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AVG AntiVirus
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| AVG AntiVirus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Operating system | Windows XP and later, macOS, Android |
| Type | Antivirus software |
| License | Freemium |
| Website | avg |
AVG AntiVirus (previously known as AVG, an abbreviation of Anti-Virus Guard) is a line of antivirus software developed by AVG Technologies, a subsidiary of Avast, a part of Gen Digital.[1][2] It is available for Windows, macOS and Android.
History
[edit]The brand AVG comes from Grisoft's first product, Anti-Virus Guard, launched in 1992 in the Czech Republic. In 1997, the first AVG licenses were sold in Germany and the UK. AVG was introduced in the US in 1998.[3]
The AVG Free Edition helped raise awareness of the AVG product line.[4] In 2006, the AVG security package grew to include anti-spyware as AVG Technologies acquired ewido Networks, an anti-spyware group. AVG Technologies acquired Exploit Prevention Labs (XPL) in December 2007 and incorporated that company's LinkScanner safe search and surf technology into the AVG 8.0 security product range released in March 2008. In January 2009, AVG Technologies acquired Sana Security, a developer of identity theft prevention software. This software was incorporated into the AVG security product range in March 2009.[citation needed]
According to AVG Technologies, the company has more than 200 million active users worldwide, including more than 100 million who use their products and services on mobile devices.[5]
On 7 July 2016, Avast announced an agreement to acquire AVG for $1.3 billion.[6]
Platform support
[edit]AVG provides AVG AntiVirus Free for Windows, AVG AntiVirus for Mac for macOS and AVG AntiVirus for Android for Android devices. All are freemium products: They are free to download, install, update and use, but for technical support a premium plan must be purchased.[citation needed]
AVG stopped providing new features for Windows XP and Windows Vista in January 2019. New versions require Windows 7 or later; virus definitions are still provided for previous versions.[7]
Features
[edit]AVG features most of the common functions available in modern antivirus and Internet security programs, including periodic scans, scans of sent and received emails (including adding footers to the emails indicating this), the ability to repair some virus-infected files, and a quarantine area (virus vault) in which infected files are held.[citation needed]
LinkScanner
[edit]The LinkScanner technology acquired from Exploit Prevention Labs and built into most AVG products, provides real-time updated protection against exploits and drive-by downloads. LinkScanner includes: Search-Shield – a safe search component that places safety ratings next to each link in Google, Yahoo! and MSN search results; plus Active Surf-Shield – a safe surf component that scans the contents of a web site in real-time to ensure it's safe being opened.[8] Concerns regarding web analytics have made LinkScanner a controversial component (see "LinkScanner concerns" below).
LinkScanner concerns
[edit]When AVG 8.0 was first released, its LinkScanner safe search feature was shown to cause an increase in traffic on websites that appear high in search engine results pages. Since LinkScanner disguises the scans as coming from an Internet Explorer 6 browser when it prescans each site listed in the search results, website usage logs showed incorrect and overinflated site visitor statistics. The prescanning of every link in search results also caused websites to transfer more data than usual, resulting in higher bandwidth usage for web site operators and slow performance for users.[9] AVG initially said that site administrators would be able to filter the LinkScanner traffic out of their site statistics, leaving the problem of excess bandwidth usage still to be solved.[10] Pay-per-click advertising was not affected by the increase in traffic.[11]
AVG Online Shield
[edit]AVG Online Shield is a feature designed to check files and ensure that they are safe. AVG Online Shield also ensures the safety of exchanging files via instant messengers and VoIP clients.[12]
In response to complaints, AVG announced that as of 9 July 2008 "Search-Shield will no longer scan each search result online for new exploits, which was causing the spikes that webmasters addressed with us",[13] releasing a new build on that date that applies a local blacklist, then prefetches and scans only those links clicked on by the user.[14]
Controversy
[edit]As of 2014, there are numerous reports dating back to 2012 that the AVG SafeGuard Toolbar installs itself without the consent of the user, as a side effect of installing other applications. The toolbar program appears to cause significant RAM issues and can be considered an intrusive potentially unwanted program (PUP). Once installed, the AVG toolbar is virtually impossible to remove. The toolbar uninstaller does not function, instead re-installing the add-on if manually removed. Consequently, many discussions and blog posts have described complex procedures for removal of the AVG toolbar, each with very mixed results.[15][16][17][18][19][20]
In September 2015, AVG announced that it would start tracking users for profit, analyzing their data for sale to the advertising industry. This measure received criticism from consumers, the press and security industry, as many users intended to use the software in order to protect themselves from spyware and would not expect the functions of spyware to be "hidden" in security software.[21]
In December 2015, the AVG Web TuneUp Google Chrome extension (automatically installed with AVG AntiVirus) was revealed to contain multiple critical security vulnerabilities.[22] Most notably, Chrome users' browsing history could be exposed to any website, cookies from any site the user has visited could be read by an attacker, and trivial cross-site scripting (XSS) issues could allow any website to execute arbitrary code (as another domain).
The XSS vulnerability allowed a user's mail from "mail.google.com" to be read by any website, or financial information to be read from the user's online banking site. The AVG team fixed this by only allowing "mysearch.avg.com" and "webtuneup.avg.com" to execute these scripts. Despite this remediation, attackers could leverage any of these attacks if an XSS vulnerability was found on the AVG sites. As of April 2016, Web TuneUp was still not available for download from the AVG website.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Avast Closes Acquisition of AVG Technologies". Business Wire. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "FREE 2016: Developer: Avast Software s.r.o." Google Play. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "AVG Technologies Celebrates 15 Years of Internet Security Success". Avg.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "GRISOFT viert 15 jaar van successen met internetbeveiliging | AVG Nederland". Avg.com. 5 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "AVG Surpasses 200 Million Users Worldwide". Now.avg.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Avast Announces Agreement to Acquire AVG for $1.3B". Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^ "AVG ends support for Windows XP & Windows Vista". AVG Blogs. AVG Technologies. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ "Veelgestelde vragen | AVG Nederland". Avg.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "AVG Disguises Fake Traffic As IE6". Theregister.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "AVG update disguises LinkScanner traffic as IE6". Techspot.com. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "LinkScanner could be behind surge in web traffic". virusbulletin.com. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "AVG security features". AVG.com. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ "AVG Responds to Fake Traffic Spikes". Networkinstruments.wordpress.com. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "Grisoft modifies its free AVG product after complaints". News.cnet.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ ""AVG Secure Search" is obviously a kind of malware that attaches itself to FF. Is Mozilla working on killing it?". Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "AVG Toolbar & Secure Search: How do I remove it from my browser & PC?". ReviverSoft Blog. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "How to remove Nation Toolbar — Search.nation.com redirect (Removal) - Tech & Internet Security — News & Guides". Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "How to Remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar and AVG Secure Search". Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "Completely Remove AVG safeguard toolbar". answers.microsoft.com.
- ^ Emil Protalinski. "AVG Security Toolbar is the worst foistware I've ever seen". ZDNet. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ Beuth, Patrick (22 September 2015). "Antivirensoftware benimmt sich künftig wie Spyware". Die Zeit. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Issue 675: AVG: "Web TuneUP" extension multiple critical vulnerabilities". 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
External links
[edit]AVG AntiVirus
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History
Founding and Early Years (1991–2000)
AVG Technologies, originally operating as Grisoft, was founded in 1991 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, by Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer shortly after the Velvet Revolution opened markets to private enterprise.[14][15] The company began as a small operation providing IT consulting services, hardware distribution, and software solutions to support the nascent personal computing sector in the region, where demand for affordable PC tools was surging amid post-communist economic liberalization.[15] In 1992, Grisoft released its inaugural antivirus product, Anti-Virus Guard (AVG), designed for MS-DOS systems to detect and remove known computer viruses, addressing early threats like boot sector infections prevalent in floppy disk-based computing environments.[16][17] This software marked Grisoft's pivot toward security solutions, leveraging heuristic scanning techniques that were rudimentary but effective for the era's limited virus signatures, with initial distribution focused on local Czech users via shareware models.[2] Throughout the 1990s, Grisoft iteratively updated AVG to support emerging platforms, including Windows 3.x and later versions, incorporating features like resident scanners and email protection amid rising internet adoption and macro virus outbreaks such as Melissa in 1999.[17] The company remained modestly scaled, with operations centered in Brno and revenue derived primarily from domestic sales and basic licensing, achieving reliable detection rates validated by independent tests but without significant venture funding or global marketing until the decade's end.[18] International outreach commenced in 1997 with the sale of AVG licenses in Germany and the United Kingdom, enabling localized versions and broader European adoption while Grisoft rebranded elements to emphasize the AVG product line.[15] By 2000, AVG had established a reputation for cost-effective, non-intrusive protection suitable for home and small business users, though the firm operated with limited staff—under 50 employees—and focused on organic growth rather than aggressive expansion.[19]Growth and International Expansion (2001–2015)
In the early 2000s, AVG Technologies, originally operating as Grisoft, experienced significant growth driven by its freemium model, which offered a free version of its antivirus software alongside paid upgrades, attracting a broad user base through word-of-mouth and online distribution. By 2005, the company had approximately 25 million users and generated $21 million in sales.[20][21] That year, AVG secured $52 million in venture capital from Intel Capital and Enterprise Investors, enabling further product development and market penetration.[21] International expansion accelerated with the opening of a Dublin office in April 2005 to target small-to-medium enterprises in Europe.[22] In 2008, Grisoft rebranded to AVG Technologies N.V. and relocated its headquarters to Amsterdam, Netherlands, reflecting a shift toward a global corporate structure while maintaining development roots in the Czech Republic.[19][23] This period saw rapid user acquisition, with active users reaching 83 million by 2008 and revenue climbing to $113.8 million.[24] Additional funding of $200 million from TA Associates in 2009 supported acquisitions like Sana Security in January 2009, enhancing behavioral detection capabilities.[21][25] By 2011, AVG's active user base had grown to 106 million, with subscription users at 15 million, and revenue at $217.2 million, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 38.1% from 2008.[24] The company expanded its infrastructure with data centers in Amsterdam, London, Toronto, Hong Kong, and Brno, supporting global operations. Acquisitions such as TuneUp Software GmbH in August 2011 bolstered PC optimization offerings. In February 2012, AVG went public on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $128 million through an initial public offering of 8 million shares priced between $16 and $18 each.[24][26] Continued momentum led to 187 million users by 2014 and revenue of $407 million in 2013, with further expansion via purchases like Level Platforms in 2013 for remote monitoring tools. By March 2015, the user base exceeded 200 million worldwide.[20][27][28]Acquisition and Integration (2016–Present)
In July 2016, Avast Software announced its agreement to acquire AVG Technologies for $1.3 billion in an all-cash tender offer of $25 per share, representing a 33% premium over AVG's closing price on July 6, 2016.[29] [30] The deal aimed to combine the companies' user bases, creating a network of over 400 million endpoints, including 160 million mobile devices, to enhance scale in consumer cybersecurity and expand into IoT security.[31] [30] The acquisition closed on September 30, 2016, with Avast securing approximately 87.3% of AVG's outstanding shares through the initial tender offer and subsequent share purchases.[6] Post-closure, AVG operated as a distinct brand under Avast, maintaining its product lines and user base without immediate merger of offerings; AVG users continued accessing AVG-branded software, while synergies focused on shared threat intelligence to block over one billion malware attacks annually.[32] [33] In August 2021, Avast agreed to merge with NortonLifeLock in a $6.4 billion all-stock and cash transaction, completed on September 12, 2022, forming Gen Digital Inc. (formerly NortonLifeLock).[34] [35] Under Gen Digital, AVG remains one of several cybersecurity brands in the portfolio, alongside Norton, Avast, Avira, and CCleaner, with integration emphasizing unified cyber safety advancements rather than product consolidation; as of 2025, Gen Digital has introduced AI enhancements across its offerings, including threat detection applicable to AVG's antivirus capabilities.[36] [37] The structure preserves brand autonomy, with no reported discontinuation of AVG's core antivirus products through 2025.[38]Ownership and Corporate Structure
Pre-Acquisition Independence
AVG Technologies, the developer of AVG AntiVirus, was established in 1991 in Brno, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), initially under the name Grisoft, by founders Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach as an independent software firm focused on antivirus solutions.[39] The company operated autonomously in its early years, distributing anti-malware tools primarily through business-to-business channels and leveraging proprietary scanning engines to build a user base in Eastern Europe before expanding globally.[29] By the early 2000s, AVG introduced its free antivirus edition, which propelled widespread adoption among individual users while maintaining revenue through premium upgrades and enterprise licensing, all under self-directed management without affiliation to larger conglomerates.[40] From 2009 onward, AVG received private equity investment from firms including TA Associates, which supported product diversification into areas like web protection and identity theft tools, yet the company retained operational independence as a standalone entity headquartered in the Czech Republic with a Dutch holding structure (AVG Technologies N.V.).[40] This period marked sustained growth, with employee counts reaching approximately 805 by late 2011, funded internally and through venture backing rather than corporate acquisition.[41] In February 2012, AVG completed its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AVG at an initial share price of $16.00, transitioning to public ownership with institutional investors holding significant stakes but no controlling parent company.[41][40] As a publicly traded firm from 2012 to 2016, AVG maintained strategic autonomy, reporting annual revenues exceeding $100 million by the mid-2010s through organic expansion and independent R&D, free from external oversight beyond shareholder and regulatory requirements.[42] This pre-acquisition phase underscored AVG's self-reliance, with decisions on product roadmaps, such as enhancements to real-time scanning and mobile compatibility, driven by internal leadership rather than integration into a broader ecosystem.[43] The company's dual-listing status and focus on freemium models positioned it as a competitive peer to other antivirus providers, culminating in its appeal as an acquisition target valued at $1.3 billion in July 2016, reflecting four years of independent public market performance.[29][30]Avast Acquisition and Subsequent Changes
In July 2016, Avast Software announced an agreement to acquire AVG Technologies for approximately $1.3 billion, structured as an all-cash tender offer at $25.00 per share for all outstanding ordinary shares.[30] The deal aimed to combine the companies' user bases, exceeding 400 million endpoints including 160 million mobile devices, to enhance scale, technological capabilities in areas like IoT security, and global market reach.[29] The acquisition closed on September 30, 2016, after regulatory approvals, with operations integrating as a single entity effective October 3, 2016.[6][32] Post-acquisition, Avast incorporated AVG's channel partner program into its own, providing resellers unified access to both product sets and expanded customer bases while maintaining distinct branding for consumer and business offerings initially.[32] By September 2017, Avast launched a unified business endpoint security portfolio, merging technologies from both companies into tiered solutions such as Avast Business Antivirus Pro and Ultimate, alongside cloud management tools for MSPs and SMBs.[44] This integration emphasized shared detection engines and features, reducing redundancy; for instance, AVG's antivirus solutions began leveraging Avast's broader threat intelligence network, which collectively blocked over 500 million malicious URLs and 50 million phishing sites annually by late 2016.[32] Consumer products retained separate interfaces and marketing—AVG as a freemium antivirus with tune-up tools, distinct from Avast's lineup—but backend convergence occurred, with overlapping scanning engines and update mechanisms by 2017.[45] Corporate functions, including R&D and sales, were progressively consolidated, though full departmental integration extended into 2018. No immediate layoffs were reported at closure, but the merger streamlined operations to eliminate competitive overlap in the antivirus market.[46] Subsequent scrutiny arose in 2020 over Avast's Jumpshot subsidiary, which aggregated browsing data from both Avast and AVG users for sale to third parties, prompting Avast to shutter Jumpshot and commit to enhanced privacy controls amid regulatory probes.[31]Current Ownership under Gen Digital
In September 2022, NortonLifeLock completed its acquisition of Avast Software for approximately $8 billion in an all-cash transaction, thereby bringing AVG Technologies under the ownership of the combined entity.[35][47] The merger integrated Avast's portfolio, including AVG, into NortonLifeLock's cyber safety operations, which subsequently rebranded as Gen Digital Inc. in late 2022 to reflect its focus on consumer digital security brands.[7] Under Gen Digital, AVG operates as a distinct brand within a portfolio that includes Norton, Avast, Avira, LifeLock, CCleaner, and others, serving over 500 million users globally with antivirus and related tools.[7] The company leverages shared resources for research and development, such as enhanced threat intelligence from Gen's ecosystem, while maintaining AVG's core product lines like AVG AntiVirus Free and premium suites with features including ransomware protection and VPN integration.[48] Post-acquisition, AVG has continued independent product updates, with the 2025 edition emphasizing lightweight scanning and cross-device compatibility for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.[3] Gen Digital's structure emphasizes operational synergies across brands without fully merging product engines, allowing AVG to retain its identity while benefiting from economies of scale in data processing and global distribution.[8] As of 2025, AVG reports no major restructuring announcements specific to its operations under Gen, focusing instead on incremental enhancements driven by empirical threat data from billions of daily scans across the parent company's network.[49] This ownership model positions AVG within a privately held entity prioritizing consumer cybersecurity revenue, with Gen Digital generating over $3.8 billion in annual revenue as reported in fiscal 2024 filings.[50]Supported Platforms and Compatibility
Desktop and Laptop Support
AVG AntiVirus provides security software compatible with desktop and laptop systems running Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS, targeting consumer and home users. It requires an internet connection for initial download, activation, and ongoing updates to virus definitions and software components. The software is designed to run on standard hardware configurations without ARM processors for Windows installations. For Windows platforms, AVG supports versions including Windows 11 (excluding Mixed Reality and IoT editions), Windows 10 (32- and 64-bit, excluding Mobile and IoT editions), Windows 8/8.1 (32- and 64-bit, excluding RT and Starter editions), and Windows 7 SP1 or later with Convenience Rollup Update (all editions, 32- and 64-bit). Minimum hardware specifications include an Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor (or equivalent supporting SSE3 instructions), at least 1 GB of RAM, 2 GB of free disk space, and a display resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels or higher. These requirements apply to products such as AVG AntiVirus FREE and AVG Internet Security, ensuring real-time scanning and protection features function effectively on supported systems.[51] On macOS, compatibility covers versions from macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) through macOS 15.x (Sequoia), accommodating both Intel 64-bit processors and Apple Silicon chips (M1 and later). Required hardware includes a minimum of 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended for optimal performance), 750 MB of free disk space, and a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels or higher. This enables features like malware detection and web shielding tailored to macOS environments, with automatic updates maintaining protection against evolving threats.[51][52] AVG does not offer consumer desktop antivirus support for Linux distributions, having discontinued home-user versions for the platform years prior; server-oriented or business editions may differ but are outside standard desktop scope.[51][53]Mobile and Other Devices
AVG provides dedicated antivirus and security applications for Android devices, compatible with Android 8.0 (Oreo) and later versions.[54] The AVG AntiVirus for Android app offers real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, spyware, phishing attacks, and other malware, alongside features such as app locking, a photo vault for securing media, and tools to optimize device performance by removing junk files.[54] A free version includes core scanning and privacy protections, while premium subscriptions add advanced capabilities like Wi-Fi security scanning.[54] The app is distributed via the Google Play Store and has received over 7.9 million user ratings averaging 4.6 stars as of recent data.[55] For iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads, AVG offers Mobile Security, which focuses on network protection, privacy enhancements, and limited threat detection rather than comprehensive file scanning.[56] Due to Apple's sandboxing and restrictions on third-party access to the iOS filesystem, the app cannot perform deep malware scans or remove viruses from the device itself; instead, it provides web-based threat blocking, secure Wi-Fi scanning, a photo vault (limited to 40 photos in the free version), password leak monitoring, and optional VPN integration for encrypted browsing.[56] The free tier supports basic features, with PRO upgrades enabling unlimited photo storage and monitoring for up to five email addresses, available via a 14-day trial.[56] It is distributed through the Apple App Store, holding a 4.7-star average from over 72,000 reviews.[57] Beyond standard mobile platforms, AVG does not offer native support for Linux distributions or dedicated applications for IoT devices such as smart home gadgets or routers.[58] Multi-device subscriptions like AVG Internet Security allow activation across up to 10 devices combining Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, but exclude Linux or specialized embedded systems.[59] For non-mobile "other devices," protection is limited to browser extensions or integrated features within supported ecosystems, with no standalone solutions for platforms like Windows Mobile or legacy systems such as Symbian.[60]Core Features and Functionality
Malware Detection and Scanning
As of February 2026, AVG AntiVirus Free offers real-time protection against viruses, malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, scam websites, and malicious downloads using AI-powered threat detection and multi-layered security.[61] AVG AntiVirus provides malware detection through real-time protection that continuously scans files, emails, web downloads, and system processes to identify and quarantine threats before they execute. This layer operates in the background, updating virus definitions automatically to address emerging malware variants.[61][62] On-demand scanning options include Smart Scan, a comprehensive routine that checks for malware alongside performance vulnerabilities, outdated software, and problematic browser extensions; Custom Scan, allowing users to target specific drives, folders, or files; and Boot-Time Scan, which runs in a pre-operating system environment to detect deeply embedded threats such as rootkits that evade standard scans. Scans are designed for efficiency, completing quickly without significant system resource demands during idle periods, with free virus and malware scans and removal available.[63][64][65] The software targets a broad spectrum of threats, including viruses, spyware, trojans, ransomware, and other malicious code, with automatic removal or quarantine upon detection. Following the 2016 acquisition by Avast (now under Gen Digital), AVG integrated the parent company's scanning engine, which powers detection across platforms like Windows, macOS, and Android, emphasizing low false positives in file handling and earning excellent lab scores with perfect results in some tests. Full optimizations and advanced features require paid upgrades.[66][67][68]Web and Network Protection
AVG's Web Shield component provides real-time protection against online threats by scanning web traffic, downloads, and email attachments to block malware, phishing attempts, and malicious scripts before they reach the user's device, including phishing protection, malicious URL blocking, and email and scam protection.[61][69] This includes intercepting suspicious URLs and preventing access to known harmful sites through integration with AVG's threat database, updated via cloud-based intelligence.[70] Key sub-features encompass HTTPS scanning, which inspects encrypted web connections for threats—enabled by default but configurable to address potential performance impacts or compatibility issues—and Fake Website Shield, which detects phishing pages mimicking legitimate sites to capture credentials or payment information.[71][72] Web Shield operates across browsers without requiring extensions, leveraging kernel-level monitoring on Windows and equivalent processes on supported platforms.[69] Complementing web safeguards, a basic two-way firewall prevents network attacks, while the Network Inspector tool assesses the local network and connected devices for vulnerabilities, such as open ports, weak or default passwords, and insecure services like Remote Desktop Protocol with default settings, including home Wi-Fi safety checks.[68][73] It performs automated scans to identify risks, including devices exposed to the internet or accessible system folders, and notifies users of new or unrecognized hardware joining the network to prevent unauthorized intrusions. A limited VPN is available as a trial, with full access requiring paid upgrades.[74][75] Network Inspector generates actionable alerts with remediation steps, such as updating firmware or changing passwords, and supports both wired and wireless connections, though it requires administrative privileges for full scans.[76][77] These protections are available in the free version with basic functionality, while advanced features are bundled in AVG Internet Security editions.[70]Performance and System Tools
AVG AntiVirus integrates system optimization capabilities via its AVG TuneUp module, bundled in premium editions like AVG Internet Security and AVG Ultimate, targeting improvements in device speed, storage management, and resource allocation. The free version includes a performance tune-up scan that identifies issues, though fixes require an upgrade.[61] These tools address common performance bottlenecks such as accumulated junk files, fragmented disks, and resource-heavy background processes, employing automated scans to identify and resolve issues without manual intervention.[78][79][80] Key features encompass Disk Cleaner, which removes temporary files, system logs, and caches to reclaim disk space—potentially freeing gigabytes on cluttered drives—and Browser Cleaner, which clears cookies, history, and download remnants across major web browsers to reduce load times. A file shredder enables secure deletion of files, and a hardened browser supports safer browsing.[81] Bloatware removal scans for and uninstalls factory-installed or third-party software deemed unnecessary, while the Software Updater automatically checks for and installs patches to outdated applications, mitigating vulnerabilities and enhancing stability.[82] Defragmentation tools reorganize fragmented hard drives for faster file access, particularly beneficial for traditional HDDs, and Startup Manager disables non-essential programs to shorten boot times.[83] For resource-intensive activities, Sleep Mode temporarily suspends background apps and services, prioritizing CPU and memory for foreground tasks like gaming or video editing, with users reporting measurable FPS gains in benchmarks.[84] Automatic maintenance runs scheduled cleanups during idle periods, using heuristics to detect problems like registry errors or duplicate files.[79] Independent assessments affirm moderate effectiveness: PCMag's 2021 review found AVG TuneUp capable of revitalizing sluggish systems through junk removal and one-click repairs, though it scored 3.0/5, indicating reliability without standout innovation compared to rivals like CCleaner.[85] More recent evaluations, such as SoftwareLab's 2025 analysis, highlight superior disk space recovery and boot acceleration, with tools like the junk cleaner and problem detector outperforming averages in freeing up to 20-30% storage on tested Windows machines.[86] SafetyDetectives similarly ranked the suite's optimization features highly for minimal overhead during scans, though gains diminish on already optimized SSD-based systems.[68] Comparative tests note no significant false removals, but effectiveness hinges on user hardware; empirical data from GeekByter's 2025 review showed 15-25% boot time reductions on mid-range PCs post-optimization.[87]Security Performance and Independent Testing
Lab Evaluations (AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives)
AV-TEST Institute, an independent testing organization, evaluates antivirus products on criteria including malware detection and blocking (protection), impact on system speed and resources (performance), and false positives or usability issues, with a maximum of 6 points per category for a total of 18. Products scoring 17.5 or higher receive TOP PRODUCT certification. Throughout 2024, AVG AntiVirus consistently achieved top scores across these categories in AV-TEST's long-term evaluations for consumer platforms including Windows and macOS, earning the AV-TEST Award 2024 specifically for Best macOS Security due to effective malware blocking, minimal performance overhead, and reliable operation without excessive alerts.[88] In the October 2024 Windows 11 test of AVG Internet Security versions 24.8 and 24.9, the product met certification standards, demonstrating high efficacy in real-time and offline threat detection.[89] AVG's participation in the July-August 2025 Windows 11 home user test further confirmed its alignment with industry-leading benchmarks, as it was evaluated alongside 13 other solutions using default settings.[90] AV-Comparatives, another independent lab, assesses antivirus software through scenario-based tests such as real-world protection (blocking live threats), offline malware scanning, performance impact on everyday tasks, and false alarm rates, classifying results into Standard, Advanced, or Advanced+ levels based on detection rates above 95%, low false positives under 5 per 1,000 samples, and efficient resource use. In its 2024 Summary Report covering the main-test series, AVG Internet Security earned a Top Rated Product award, attaining Advanced+ status in six of seven tests—including malware protection, real-world protection, and performance—while reaching Advanced in the remaining test, reflecting detection rates exceeding 99% with minimal system slowdowns and few erroneous blocks.[91] This performance underscored AVG's balance of robust threat neutralization and usability, with particular strength in low false positive incidents during large-scale sample analyses.[92] Extending into 2025, AVG maintained competitive standings in tests like the September 2025 Malware Protection, Performance, and False Alarm evaluations, consistently operating at Advanced or higher levels without notable regressions.[93]Real-World Detection Rates and False Positives
In independent evaluations simulating live cyber threats, AVG AntiVirus has demonstrated strong real-world detection capabilities, typically blocking over 99% of malicious URLs, files, and exploits encountered in dynamic scenarios. For instance, in AV-Comparatives' Real-World Protection Test for February-May 2025, which exposed products to 423 active threats mimicking user browsing and downloads on Windows 11 systems, AVG Internet Security blocked 420 samples, achieving a 99.3% protection rate that incorporates both automatic blocks and partial user-dependent detections.[94] This performance aligns with broader patterns in AV-Comparatives' ongoing tests, where AVG's behavioral and web-based defenses effectively mitigate infections across pre-execution, on-execution, and post-execution stages.[94] AV-TEST's real-world protection assessments, which include zero-day malware via web and email vectors, have similarly awarded AVG near-maximum scores, contributing to an overall rating of 17.8 out of 18 points in their October 2025 endurance evaluation of Windows 10 and 11 products.[95] These results reflect AVG's reliance on signature-based scanning augmented by heuristic and machine learning engines, enabling high efficacy against prevalent and emerging threats without requiring manual intervention in most cases. However, detection efficacy can vary by threat type, with stronger performance against known malware variants than against novel polymorphic attacks.[96] Regarding false positives, AVG has exhibited rates that are generally low but occasionally exceed industry leaders in comparative benchmarks, potentially disrupting legitimate workflows. In the aforementioned AV-Comparatives test, AVG generated 13 false alarms (12 on clean domains/files plus one user-dependent), resulting in an above-average false positive score of 12.5 and a rating downgrade despite solid protection.[94] AV-TEST's usability category, which penalizes erroneous flagging of benign software, has consistently rated AVG highly, with minimal impacts in recent 2025 tests, though specific false positive counts remain aggregated into overall scores.[97] SE Labs' real-world simulations, awarding AVG an AAA certification in home anti-malware protection for 2025 quarters, indicate balanced accuracy with few erroneous blocks during targeted attack defenses.[98] Compared to competitors like Kaspersky, which reported zero false positives in parallel AV-Comparatives evaluations, AVG's higher incidence underscores a trade-off where aggressive heuristics enhance detection but increase benign file quarantines.[99]Comparative Effectiveness Against Competitors
In independent laboratory evaluations, AVG Antivirus has consistently demonstrated high malware detection rates, often achieving scores comparable to leading competitors. For instance, in AV-TEST assessments for Windows 11 conducted in July and August 2025, AVG Internet Security versions 25.6 and 25.7 earned full marks in usability (6/6) with zero false warnings across tests, and secured certification with eligibility for TOP PRODUCT status, indicating robust protection and performance metrics meeting or exceeding 17.5 out of 18 total points.[96] These results position AVG alongside top performers like Bitdefender and Kaspersky, which also routinely score near-perfect in protection (6/6) during similar periods, though AVG's aggregate scores have occasionally dipped slightly in usability due to minor false positive incidents in prior evaluations (e.g., 5.5/6 in earlier 2025 tests).[100] AV-Comparatives tests further highlight AVG's competitive standing. In the April 2025 Performance Test, AVG tied for second place among 10 products with a system score of 96.2 and low impact (3.8), trailing only McAfee (97.4) but outperforming Norton (95.4) and others in minimizing resource usage during everyday tasks.[101] For protection efficacy, AVG received a Top Rated Product Award for 2024 after attaining Advanced+ status in six of seven tests, including malware protection and real-world scenarios where detection rates exceeded 99%, aligning closely with Bitdefender and Avast but with occasional higher false alarm rates than Kaspersky in real-world protection tests (e.g., February-May 2024 data showing AVG's higher block rates offset by more false positives).[91]| Test Organization | Metric | AVG Score (Recent) | Competitor Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| AV-TEST (Jul-Aug 2025) | Protection | Certified (≥6/6 implied) | Matches Bitdefender/Kaspersky full scores; strong zero-day detection.[90] |
| AV-TEST (Jul-Aug 2025) | Usability | 6/6 (0 false warnings) | Superior to some with higher false positives; comparable to Norton.[96] |
| AV-Comparatives (Apr 2025) | Performance Impact | 96.2 (low 3.8 impact) | Behind McAfee; ahead of Norton/Kaspersky in system speed.[101] |
| AV-Comparatives (2024 Aggregate) | Malware/Real-World Protection | Advanced+ (99%+ detection) | Similar to Bitdefender; higher FPs vs. Kaspersky in some real-world runs.[91] |
Privacy Practices and Data Handling
Data Collection Policies
AVG collects various categories of data from users of its antivirus and security products to deliver services, enhance threat detection, and improve functionality. Personal data includes billing information such as names, email addresses, and payment details; account data like usernames and emails; product data encompassing device identifiers, IP addresses, and usage statistics; and communications data from support interactions.[106] Non-personal data comprises aggregated usage statistics, security-related information such as URLs visited for threat scanning, malware samples submitted for analysis, and device error logs.[106] These collections occur primarily during product activation, scanning processes, and feature usage, with free versions anonymizing certain identifiers post-activation to support ad personalization where consent is obtained.[107] Device and service data form a core component of AVG's telemetry, including globally unique identifiers (GUIDs), device IDs, operating system versions, installed applications, network details, and approximate location derived from IP addresses.[107] For threat protection features, AVG gathers URLs and referrers encountered during web shields, email subjects and content for phishing detection, and file samples flagged as potential malware, which are analyzed to update detection databases.[107] Usage events, such as scan frequencies and feature interactions, are logged to monitor performance and identify improvement areas.[107] Retention periods vary: service data like URLs is kept up to 36 months for ongoing threat intelligence, while device data may be retained for 36 to 50 months to support product development; malware samples are stored indefinitely but detached from user identifiers.[107] The stated purposes for data collection emphasize operational necessities, including malware detection, vulnerability alerts via in-product messaging, and aggregated analytics for refining algorithms and user experience.[107] Data is shared with third-party service providers such as Google Analytics for usage analytics and SpyCloud for dark web monitoring in features like Hack Alerts, but AVG maintains that it does not sell personal data directly identifying individuals.[107][108] In free editions, non-personal data may inform targeted advertising with user consent, though policies assert aggregation and anonymization prevent re-identification.[106] Legal compliance and service provision to affiliates within the Gen Digital group (AVG's parent) also necessitate sharing, subject to contractual safeguards.[106] Users can exercise controls over data practices through in-app privacy settings, such as disabling telemetry sharing or opting out of specific features like email scanning.[107] Consent mechanisms include opt-in prompts for advanced data uses, with withdrawal options via the consent policy dashboard or regional rights requests (e.g., CCPA opt-out for California residents).[109][108] Upon service termination, collected data is deleted within 60 days, except where required for legal retention.[107] These policies, last updated in alignment with GDPR and CCPA, reflect AVG's position that extensive telemetry is essential for effective antivirus efficacy, though independent analyses note the breadth of collection exceeds minimal requirements for core scanning functions.[106][8]Historical Incidents and Regulatory Scrutiny
In September 2015, AVG Technologies updated its privacy policy to permit the collection of users' browsing and search history as "non-personal data," which could then be anonymized and sold to third parties for revenue generation from its free antivirus offerings.[110] This practice drew criticism for potentially compromising user privacy despite the anonymization claims, as the data included detailed web activity from millions of users.[111] Later that year, on December 30, 2015, security researchers disclosed a vulnerability in AVG's LinkScanner feature, part of its web protection tools, which inadvertently exposed users' browsing histories, IP addresses, and other personal data to arbitrary websites via unencrypted HTTP requests.[112] The flaw affected an estimated 9 million users and allowed third parties to intercept sensitive information, prompting AVG to release a patch but highlighting risks in its data transmission methods.[112] Following Avast's acquisition of AVG in July 2016, privacy concerns extended to shared data practices. In January 2020, investigative reports revealed that Avast's subsidiary Jumpshot had been aggregating and selling detailed browsing data collected from both Avast and AVG antivirus users, including search queries, visited sites, and timestamps, to over 100 clients in advertising and analytics without explicit user consent.[113] This data, derived from telemetry in free versions of the software, enabled third parties to profile user behavior for targeted marketing, affecting hundreds of millions of installations globally.[114] Avast responded by shutting down Jumpshot operations in January 2020 amid public backlash.[114] Regulatory action culminated in February 2024, when the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposed a $16.5 million civil penalty on Avast for misleading users about privacy protections while selling browsing data collected via its products, explicitly including AVG software, to Jumpshot for commercial purposes.[115] The FTC settlement prohibited Avast from selling or licensing such data for advertising for a decade and required enhanced disclosures and data deletion, resolving allegations of deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act.[116][117] No equivalent fines from EU regulators were reported specifically targeting AVG's pre-acquisition practices, though the incident amplified scrutiny on antivirus firms' data monetization models.[10]User Controls and Transparency Measures
AVG AntiVirus provides users with configurable settings to manage aspects of data collection and sharing directly within the software interface, including options to opt out of personalized ads and limit analytics data transmission for product improvement. These controls are accessible via the privacy preferences section, where free edition users can adjust participation in non-personal data sharing programs that support service sustainability.[118][107] In paid versions, users retain similar toggles for communications and marketing preferences, alongside the ability to withdraw consent for specific processing activities, such as third-party ad targeting, as outlined in the consent policy. For instance, the application allows temporary disabling of core protection modules, which indirectly affects real-time data reporting to AVG servers, though full telemetry opt-out is not explicitly available due to operational necessities like threat detection updates.[106][109][119] Transparency measures include a publicly available Privacy Policy that categorizes collected data—encompassing account details, product usage metrics, and device information—and specifies purposes like enhancing security efficacy and complying with legal obligations. Users can submit data access or portability requests through a dedicated online form, enabling verification of processed information, with responses typically provided within statutory timelines under regulations like GDPR.[106][120] Additionally, AVG maintains an opt-out mechanism for the sale or sharing of personal information, accessible via a specific web portal, reflecting post-2022 updates under Gen Digital ownership to address prior scrutiny over data monetization practices. In enterprise deployments, administrators configure privacy parameters through the Cloud Console, including general antivirus settings that influence data upload behaviors for centralized threat analysis.[108][8][121] The company discloses security safeguards for stored data, such as encryption and access restrictions, but independent analyses note that antivirus telemetry inherently involves endpoint reporting for global threat intelligence, with user controls limited to broader preference adjustments rather than granular packet-level exclusions.[122][123]Controversies and Criticisms
Feature-Specific Issues (e.g., LinkScanner)
In 2008, AVG's LinkScanner feature drew significant criticism for its proactive scanning mechanism, which automatically pre-crawled URLs from search engine results pages to detect potential malware threats before users visited them. This process generated substantial artificial web traffic by sending HTTP requests that impersonated Internet Explorer 6 browsers, leading to skewed analytics for website owners who observed unexplained surges in IE6 visits despite the browser's declining market share at the time.[124][125] Critics, including security analysts, labeled the behavior as akin to badware due to its unsolicited probing of sites without genuine user intent, potentially overwhelming servers and distorting legitimate traffic metrics.[125] AVG initially defended the approach, with chief researcher Roger Thompson arguing that the IE6 user agent was used only in the paid version to optimize compatibility with vulnerable legacy systems, but acknowledged the unintended side effects on web statistics.[124] By July 2008, the company released an update to cease the deceptive user agent emulation, shifting to more transparent crawling methods to mitigate the controversy while preserving the feature's core protective intent.[126][127] Despite the fix, early adopters reported persistent browser compatibility problems, such as Internet Explorer pages failing to load or hanging indefinitely after LinkScanner installation, attributed to interference with web rendering processes.[128] Beyond LinkScanner, other AVG features have faced user-reported reliability issues. The Web Shield component, designed to monitor real-time web traffic for threats, has been implicated in network connectivity disruptions; for instance, in October 2024, multiple users resolved chronic WiFi instability by disabling it, suggesting conflicts with certain routers or drivers that halted packet inspection without adequate error handling.[129] Similarly, the firewall's interactive "ask" mode, intended to prompt users for outbound connection approvals, malfunctioned as of April 2025, failing to generate alerts for numerous applications and thereby blocking legitimate traffic indefinitely.[130] These incidents highlight recurring challenges in feature integration, where aggressive threat detection sometimes overrides system stability, though AVG support documentation recommends targeted repairs or reinstallations without addressing root causal factors like resource contention.[131] Users have also reported boot failures associated with the avgVmm.sys driver, part of AVG's virtual machine monitor functionality related to virtualization-based scanning and protection. These issues include Windows startup failures, boot loops, Blue Screens of Death (BSOD), and errors such as "the operating system couldn't be loaded because a critical system driver is missing or contains errors" with code 0xc000007b. The problems typically arise from driver corruption, conflicts with Windows components, or failed updates/installations. Common resolutions involve booting into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment to uninstall AVG using the official removal tool, performing a System Restore, or disabling the driver via registry edits on another computer.[13][132]Business and Ethical Concerns
In 2016, Avast Software acquired AVG Technologies for $1.3 billion in cash, integrating AVG's user base and technology into its operations while maintaining separate branding for products.[133] This merger expanded Avast's reach to over 400 million users but raised ethical questions about unified data practices across both entities, particularly regarding the monetization of user information collected under the guise of security services.[33] A primary ethical controversy emerged from AVG's involvement in data aggregation and sales through Avast's subsidiary Jumpshot, established in 2013 and used to harvest detailed browsing histories, search queries, and clickstreams from users of free Avast and AVG antivirus software.[134] Investigative reporting in January 2020 revealed that Jumpshot sold this "anonymized" data—encompassing up to 100% of users' online activities, including visits to sensitive sites like financial or health-related pages—to over 100 third parties, including marketers and tech firms such as Google and Amazon, generating millions in revenue for Avast.[114][135] Critics, including privacy advocates, argued this practice constituted a profound betrayal of trust, as users installed AVG expecting protection against surveillance rather than enabling it, with data potentially de-anonymized through correlation with other datasets.[110] In response to the scandal, Avast announced the shutdown of Jumpshot on January 30, 2020, refunding customers and claiming the data was aggregated without identifiers.[136] However, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) pursued enforcement, alleging in 2024 that Avast misrepresented its privacy protections by selling data for advertising purposes, leading to a $16.5 million settlement and a permanent ban on such sales.[137] The FTC order explicitly covered data from Avast and AVG products provided to Jumpshot, highlighting systemic ethical lapses in the freemium antivirus model where free tiers subsidized premium features through user data commodification rather than transparent advertising.[138] Business-wise, AVG's freemium approach—offering basic protection for free while upselling advanced features—has drawn criticism for incentivizing invasive data collection to offset costs, potentially compromising security for non-paying users through throttled performance or limited real-time defenses.[139] Independent analyses have noted that such models prioritize scale and data harvesting over robust enterprise-grade safeguards, rendering free AVG unsuitable for business environments due to heightened vulnerability risks and ethical data ambiguities.[10] These practices underscore broader industry tensions between profitability and user privacy, where antivirus firms like AVG leverage privileged network-level access to exploit data for revenue, often without explicit, granular consent.Responses and Resolutions
In response to criticisms that the LinkScanner feature's pre-fetching of search engine results generated excessive bot traffic—up to 6% of some sites' visits and mimicking Internet Explorer user agents to evade filters—AVG issued an update to its free edition on July 8, 2008.[126] The modification altered the Search-Shield component to scan hyperlinks only after user interaction, eliminating proactive crawling of search result pages.[126] AVG retained the Active Surf-Shield for real-time webpage analysis during browsing, stating the change rectified the issue while maintaining security efficacy.[126] Following revelations in January 2020 that its subsidiary Jumpshot had aggregated and sold browsing data collected via Avast and AVG software extensions and antivirus products from 2014 onward, Avast voluntarily shut down Jumpshot operations.[140] This addressed ethical concerns over non-consensual data commercialization, including sensitive inferences about users' health, politics, and religion derived from tracking.[137] In a February 22, 2024, settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Avast paid $16.5 million in penalties and committed to a decade-long ban on selling or licensing any browsing data for advertising, alongside mandatory deletion of all improperly retained records.[137][138] The agreement explicitly covered data from AVG products, with consumer redress claims processing commencing in February 2025.[141] Avast implemented enhanced privacy controls in subsequent software updates, including clearer opt-out mechanisms for telemetry.[138]Market Reception and Impact
User Adoption and Reviews
AVG AntiVirus has garnered substantial adoption, driven primarily by its free edition, which appeals to cost-conscious users seeking basic malware protection. The mobile version alone has exceeded 100 million installations on the Google Play Store as of late 2024.[142] In the competitive antivirus market, AVG holds a modest 1.05% share, reflecting its niche positioning amid dominant players like Kaspersky and Avast.[143] Historical data from the company indicated over 200 million active users worldwide as of 2014, though recent independent figures on total desktop and cross-platform active installations remain limited, with growth tied to bundled offerings under parent company Gen Digital.[144] User reviews highlight strong performance in core detection tasks but reveal mixed sentiments on usability and business practices. PCMag rated the free version 4.5 out of 5 stars in April 2025, commending improved lab scores and hands-on malware blocking after prior updates addressed minor flaws.[67] Independent lab evaluations, such as those from AV-Test, consistently award AVG high marks, with protection scores reaching at least 5.5 out of 6 in recent assessments for real-time threat mitigation.[145] On user-driven platforms, Trustpilot scores AVG Technologies at 4.4 out of 5 from over 32,000 reviews, with praise for reliable scanning and ease of use but criticisms centering on aggressive upselling, billing disputes, and automatic renewals—issues echoed across Avast-related products due to shared infrastructure.[146] Aggregated expert reviews vary, with SoftwareLab.org assigning 3.6 out of 5 in 2025 for solid firewall and detection features offset by paid-tier limitations and interface clutter.[86]| Review Source | Rating | Key Strengths Noted | Key Criticisms Noted | Assessment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCMag | 4.5/5 | Malware detection, lab performance | Minor interface issues | April 2025[67] |
| AV-Test (via CNET) | 5.5–6/6 (protection) | Real-time blocking | N/A | Recent 2025[145] |
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 | Security reliability | Billing and renewals | Ongoing (32k+ reviews)[146] |
| SoftwareLab | 3.6/5 | Firewall, features variety | Paid version value | 2025[86] |