AVG

AVG AntiVirus (previously known as AVG, abbreviation of Anti-Virus Guard) is a family of antivirus software developed by AVG Technologies, a subsidiary of Avast. It is available for Windows, macOS and Android.

It comes from Grisoft’s first product, “Anti-Virus Guard”, launched in 1992 in Czech Republic. In 1997, the first AVG licenses were sold in Germany and UK. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1998.

Its Free Edition helped raise awareness of the product line. In 2006, the security package grew to include anti-spyware, as Its Technologies acquired ewido Networks, an anti-spyware group. That same year, Microsoft announced that Its components would be available directly within the Windows Vista operating system. Its 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, Its Technologies acquired Sana Security, a developer of identity theft prevention software. This software was incorporated into Its security product range released in March 2009.