Avast

For other uses, see Avast (disambiguation).
"AVST" redirects here. For the ISO 15924 code Avst, see Avestan alphabet.

Avast Software s.r.o.
FormerlyAlwil Software
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryComputer software
Founded1988; 36 years ago (1988)
Founders
Headquarters
Prague
,
Czech Republic
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
ProductsCybersecurity software
ServicesComputer security
RevenueIncrease US$892.9 million (2020)[1]
Decrease US$335.4 million (2020)[1]
Decrease US$169.6 million (2020)[1]
Total assetsDecrease US$2.707 billion (2020)[1]
Total equityIncrease US$1.195 billion (2020)[1]
Number of employees
~1,700 (2021)[2]
ParentGen Digital
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.avast.com
Avast founders Eduard Kučera (left) and Pavel Baudiš (right) in 2016 with their spouses, who run the non-profit Avast Foundation for community development

Avast Software s.r.o. is a Czech multinational cybersecurity software company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, that researches and develops computer security software, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Avast had more than 435 million monthly active users[2] and the second largest market share among anti-malware application vendors worldwide as of April 2020.[3] As of 2018, the company had approximately 1,700 employees across its 25 offices worldwide.[2] In July 2021, NortonLifeLock, an American cybersecurity company, announced that it was in talks to merge with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion.[4][5]

Avast was founded by Pavel Baudiš and Eduard Kučera in 1988 as a cooperative. It had been a private company since 2010 and had its 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.[6] It was 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.[7]

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

Avast produces Avast Online Security, which is its main extension, but it also has extensions like Avast SafePrice and Avast Passwords.

  1. ^ a b c d e "Annual Results 2020" (PDF). Avast. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "At a glance". Avast. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Market share held by the leading Windows anti-malware application vendors worldwide, as of April 2020". Statista. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  4. ^ Ray, Tiernan. "NortonLifeLock and Avast PLC to merge in $8.4 billion transaction". ZDNet. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  5. ^ "NortonLifeLock and Avast to Merge to Lead the Transformation of Consumer Cyber Safety". www.businesswire.com. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Avast Buys Piriform, the Company Behind CCleaner and Recuva". BleepingComputer.
  7. ^ "NortonLifeLock Inc (USA): Merger with Avast (UK) - Update Changes in FTSE UK Index Series". 7 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.