AVG Technologies

AVG Technologies, N.V.
Traded as NYSE: AVG
Industry Computer software
Founded Czech Republic (1991)
Founder
  • Jan Gritzbach
  • Tomáš Hofer
Headquarters Amsterdam, Netherlands
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
Products Antivirus software
Number of employees
 1806 worldwide
Website www.avg.com

AVG Technologies is a security software company headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands that develops antivirus software and internet security services. It was formed in 1991 by Czech engineers Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer, has corporate offices in Europe, Israel, Brazil, Canada and the United States and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company specializes in computer security software. Its most well known product is AVG AntiVirus. As of 2 February 2015, over 200 million active users used AVG's software products and services, which include internet security, performance optimization and personal privacy and identity protection applications.[1]

Products

Main article: AVG (software)

Home security & productivity

Mobile security & productivity

Mac security & productivity

Multi-device

Privacy and toolbar

Business security

History

In 2001, Jan Gritzbach decided to sell Grisoft to Benson Oak Capital Acquisitions. Four years later, Benson Oak sold a 65% share in the company to Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors for US$52 million.[2][3][4]

On 19 April 2006, Grisoft acquired the German company ewido Networks, an anti-spyware software manufacturer, and incorporated ewido's features into new versions of AVG software.[5][6]

On 6 November 2006, Microsoft announced that AVG Security products would be available directly from the Windows Security Center in Windows Vista.[7] Since 7 June 2006, the AVG software has also been used as an optional component of GFI MailSecurity, produced by GFI Software.[8]

On 5 December 2007, Grisoft announced the acquisition of Exploit Prevention Labs, developer of the LinkScanner safe surfing technology.[9]

In February 2008, Grisoft was officially renamed AVG Technologies. This change was made to increase the effectiveness of their marketing activities.[10]

In January 2009, AVG announced their plans to acquire Sana Security were finalized. Plans to integrate Sana's technologies in their free consumer product, AVG Anti-Virus, are still under consideration, according to JR Smith, AVG's chief executive. Sana Security's developed technologies are currently licensed to Symantec.[11][12][13]

On 5 October 2009, TA Associates announced that they bought a minority stake in AVG Technologies for more than US$200 million.[14]

On 9 June 2010, AVG announced the acquisition of North Carolina-based Walling Data, a North America security software distribution that has distributed AVG offerings across the United States since 2001[15]

On 10 November 2010, AVG announced the acquisition of Tel Aviv-based DroidSecurity, a company that specializes in the field of mobile security solutions, for Android devices. Upon completion of the acquisition DroidSecurity will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AVG and DroidSecurity CEO and co-founder, Eran Pfeffer, will become the general manager of AVG’s Mobile Solutions Team.[16]

In December 2010, AVG released a mandatory-install update to the 2011 version of its antivirus software which caused thousands of 64 bit Windows Vista and Windows 7 computers to become completely inoperable. AVG has since released a fix which attempts to repair computers bricked after installing the update. Affected users can watch the following video on AVG's Official YouTube page to resolve the issue.[17]

On 28 January 2011, a dangerous rogue appeared. The interface and graphics resemble the previous version of the software and uses sophisticated social engineering to deceive users and infect their systems. The malware also contains the Internet Explorer emergency mode.[18][19]

On 1 December 2011, AVG Technologies announced its acquisition of Bsecure Technologies Inc. (Bsecure), a leading provider of proprietary, cloud-based technology in the Internet filtering industry since 2001, and the most endorsed software provider for family online safety.[20]

On 12 June 2013, AVG Technologies announced the acquisition of Level Platforms.[21]

On 30 July 2013, AVG Technologies announced Gary Kovacs as the company's new CEO.[22]

In 2015, AVG Technologies announced the acquisition of Privax a UK based company which is an owner of HideMyAss VPN service.

Partnerships

On 20 August 2010 AVG entered into partnership with Moka5 to secure desktop virtualisation solutions. The partnership adds a critical security layer to the virtual desktop marketplace, as more enterprise companies are turning to desktop virtualization as a secure solution for bringing your own computer (BYOC) and work from home initiatives for employees.[23]

On 1 July 2010 AVG partnered with Opera Software to provide malware security in their web browser Opera, the protection was added to the existing Fraud Protection technology (Netcraft and PhishTank from Haute Secure).[24]

In July 2011, AVG joined forces with Israeli company Zbang to launch Multimi, a free Windows and iPad app that integrates e-mail, social media and multimedia in one interface. AVG provides Linkscanner for the app, checking each link that is sent through e-mail, shared on a social network, or found via search.[25]

In December 2012, AVG and Yahoo! partnered for the Secure Search toolbar.

In September 2013, AVG partnered with Facebook to launch Facebook's privacy application: AVG Crowd Control.

In September 2015, AVG partnered with the Slovenian company XLAB d.o.o[26] to integrate ISL Online (desktop sharing technology) into AVG Business Managed Workplace 9.2[27] (remote monitoring and management software) in order to give Managed Services Providers the ability to easily access and control an unlimited number of unattended remote computers.

Controversy

In May 2012, AVG Technologies issued a copyright claim, referred to as a 'takedown request,' for a YouTube video of 1987 pop song Never Gonna Give You Up, performed by British singer Rick Astley.[28][29][30][31] The video, which as of October 2015, has over 150 million views and 300,000 comments, had been uploaded in 2007,[32] and was restored within 24 hours by YouTube.[28][29][30][31] The video's name refers to the internet meme commonly referred to as 'Rickrolling,' where someone pranks others by tricking them into going to the video.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AVG Surpasses 200 Million Users Worldwide". Now.avg.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "GRISOFT "Celebrates 15 Years of Internet Security Success", AVG Technologies bulletin, 15 December 2006". Avg.com. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Intel buys part of Grisoft". Grisoft.com. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Intel buys part of AVG Technologies". Avg.com. 6 September 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "AVG Technologies announces release of ewido Anti-Spyware". Avg.co.uk. 19 June 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Grisoft announces release of ewido Anti-Spyware". Avguk.com. 19 June 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "Microsoft incorporates AVG into the Vista Security Center". Avguk.com. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "What's new in GFI MailSecurity for Exchange/SMTP 10?". Kbase.gfi.com. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  9. ↑ AVG Acquires Exploit Prevention Labs, Developer of LinkScanner Safe Surfing Technology.
  10. ↑ AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security - Leading Internet security vendor, Grisoft, changes name to AVG Technologies
  11. ↑ Rubenking, Neil J. (13 January 2009). "AVG Buys Sana's Behavior-Based Security Tech | News & Opinion". PCMag.com. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Meyer, David (13 January 2009). "AVG Technologies buys Sana Security | Security Management | ZDNet UK". News.zdnet.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  13. ↑ Hoffman, Stefanie. "AVG Acquires Sana Security, Adds ID Protection". Crn.com. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "TA Associates - News". Ta.com. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Technologies Acquires Leading US Distributor, Walling Data". AVG. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  16. ↑ "AVG Antivirus & Security Software - AVG Technologies to Acquire DroidSecurity". Avg.com. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  17. ↑ officialAVG (2 December 2010). "Updated AVG 2011 Rescue CD/USB (for 3292 update)". YouTube. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  18. ↑ Spyware Fix - Fake AVG 2011
  19. ↑ Bleeping Computer - Internet Explorer Emergency Mode
  20. ↑ "AVG Technologies Acquires Bsecure Technologies Inc.". AVG Now. 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  21. ↑ mediacenter.avg.com
  22. ↑ blogs.avg.com
  23. ↑ "AVG and MokaFive Join Forces to Secure Virtual Desktops | Aug 20, 2010". RFPConnect. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Opera 10.6, The World's Fastest Stable Browser, Tested vs. IE 9". DailyTech. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  25. ↑ multimi.com
  26. ↑ AVG Business Launches Managed Workplace 9.2
  27. ↑ AVG Technologies has integrated ISL Online's remote access and remote desktop control software into AVG Business Managed Workplace
  28. 1 2 "Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown". TorrentFreak. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  29. 1 2 "Rickroll Video Removed Due to Copyright Claim from AVG". Tom's Hardware. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  30. 1 2 "Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus". MaximumPC. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  31. 1 2 "News of 'Rickroll' meme death greatly exaggerated". MSNBC. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  32. ↑ "RickRoll'D - YouTube". YouTube. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2012.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.