AVG AntiVirus

AVG (Anti-Virus Guard) was founded in the early 1990s in the Czech Republic by Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer. It quickly became one of the most recognizable names in cybersecurity, particularly famous for its free-to-use antivirus version which helped secure millions of home computers globally.

In 2016, AVG was acquired by its long-time rival, Avast, which was also headquartered in Prague. The consolidation of these two Czech powerhouses created one of the largest security software companies in the world.

Today, the brand landscape has shifted further. In 2022, Avast merged with the American cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock to form a new parent company named Gen Digital. While the brand remains rooted in Czech engineering, its ultimate corporate ownership is now based in the United States, managing a portfolio that includes Norton, Avast, AVG, and Avira.