Editing Avast (section)

==History==
Avast was founded by [[Eduard Kučera]] and [[Pavel Baudiš]] in 1988.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013">{{cite web | title=Avast emerged from Communism to shine in security | newspaper=USA Today | date=20 October 2013 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/20/avast-software-mcafee-the-great-czech-startup-story/3002031/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> The founders met each other at the Research Institute for Mathematical Machines in Czechoslovakia.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> They studied math and computer science, because the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia would require them to join the communist party to study physics.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> At the institute, Pavel Baudiš discovered the Vienna virus on a floppy disk and developed the first program to remove it.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/><ref name="Blesk.cz">{{cite web | title=Příběh superobchodu s antiviry: Avast koupí AVG ukázal um "zlatých českých ručiček" v IT | website=Blesk.cz | date=8 July 2016 | url=https://www.blesk.cz/clanek/zpravy-udalosti/405850/pribeh-superobchodu-s-antiviry-avast-ukazal-um-zlatych-ceskych-rucicek-v-it.html | language=cs | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Download3K 2014">{{cite web | title=Interview with Avast's COO Ondřej Vlček | website=Download3K | date=19 November 2014 | url=https://www.download3k.com/articles/Interview-with-Avast-s-COO-Ond-ej-Vl-ek-00903 | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> Afterwards, he asked Eduard Kučera to join him in cofounding Avast as a cooperative.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> The cooperative was originally called Alwil and only the software was named Avast.<ref name="Wonder 2013">{{cite web | last=Wonder | first=Dan | title=Who Makes Avast? | website=Chron.com | date=17 June 2013 | url=https://smallbusiness.chron.com/avast-69305.html | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref>

The cooperative was changed to a joint partnership in 1991, two years after the [[velvet revolution]]<ref name="Avast Foundation 2017">{{cite web | title=Who We Are | website=Avast Foundation | date=8 August 2017 | url=https://foundation.avast.com/who-we-are | access-date=8 August 2017 | archive-date=13 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043621/https://foundation.avast.com/who-we-are | url-status=dead }}</ref> caused a regime change in [[Czechoslovakia]]. The new regime severed ties with the [[Soviet Union]] and reverted the country's economic system to a [[market economy]].<ref name="Blesk.cz"/><ref name="Wonder 2013"/> In 1995, Avast employee {{ill|Ondřej Vlček|cs}} wrote the first antivirus program for the [[Windows 95]] operating system.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> In the 1990s, security researchers at the Virus Bulletin, an IT security testing organization, gave the Avast software an award in every category tested, increasing the popularity of the software.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> However, by the late 1990s, the company was struggling financially.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> Alwil rebuffed acquisition offers by [[McAfee]], who was licensing the Avast antivirus engine.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/>

By 2001, Alwil was experiencing financial difficulties, when it converted to a freemium model, offering a base Avast software product at no cost.<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> As a result of the freemium model, the number of users of the software grew to one million by 2004<ref name="Blesk.cz"/> and 20 million by 2006.<ref name="Wonder 2013"/> Former Symantec executive [[Vince Steckler]] was appointed CEO of Avast in 2009.<ref name="The CEO Magazine 2016">{{cite web | title=Vince Steckler | website=The CEO Magazine | date=22 September 2016 | url=https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/vince-steckler/ | access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref> In 2010, Alwil changed its name to Avast, adopting the name of the software,<ref name="Wonder 2013"/> and raised $100 million in venture capital investments.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 May 2012|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/05/fighting-cyber-crime|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=8 August 2017|title=Security Czechs}}</ref> The following December, Avast filed for an [[initial public offering]], but withdrew its application the following July, citing changes in market conditions.<ref name="Roy 2015"/> In 2012, Avast fired its outsourced tech support service iYogi, after it was discovered that iYogi was using misleading sales tactics to persuade customers to buy unnecessary services.<ref name="Dunn 2012">{{cite web | last=Dunn | first=John E | title=Avast suspends antivirus support company after mis-selling allegation | website=Network World | date=16 March 2012 | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2186885/lan-wan/avast-suspends-antivirus-support-company-after-mis-selling-allegation.html | access-date=9 August 2017 | archive-date=11 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911230948/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2186885/lan-wan/avast-suspends-antivirus-support-company-after-mis-selling-allegation.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2013, Avast had 200 million users in 38 countries and had been translated into 43 languages.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> At the time, the company had 350 employees.<ref name="Prague Post 2015">{{cite web | title=Avast becomes most valuable IT company in the CR | website=Prague Post | date=11 March 2015 | url=https://www.praguepost.com/economy/45638-avast-becomes-most-valuable-it-company-in-the-cr | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2014, CVC Capital bought an interest in Avast for an undisclosed sum. The purchase valued Avast at $1 billion.<ref name="Tan Cimilluca 2014">{{cite news | last1=Tan | first1=Gillian | last2=Cimilluca | first2=Dana | title=CVC Capital Near Deal to Invest in Antivirus Company Avast | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=30 January 2014 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cvc-capital-near-deal-to-invest-in-antivirus-company-avast-1391040888 | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="TechCrunch 2014">{{cite web | title=Security Software Firm Avast Gets CVC Capital Investment, Now Valued At $1B | website=TechCrunch | date=5 February 2014 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/05/security-software-firm-avast-takes-cvc-capital-investment-at-a-1b-valuation/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> Later that year, Avast acquired mobile app developer Inmite in order to build Avast's mobile apps.<ref name="VentureBeat 2014">{{cite web | title=Malware buster Avast buys up mobile app maker in move to be mobile friendly | website=VentureBeat | date=24 July 2014 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/07/24/avast-acquires-czech-mobile-dev-shop-inmite/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Avast's online support forum was compromised in 2014, exposing 400,000 names, passwords and email addresses.<ref name="Kirk 2014">{{cite web | last=Kirk | first=Jeremy | title=Avast takes community forum offline after data breach | website=Network World | date=26 May 2014 | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2177161/lan-wan/avast-takes-community-forum-offline-after-data-breach.html | access-date=9 August 2017 | archive-date=1 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101055234/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2177161/lan-wan/avast-takes-community-forum-offline-after-data-breach.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Meyer 2014">{{cite web | last=Meyer | first=David | title=Security company Avast suffers embarrassing forum hack | website=Gigaom | date=27 May 2014 | url=https://gigaom.com/2014/05/27/security-company-avast-suffers-embarrassing-forum-hack/ | access-date=9 August 2017 | archive-date=29 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329141517/https://gigaom.com/2014/05/27/security-company-avast-suffers-embarrassing-forum-hack/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2015, Avast had the largest share of the market for antivirus software.<ref name="Roy 2015">{{cite web | last=Roy | first=Abhirup | title=Avast worth 'upwards of $2 billion'; no IPO before 2017 | website=Reuters | date=29 October 2015 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-avast-ceo-idUSKCN0SN2MJ20151029 | access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref> In July 2016, Avast reached an agreement to buy AVG for $1.3 billion.<ref name="fortune">{{cite news|newspaper=Fortune|date=7 July 2016|url=https://fortune.com/2016/07/07/security-software-avast-buy-avg/|access-date=8 August 2017|title=Security Software Firm Avast to Buy Rival AVG for $1.3 Billion in Cash}}</ref> AVG was a large IT security company that sold software for desktops and mobile devices.<ref name="VentureBeat 2016">{{cite web | title=Avast acquires rival AVG for $1.3 billion to create a security software giant | website=VentureBeat | date=7 July 2016 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/07/07/avast-acquires-rival-avg-for-1-3-billion-to-create-a-security-software-giant/ | access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, Avast acquired UK-based [[Piriform (company)|Piriform]] for an undisclosed sum. Piriform was the developer of [[CCleaner]].<ref name="venturebeat">{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/19/avast-acquires-piriform-maker-of-popular-system-cleaning-program-ccleaner/|title=Avast acquires Piriform, maker of popular system cleaning program CCleaner|last=Sawers|first=Paul|date=19 July 2017|work=[[VentureBeat]]|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> Shortly afterwards it was disclosed that someone may have created a malicious version of CCleaner with a backdoor for hackers.<ref name="Olenick 2017">{{cite web|url=https://exenation.com/avast-ccleaner-used-to-spread-backdoor-to-two-million-plus-users/|title=Avast CCleaner used to spread backdoor to two million plus users|date=19 September 2017|website=eXe Nation|access-date=28 September 2017|archive-date=27 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327093801/https://exenation.com/avast-ccleaner-used-to-spread-backdoor-to-two-million-plus-users/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Avast had its [[Initial public offering|IPO]] on the London Stock Exchange in May 2018, which valued it at £2.4bn and was one of the UK's biggest technology listings.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/2c700df8-541a-11e8-b3ee-41e0209208ec Cyber security group Avast valued at £2.4bn in IPO]. ''[[Financial Times]]''. Aliya Ram in London 10 May 2018.</ref>

{{ill|Ondřej Vlček|cs}} assumed the role of CEO and co-owner of Avast Plc in July 2019.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-02/ceo-waives-salary-and-bonus-forever-in-bet-on-tech-firm-s-stock|title=CEO Waives Salary and Bonus Forever in Bet on Tech Firm's Stock|date=1 July 2019|access-date=2 July 2019|language=en}}</ref> A day later, he changed his annual pay to $1 and pledged his board director's compensation of $100,000 to charity.<ref name="bloomberg.com"/> In October 2019, [[Jaya Baloo]] joined Avast as their Chief Information Security Officer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast appoints Jaya Baloo as Chief Information Security Officer|url=https://press.avast.com/avast-appoints-jaya-baloo-as-chief-information-security-officer|website=press.avast.com|language=en-us|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref>

In April 2020, Avast released a new secure, private mobile web browser for Android based on technology acquired from previously unreported acquisition of Tenta, a Seattle-based startup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/avast-acquires-seattle-startup-tenta-leading-release-new-secure-browser-android/|title=Avast acquires Seattle startup Tenta, leading to release of new secure browser for Android|date=17 April 2020|website=GeekWire|language=en-US|access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref>

In July 2021, [[Gen Digital|NortonLifeLock]], an American cybersecurity company, announced that it is in talks to [[Mergers and acquisitions|merge]] with Avast Software. In August 2021, Avast's board of directors agreed to an offer of US$8 billion. In September 2022, the [[Competition and Markets Authority]] approved the proposed takeover by NortonLifeLock so allowing the transaction to be completed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Starr|first=Dashia|title=Cybersecurity firms NortonLifeLock and Avast merge in $8B deal|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/cybersecurity-firms-nortonlifelock-and-avast-merge-in-over-8b-deal/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Carly|last=Page|title=Cybersecurity giants NortonLifeLock and Avast merge in $8.1B deal|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/nortonlifelock-avast-merger/|access-date=12 December 2023|website=TechCrunch|date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202011554/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/nortonlifelock-avast-merger/|archive-date=2 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2022 |title=CMA clears NortonLifeLock's £6bn Avast takeover |newspaper=UK Tech News |url=https://www.uktech.news/cybersecurity/nortonlifelock-avast-merger-20220902 |access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Barr |first=Greg |date=12 September 2022 |title=NortonLifeLock to change company name in wake of Avast acquisition |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/09/12/nortonlifelock-name-change-merger.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220913090842/https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/09/12/nortonlifelock-name-change-merger.html |archive-date=13 September 2022 |publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dexter|first=Alan|date=2021-08-16|title=Norton and Avast merge to form super-cybersecurity company|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/norton-and-avast-merge-to-form-super-cybersecurity-company/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}}</ref>