Avast plc is a global cybersecurity company originally founded in 1988 in Prague, Czech Republic, under the name ALWIL Software by engineers Pavel Baudiš and Eduard Kučera. The company has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of antivirus and internet security solutions, servicing both individual consumers and businesses. Its core mission is to protect digital privacy and secure devices against malware, phishing attacks and other online threats.
Avast’s flagship consumer offering, Avast One, combines antivirus protection with a virtual private network (VPN), data breach monitoring and a range of privacy tools. For enterprise customers, the company provides a suite of solutions that includes endpoint protection, managed detection and response (MDR), email security and network security products. These solutions are designed to help organizations of all sizes defend against sophisticated cyberthreats and comply with evolving regulatory requirements.
Over the years, Avast has expanded its footprint beyond its Czech headquarters, establishing offices in North America, Europe and Asia, and building a user base of hundreds of millions of active devices worldwide. A key milestone in the company’s history was the acquisition of AVG Technologies in 2016, which strengthened its product portfolio and accelerated its international expansion. Avast went public on the London Stock Exchange in May 2018, marking one of the largest tech IPOs in Europe at the time.
In September 2021, Avast agreed to be acquired by NortonLifeLock (formerly part of Symantec), a deal that closed in late 2022 and brought together two of the largest names in consumer cybersecurity. Prior to the acquisition, Avast’s leadership team was headed by Chief Executive Officer Ondřej Vlček, who joined the company in 2014 and was instrumental in driving its product innovation and global growth strategies. Today, Avast’s technology and heritage continue to operate within the larger Norton umbrella, maintaining a focus on privacy-led security solutions.
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