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Avast Antivirus
Developer(s) Avast
Stable release
24.3.6108 [1] / 2 April 2024; 7 days ago (2024-04-02) (Windows version)
Operating system Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Available in45 languages
Type Security software, Antivirus software
License Freeware, proprietary software
Website avast.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 2017, Avast is the most popular antivirus vendor on the market, [4] and it had the largest share of the market for antivirus applications. [5]

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. [6] [7] [8] In response, Avast announced that it would close the subsidiary over the data privacy backlash. [9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NEW Avast version 24.3". forum.avast.com.
  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. ^ OPSWAT. "Antivirus and Compromised Device Report: May 2017".
  5. ^ "Avast worth 'upwards of $2 billion'; no IPO before 2017" Reuters. Published on October 29, 2015
  6. ^ "The Cost of Avast's Free Antivirus: Companies Can Spy on Your Clicks". PCMAG. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  7. ^ Cox, Joseph (2020-01-27). "Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data". Vice. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  8. ^ "Avast packaged detailed user data to be sold for millions of dollars". Engadget. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  9. ^ "Avast to Commence Wind Down of Subsidiary Jumpshot". Avast. Retrieved 30 January 2020.