling the add-on were reported,[45] and the add-on could potentially make a web browser more vulnerable to attacks.[47] Later, AVG fixed these problems in its browser extension.[2]

## References

1. ↑ "15-12B". https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1528903/000119312517093555/d322676d1512b.htm.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/avg-antivirus-review/
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Cienski, Jan (7 September 2017). "Anti-virus makers spring from an unexpected source". https://www.ft.com/content/5a2ec1c2-e410-11de-bed0-00144feab49a.
4. ↑ "Vznikne antivirový gigant, pražský Avast kupuje původně brněnskou AVG" (in cs). 7 July 2016. https://www.idnes.cz/ekonomika/domaci/ceska-antivirova-firma-avast-kupuje-rivala-avg-za-32-miliard-korun.A160707_101955_ekonomika_lve.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Rocks, David (31 August 1998). "Czech Detection: Grisoft targets the U.S. antivirus-software market, but will the two California titans even notice?". The Wall Street Journal.
6. ↑ "Avast koupí konkurenční AVG za 32 miliard" (in cs). 7 July 2016. https://www.novinky.cz/internet-a-pc/software/408553-avast-koupi-konkurencni-avg-za-32-miliard.html.
7. ↑ "Grisoft Updates Security Lineup To v. 7.5". TechWeb. 3 October 2006.
8. ↑ Messmer, Ellen (7 February 2008). "Grisoft changes name to AVG Technologies". https://www.networkworld.com/article/810652/lan-wan-grisoft-changes-name-to-avg-technologies.html.
9. ↑ Lynn Cowan, "Eight IPOs Line Up, Including AVG And Greenway," VentureWire (27 Jan 2012).
10. ↑ Krazit, Tom (6 September 2005). "Intel invests in Czech security company". https://www.infoworld.com/article/2671554/security/intel-invests-in-czech-security-company.html.
11. ↑ Gitlin, Elle Cayabyab (8 September 2005). "Intel acquires US$16 million stake in Grisoft". https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/09/5290-2/.
12. ↑ Naraine, Ryan (21 August 2007). "Grisoft AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5". https://www.pcworld.com/article/136193/article.html.
13. ↑ Rossi, Sandra (20 December 2018). "Grisoft to acquire Exploit Prevention Labs for undisclosed sum". https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/200716/grisoft_acquire_exploit_prevention_labs_undisclosed_sum/.
14. ↑ Rubenking, Neil (13 January 2009). "AVG Buys Sana's Behavior-Based Security Tech". https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2338797,00.asp.
15. ↑ "AVG Acquires Mobile Security Startup DroidSecurity For Up To $9.4 Million". 10 November 2010. https://techcrunch.com/2010/11/10/avg-droidsecurity/.
16. ↑ "AVG TECHNOLOGIES N.V. filed this Form 20-F on 04/26/2012". AVG Technologies N.V. 26 April 2012. http://investors.avg.com/mobile.view?c=250967&v=202&d=3&id=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50ZW5rd2l6YXJkLmNvbS9maWxpbmcueG1sP2lwYWdlPTgyMTgxMjEmRFNFUT0xJlNFUT0xMTcmU1FERVNDPVNFQ1RJT05fUEFHRSZleHA9JnN1YnNpZD01Nw==.
17. ↑ "AVG Acquires 'Online Family Protection' Software Maker Bsecure". 1 November 2011. https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/avg-acquires-online-family-protection-software-maker-bsecure/.
18. ↑ "AVG acquires LPI Level Platforms, providing more cloud services to SMBs". 12 June 2013. https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/avg-acquires-lpi-level-platforms-providing-more-cloud-services-to-smbs/36197.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Stynes, Tess (3 September 2014). "AVG Technologies to Buy Location Labs". https://www.wsj.com/articles/avg-technologies-to-buy-location-labs-1409764421.
20. ↑ Ludwig, Sean (21 May 2013). "AVG buys web privacy firm PrivacyChoice & its smart Privacyfix dashboard". https://venturebeat.com/2013/05/21/avg-buys-privacychoice/.
21. ↑ Osborne, Charlie (18 September 2015). "AVG releases transparent privacy policy: Yes, we will sell your data". https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-releases-transparent-privacy-policy-yes-we-will-sell-your-data/.
22. ↑ McMillan, Robert (7 July 2016). "Avast Software to Buy AVG Technologies for $1.3 Billion". https://www.wsj.com/articles/avast-software-to-buy-avg-technologies-for-1-3-billion-1467896539.
23. ↑ Lomas, Natasha (7 July 2016). "Avast acquires antivirus maker AVG for $1.3BN to gain scale and dive into IoT security". https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/07/avast-acquires-antivirus-maker-avg-for-1-3bn-to-gain-scale-and-dive-into-iot-security/.
24. ↑ "Security CEO Says Pivoting From Antivirus Will Be 'Far Easier' After Billion-Dollar Acquisition". 7 July 2016. http://fortune.com/2016/07/07/avg-avast-deal-ceo-gary-kovacs/.
25. ↑ Sayer, Peter (7 July 2016). "Free antivirus pays off: Avast buys AVG for $1.3 billion". https://www.pcworld.com/article/3092808/security/antivirus-merger-avast-offers-1-3-billion-for-avg.html.
26. ↑ "AVG stellt neueste Versionen seiner Sicherheits- und TuneUp-Suiten vor" (in de). 10 January 2017. https://www.zdnet.de/88285868/avg-stellt-neueste-versionen-seiner-sicherheits-und-tuneup-suiten-vor/.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Kuranda, Sarah (6 September 2017). "Avast Launches New Business Portfolio And Partner Program, Combining Its Channel Forces With AVG". https://www.crn.com/news/security/300091581/avast-launches-new-business-portfolio-and-partner-program-combining-its-channel-forces-with-avg.htm.
28. ↑ Osborne, Charlie (6 May 2015). "AVG acquires desktop, mobile VPN firm Privax". https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-acquires-desktop-mobile-privacy-firm-privax/.
29. ↑ Sawers, Paul (12 November 2015). "AVG acquires Israeli photo-management startup MyRoll, plans to integrate the technologies". https://venturebeat.com/2015/11/12/avg-acquires-israeli-photo-management-startup-myroll-plans-to-integrate-the-technologies/.
30. ↑ Thubron, Rob (20 July 2017). "Avast acquires Piriform, the maker of CCleaner and Speccy". https://www.techspot.com/news/70213-avast-acquires-piriform-maker-ccleaner-speccy.html.
31. ↑ "Compare All AVG Products - Find the Perfect Software". 4 January 2019. https://www.avg.com/en-us/all-products.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Sawers, Paul (7 July 2016). "Avast acquires rival AVG for $1.3 billion to create a security software giant". https://venturebeat.com/2016/07/07/avast-acquires-rival-avg-for-1-3-billion-to-create-a-security-software-giant/.
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "'Freemium' Model Works Well For AVG Technologies". 5 August 2013. https://www.investors.com/stock-lists/global-leaders/freemium-model-works-well-for-avg/.
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 "AVG Maker Grisoft Launches Anti-Spyware". TechWeb. 19 June 2006.
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Rubenking, Neil (22 October 2018). "AVG AntiVirus Free". https://www.pcmag.com/review/364460/avg-antivirus-free.
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Grisoft Adds Partners -- The Czech vendor targets U.S. VARs with antivirus offering". VARBusiness. 21 August 2006.
37. ↑ "Antiviry: AVG 6.0" (in cs). 22 January 2002. https://www.idnes.cz/technet/software/antiviry-avg-6-0.A020121_0049656_bezpecnost.
38. ↑ "AVG Internet Security - Unlimited". 4 December 2018. https://www.pcmag.com/review/365233/avg-internet-security-unlimited.
39. ↑ Plus, PC (12 February 2011). "AVG Internet Security 2011". https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/utilities/anti-malware-software/avg-internet-security-2011-927248/review.
40. ↑ "What Is AVG Secure Browser? How to Download/Install/Uninstall It?". MiniTool Software Ltd.. August 3, 2022. https://www.minitool.com/news/avg-secure-browser.html.
41. ↑ "Browser Market Share Report for 2024 Q1". Cloudflare, Inc.. May 3, 2024. https://radar.cloudflare.com/reports/browser-market-share-2024-q1.
42. ↑ McKinnon, David (2010-01-24). "TuneUp Utilities 2010 review" (in en-GB). https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/technology/software-services/tuneup-utilities-2010-review.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus". Pcgamer (MaximumPC). 24 May 2012. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/original_rickroll_video_returns_youtube_after_24-hour_copyright_hiatus.
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "News of 'Rickroll' meme death greatly exaggerated". MSNBC. 25 May 2012. http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/news-rickroll-meme-death-greatly-exaggerated-791074.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Protalinski, Emil. "AVG Security Toolbar is the worst foistware I've ever seen". https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-security-toolbar-is-the-worst-foistware-ive-ever-seen/.
46. ↑ "How do I make these AVG popups STOP??? | AVG" (in en-US). 13 August 2015. https://support.avg.com/answers?id=906b0000000DA01AAG.
47. ↑ "Don't Use Your Antivirus' Browser Extensions: They Can Actually Make You Less Safe". 26 January 2016. http://www.howtogeek.com/239950/dont-use-your-antivirus-browser-extensions-they-can-actually-make-you-less-safe/.

## External links

* Official website

Template:Gen Digital

* v
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Antivirus software

Companies|

| Major|

* AhnLab
* Avast
* AVG Technologies
* Avira
* Bitdefender
* Comodo
* Dr. Web
* ESET
* F-Secure
* Kaspersky
* McAfee
* Microsoft
* NortonLifeLock
* Panda
* Quick Heal
* Qihoo 360
* Sophos
* Trend Micro
* VIPRE

|

Minor|

* Agnitum
* Cisco
* Check Point
* ClamWin
* Fortinet
* FRISK
* G Data
* Intego
* Kingsoft
* Lavasoft
* Malwarebytes
* NANO Security
* Padvish
* TrustPort
* VirusBlokAda
* Webroot
* ZoneAlarm

Products|

| Desktop,
server|

* 360 Safeguard
* AhnLab V3 Internet Security
* Avast Antivirus
* AVG AntiVirus
* Avira Internet Security
* Bitdefender
* ClamTk
* ClamWin
* Clam AntiVirus
* Comodo Antivirus
* Comodo Internet Security
* Dr. Web
* Element Anti-Virus
* ESET NOD32
* F-Secure
* F-PROT
* Fortinet
* G Data
* Immunet
* Mac Internet Security
* K7 Total Security
* Kaspersky Anti-Virus
* Kaspersky Internet Security
* Malwarebytes
* McAfee VirusScan
* Microsoft Security Essentials
* NANO Antivirus
* Norton AntiVirus
* Norton Internet Security
* Panda
* Sophos
* Symantec Endpoint Protection
* Spyware Doctor
* Trend Micro Internet Security
* TrustPort
* Vba32 AntiVirus
* VirusBarrier
* Windows Defender
* ZoneAlarm

|

Mobile,
tablet|

* AhnLab Mobile Security
* Avast Antivirus
* AVG AntiVirus
* Avira Free Android Security
* Bitdefender Mobile Security
* CM Security
* Comodo Mobile Security
* Dr. Web Mobile Security Suite
* ESET Mobile Security
* F-Secure Mobile Security
* FireAMP Mobile
* G Data Internet Security
* McAfee Mobile Security
* Trend Micro Mobile Security
* TrustPort Mobile Security
* VirusBarrier

Related|

* Comparison of antivirus software

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