Avast Antivirus

Avast Antivirus
Developer(s)Avast
Stable release
24.11.6137[1] / 13 November 2024; 14 days ago (2024-11-13) (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 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.[3]

As of January 2015 Avast had the largest share of the market for antivirus applications.[4]

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.[5][6][7] In response, Avast announced that it would close the subsidiary over the data privacy backlash.[8]

  1. ^ "NEW Avast version 24.11". community.avast.com. November 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "AVAST Software s.r.o.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  3. ^ Kovacs, Eduard. "Avast Launches Free Security Solution for Businesses", Security Week 24 February 2015. Retrieved on 23 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Avast worth 'upwards of $2 billion'; no IPO before 2017" Reuters. Published on October 29, 2015
  5. ^ "The Cost of Avast's Free Antivirus: Companies Can Spy on Your Clicks". PCMAG. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  6. ^ Cox, Joseph (2020-01-27). "Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data". Vice. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  7. ^ "Avast packaged detailed user data to be sold for millions of dollars". Engadget. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  8. ^ "Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot". Avast. Retrieved 30 January 2020.