AVG Technologies

AVG Technologies is a cybersecurity and consumer software brand whose roots date to 1991, when Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach founded Grisoft in Brno, then in Czechoslovakia. The company initially combined sales of information-technology equipment and third-party software with development of its own antivirus product. Its early growth benefited from the gradual opening of Central European trade and technology links, which enabled Grisoft to work with businesses elsewhere in Europe. The company expanded beyond its original market during the late 1990s and 2000s, establishing operations or commercial activity in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries. For a period, its principal route to market was business-to-business distribution: computer manufacturers bundled Grisoft antivirus software with newly sold personal computers. In 2006, the company began marketing more directly to consumers, helping establish AVG as a widely recognized name in free and paid antivirus software. In 2008, Grisoft changed the name of its parent company to AVG, aligning the corporate identity with the better-known software brand. AVG used venture-capital investment to broaden its product portfolio through acquisitions. These transactions added spyware detection, browser security, behavioral analysis, mobile security, parental controls, remote monitoring, location-based mobile protection, virtual private networking, and other capabilities. The company also expanded from traditional antivirus into privacy protection, performance optimization, backup, family safety, secure browsing, and related utilities. Its freemium model made core products available without charge while encouraging users to upgrade to paid editions with additional protection and maintenance features. Advertising and other commercial arrangements involving free users also contributed to the business model. AVG became a publicly traded company through an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2012. Gary Kovacs, formerly chief executive of Mozilla, became CEO and led efforts to simplify the company’s privacy disclosures. During this period, AVG continued to develop both consumer and business products, including software for mobile devices and small-business customers. It acquired Location Labs in 2014 and Privax, the company associated with HideMyAss VPN, in 2015, while also acquiring the MyRoll mobile gallery business. Avast agreed to acquire AVG in 2016 for approximately $1.3 billion. The transaction ended AVG’s independence as a listed company and combined two major antivirus businesses. AVG products continued to be offered as a distinct brand within the enlarged Avast organization, while technologies and distribution channels were increasingly integrated. Avast later acquired Piriform Software, whose CCleaner utility became part of the broader software portfolio. In 2022, Avast and NortonLifeLock became part of Gen Digital. AVG remains an active consumer-facing brand under Gen Digital, although AVG Technologies is no longer an independent publicly traded company.

AVG Technologies originated as Grisoft, founded in 1991 in Brno by Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach. The company’s first business mixed IT-equipment and third-party software distribution with development of its own antivirus application. As Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic developed stronger commercial and technology links with Western Europe, Grisoft expanded its access to foreign partners, markets, and distribution channels. By 1998, the company had grown to 13 employees. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Grisoft expanded internationally through an American company called AVG and through activity in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and other markets. Its commercial strategy initially emphasized bulk licensing and original-equipment distribution, with computer manufacturers pre-installing Grisoft antivirus on personal computers. This approach gave the company broad reach before it developed a stronger direct-to-consumer business. In 2006, AVG began marketing more directly to individual users, helping its free antivirus product become the foundation of a large consumer base. Ownership and financing changed several times as AVG pursued international growth. In 2001, Grisoft was sold to Benson Oak Capital. In 2005, Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors acquired a 65 percent interest for $52 million. The investment supported a sequence of acquisitions. Grisoft bought spyware specialist Ewido Networks in 2006 and browser-security company Exploit Prevention Labs in 2007. In 2008, the parent company adopted the AVG name, which was already associated with the software and American subsidiary. TA Associates subsequently invested in the business. The acquisition program continued with Sana Security in 2009, mobile-security company DroidSecurity and iMedix Web Technologies in 2011, parental-control provider Bsecure in 2012, and remote-monitoring company Level Platforms in 2013. These deals moved AVG beyond signature-based antivirus toward behavioral protection, mobile security, family safety, remote administration, and broader device management. The company also developed products for privacy, performance tuning, backup, secure browsing, online shopping, and virtual private networking. AVG went public on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2012. Gary Kovacs became chief executive during the public-company period and promoted a simplified privacy policy intended to explain the information collected from users and the commercial use of data associated with free products. AVG continued to build its mobile and consumer portfolio, acquiring Location Labs in 2014 and Privax and MyRoll in 2015. Privax brought the HideMyAss VPN business into the group, while MyRoll added a mobile photo-gallery application. Avast acquired AVG in July 2016 for approximately $1.3 billion. AVG had become a major international antivirus brand, and the combination created one of the largest antivirus businesses by installed base. AVG remained visible as a product brand while Avast integrated technologies, products, and small-business distribution programs. In 2017, the group acquired Piriform Software, adding CCleaner and related utilities. The Avast organization later became part of Gen Digital in 2022 after the combination of Avast and NortonLifeLock. AVG is therefore best understood today as an active brand within Gen Digital rather than as an independent listed company.

1. 2022Integration into Gen Digital

   Avast and NortonLifeLock become part of Gen Digital, AVG’s current corporate group.

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2. 2017Piriform Software acquisition

   The Avast organization acquires Piriform Software, bringing CCleaner and related optimization utilities into the wider portfolio.

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3. 2016Avast acquisition

   Avast acquires AVG, ending AVG Technologies’ status as an independent public company.

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4. 2015Expansion into VPN and mobile gallery software

   AVG acquires Privax and MyRoll, adding VPN and mobile photo-management capabilities.

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5. 2014Location Labs acquisition

   AVG acquires Location Labs, strengthening its mobile-security, location, and family-safety capabilities.

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6. 2012NYSE initial public offering

   AVG Technologies files for and completes an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

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7. 2008Parent company adopts the AVG name

   Grisoft changes the name of its parent company to AVG, aligning the corporate identity with its established software brand.

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8. 2006Direct consumer marketing begins

   AVG begins marketing antivirus products directly to consumers, complementing its earlier computer-manufacturer distribution model.

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9. 2005Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors take a major stake

   Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors acquire a 65 percent interest, providing capital for international expansion and acquisitions.

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10. 2001Benson Oak Capital acquires Grisoft

    The company is sold to venture-capital firm Benson Oak Capital.

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11. 1998Early workforce expansion

    Grisoft reaches 13 employees as it develops its antivirus business and expands its international commercial relationships.

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12. 1991Grisoft is founded in Brno

    Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach establish Grisoft in Brno, Czechoslovakia, beginning the business that would later become AVG Technologies.

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Consumer-focused cybersecurity and digital utility provider built around freemium antivirus, privacy, secure browsing, VPN, and device-performance products.

• AVG AntiVirusAntivirus software

  AVG’s core antivirus family for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The free edition provides baseline malware protection, while paid editions add broader capabilities such as enhanced web protection, ransomware defenses, firewall functions, identity safeguards, spam controls, and webcam protection. The product uses scanning and behavioral or heuristic analysis to identify suspicious files, programs, messages, and activity.

• AVG Internet SecurityInternet security suite

  A paid security suite positioned above the basic antivirus offering. It combines malware and phishing protection with additional controls for network activity, ransomware, privacy, email, identity, and webcams. It is designed for consumers who want an integrated desktop security package rather than a standalone virus scanner.

• AVG Secure BrowserSecure web browser

  A privacy-oriented browser for Windows, macOS, and Android with built-in advertising and tracking controls. It extends AVG’s security positioning from endpoint scanning into everyday web activity, offering users a browser configured around protection from intrusive advertising, tracking, and potentially harmful sites.

• AVG Secure VPNVirtual private network

  A virtual private network service intended to encrypt internet connections and provide additional privacy when users access the web. Its presence reflects AVG’s expansion from antivirus into broader online privacy services, following the company’s acquisition of Privax and its HideMyAss VPN business.

• AVG TuneUpPerformance and system utility

  A system-maintenance and performance-optimization suite for computers. Its functions are aimed at managing software, clearing unnecessary data, addressing maintenance issues, configuring systems, and helping users troubleshoot or improve device performance.

• AVG SafePriceShopping browser extension

  A browser extension that searches for potentially better prices, coupons, or offers while a user shops online. It represents AVG’s advertising- and commerce-supported utility category rather than its core malware-protection products.

• AVG AntiTrackAnti-tracking privacy software

  A privacy utility designed to reduce online tracking and limit the ability of websites and advertising systems to build recognizable profiles of users. It complements AVG’s VPN and secure-browser products.

• 2016Accept Avast’s acquisitionM&A

  AVG sought to combine its international user base and product portfolio with another major antivirus provider.

  What changed. AVG agreed to be acquired by Avast for approximately $1.3 billion.

  Aftermath. AVG ceased to be an independent listed company and continued as a brand within the Avast organization, which later became part of Gen Digital.

  Acquisition value. $1.3 billion (2016)

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• 2012Adopt a simplified privacy policyStrategy

  The company’s free-product model involved collecting information and deriving revenue from free users, creating a need for clearer disclosure.

  What changed. Under CEO Gary Kovacs, AVG worked on a shorter, simpler privacy policy explaining the information it collected and the commercial use of information associated with free users.

  Aftermath. The initiative made privacy communication a visible part of AVG’s public-company strategy, although later product and extension practices continued to attract scrutiny.

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• 2006Move toward direct-to-consumer distributionStrategy

  AVG had historically relied heavily on bulk sales and pre-installation through computer manufacturers.

  What changed. The company began marketing antivirus software directly to consumers, building a large free-user base alongside paid offerings.

  Aftermath. The direct consumer channel became central to AVG’s freemium model and brand recognition.

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• 2016Criticism of AVG Secure SearchControversy

  AVG Secure Search was criticized for being bundled with other software, being installed unintentionally in some cases, changing browser defaults, appearing in promotions to free-product users, and reportedly being difficult to remove. Critics characterized some of these behaviors as resembling those of potentially unwanted programs. AVG later addressed problems in the extension.

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• 2012Copyright takedown request involving a Rick Astley videoControversy

  AVG issued a copyright-related takedown request concerning a YouTube video of Rick Astley performing “Never Gonna Give You Up,” a song associated with the Rickrolling internet meme. YouTube restored the video within 24 hours.

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• 2022Avast and NortonLifeLock become Gen Digital

  Avast and NortonLifeLock became part of Gen Digital, the corporate group under which AVG continues to operate as a consumer cybersecurity brand.

  M&A
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• 2017AVG acquires Piriform Software

  AVG acquired Piriform Software, the developer of CCleaner, adding a widely installed computer-cleanup and optimization utility to its software portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2016Avast agrees to acquire AVG

  Avast acquired AVG for approximately $1.3 billion, ending AVG’s independence and combining two major antivirus businesses.

  M&A
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• 2015AVG acquires Privax and MyRoll

  AVG acquired Privax, the company behind HideMyAss VPN, and MyRoll, an Israeli mobile gallery application business, broadening its privacy and mobile software portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2014AVG acquires Location Labs

  AVG announced the acquisition of Location Labs, expanding its mobile-security and family-safety capabilities.

  M&A
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• 2012AVG Technologies files for an initial public offering

  AVG Technologies filed for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, marking its transition from a venture-backed cybersecurity company to a public company.

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1. AVG Technologies
2. AVG Technologies official website