Meet Avast

Avast is dedicated to creating a world that provides safety and privacy for all,
no matter who you are, where you are, or how you connect.

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Faster, smarter artificial intelligence

Avast is one of the largest security companies in the world using next-gen technologies to fight cyber attacks in real time. We differ from other next-gen companies in that we have an immense cloud-based machine learning engine that receives a constant stream of data from our hundreds of millions of users, which facilitates learning at unprecedented speeds and makes our artificial intelligence engine smarter and faster than anyone else’s.

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Scalable,
cloud infrastructure

Avast has created a scalable cloud-based security infrastructure that sees everything that happens on the internet. We have a view into everything online, good and bad, giving us the unique advantage of being first to inspect and analyze potential threats. When new malware is discovered, we can quickly deploy new security features to protect our users.

We use advanced threat protection to keep
you and your business safe from cyber attacks.

Dedicated cybersecurity research experts

Avast’s innovative security approach comes from some of the most talented and experienced security engineers on the planet. Headquartered in Prague – a center of excellence for engineering and computer science –we attract the best and the brightest with over 45% of our employees in R&D. Our scientists, engineers, and mathematicians are from some of the most highly respected institutions, including Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and NASA. Our growth is fueled by our passionate culture of wanting to win and “beat the bad guys.”

Our growing patent portfolio is focused on these 4 key areas

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Vince Steckler

Chief Executive Officer

Vincent Steckler

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Steckler has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Avast since January 2009. Through his leadership and business strategies, Mr. Steckler grew billings 35X, reaching $811M in 2017, and has developed an executive leadership team that has consistently delivered industry leading profits to the bottom line. Prior to joining Avast, Mr. Steckler was the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Consumer Sales at Symantec Corporation, where he was in charge of worldwide multi-channel consumer sales valued at $2.0 billion. Mr. Steckler also served over two years as Symantec’s Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan and was responsible for all enterprise and consumer business in that region. Prior to joining Symantec, Mr. Steckler had 20 years of experience in software development, systems analysis and engineering, and business development. Mr. Steckler holds two B.S. degrees from the University of California, Irvine, one in Mathematics and the other in Information and Computer Science.

Scott CollinsManaging Director & Chief Operating Officer
Summit Partners

Scott Collins

Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, Summit Partners

Scott Collins is a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Summit Partners, a global alternative investment firm. He joined Summit in 1996 and founded the firm's London office, which he managed until 2016. Today, Mr. Collins is based in Boston and focuses on the technology sector. During his tenure with Summit, Mr. Collins has made investments in and served as a board director for more than 25 companies. He has served on the Avast Board of Directors since 2010 and is currently a board director at Acturis Limited, Calypso Technology, PrismHR and vente-privee.com. Prior to joining Summit, he worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company and served in a variety of positions with the U.S. federal government. Mr. Collins holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. To step down from the Board upon listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Siddharth Patel Senior Managing Director
CVC Capital Partners

Siddharth Patel

Senior Managing Director, CVC Capital Partners

Siddharth Patel, Senior Managing Director, joined CVC in 2010. Siddharth is based in Singapore. Prior to joining CVC, he was with Apax Partners where he spent nine years in the Technology and Telecommunications team leading or co-leading transactions across the sector. Prior to Apax, he worked at Monitor Company. Siddharth holds First Class MA and BA Degrees from the University of Oxford. To step down from the Board upon listing on the London Stock Exchange.

We work every
day to keep
the world safe
online

We support our mission by working to cultivate the next generation of cybersecurity experts and to educate people to stay safe online.

Learn more

Our milestones and timeline

We have

400M+

millions of users all over the globe

We prevent

1B

attacks every month

We have

59

countries with over 1M users each

We have

1,700+

talented employees

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR TIMELINE

2019

Ondrej Vlcek appointed CEO

Leading a new phase of growth

2018

Going public on the London Stock Exchange

In May 2018, Avast is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

2017

Serving 435 million active users

All versions of Avast antivirus protect against WannaCry, BadRabbit and NotPetya ransomware as well as Emotet crypto-mining attacks, without requiring a single product update. Avast reaches $811M in adjusted billings in 2017. Avast acquires Piriform, bringing our total active users to over 435 million.

2016

Joining forces, better together

Avast acquires fellow Czech-based cybersecurity giant AVG, doubling our total number of users and bringing in new talent and technologies. The acquisition gives Avast the largest and most advanced threat detection network, based on our massive user base, and further diversifies our product portfolio, geographic base, and revenue streams.

2015

Celebrating our brand new headquarters in Prague

Avast opens its new Prague headquarters, bringing Silicon Valley style to the Czech Republic.

2014

Rising up with the mobile boom

CVC Capital Partners becomes a strategic investor. Our mobile products reach the 100 million download milestone faster than any other mobile security tools in Google Play history.geographic base, and revenue streams.

2013

Gaining momentum with mobile carriers

Avast's mobile family apps hits the 1,000,000 subscriber milestone through mobile carrier partnerships.

2012

Bringing the best to mobile

Avast Free Mobile Security becomes the best-rated security app on Google Play. Avast Free Antivirus is the most downloaded software on Download.com

2011

Getting down to business

Avast expands into business security, focusing on the SMB market.

2010

Becoming Avast

Summit Partners comes on board as an investor. Alwil is rebranded as Avast to match the name of our iconic software.

2009

Welcoming new leadership

Vincent Steckler is appointed CEO of Avast.

2006

20 million users strong

The number of people using Avast continues to grow exponentially, doubling twice in one year, reaching 20 million.

2003

Surpassing one million users

Within 30 months of going free, Avast is used by over 1 million people around the world.

2001

Free security for all

Avast makes the defining decision to change the traditional antivirus business model and offers a fully featured, free antivirus to all.

1997

Avast goes global

After refusing an offer to be acquired, Alwil instead licenses its Avast antivirus to McAfee, and watches its global distribution grow rapidly.

1995

Joining Avast — Ondrej Vlcek

Ondrej Vlcek, now the CEO, joins Alwil as a software developer.

1991

Founding a company — ALWIL Software is launched

After the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and the fall of communism, Pavel and Eduard break off from the rest of the cooperative, establishing Alwil as a company.

1988

Destroying a virus — the start of something big

Pavel Baudis defeats the Vienna virus and establishes, together with Eduard Kucera, the Alwil cooperative to distribute and sell their newly created software.

Giving back

One of our fundamental values as a company is to give back to the community. Our Foundation is a manifestation of those values and is dedicated to creating programs that support the elderly, those living with physical and mental disabilities, and the terminally ill, as well as furthering education on human rights. Avast is committed to dedicating a portion of our profits to the Avast Foundation every year.

Avast foundation

Avast Careers

Join our global team

Avast Blog

Read expert security opinions, news, tips, and more

Avast PR

Follow company announcements and media coverage

Avast Foundation

Learn more about how Avast gives back

Meet Avast

Faster, smarter artificial intelligence

Scalable,cloud infrastructure

Dedicated cybersecurity research experts

Our growing patent portfolio is focused on these 4 key areas

r

r

Vincent Steckler

Chief Executive Officer

Scott Collins

Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, Summit Partners

Siddharth Patel

Senior Managing Director, CVC Capital Partners

We work every day to keep the world safe online

Our milestones and timeline

We have

400M+

We prevent

1B

We have

59

We have

1,700+

2019

Ondrej Vlcek appointed CEO

2018

Going public on the London Stock Exchange

2017

Serving 435 million active users

2016

Joining forces, better together

2015

Celebrating our brand new headquarters in Prague

2014

Rising up with the mobile boom

2013

Gaining momentum with mobile carriers

2012

Bringing the best to mobile

2011

Getting down to business

2010

Becoming Avast

2009

Welcoming new leadership

2006

20 million users strong

2003

Surpassing one million users

2001

Free security for all

1997

Avast goes global

1995

Joining Avast — Ondrej Vlcek

1991

Founding a company — ALWIL Software is launched

1988

Scalable,
cloud infrastructure

We work every
day to keep
the world safe
online