User:Empey at Avast/avg software

AVG Software is a brand of software products produced by AVG Technologies, a subsidiary of Avast. It spans a variety of IT security, system performance, utility, and privacy software for desktops and mobile devices. It started as a simple antivirus program intended to remove a specific virus. Over time, the brand expanded to identity theft, spyware, do not track tools, and other utilities. It is best-known for IT security software.

Early history
The first piece of AVG (initially called Grisoft) software was developed in 1989 as a basic program that removed a specific virus from the user's PC. Users sent other viruses to the founder and the program expanded. Grisoft first transitioned to a freeware model in 1999. By 2002, version 6.0 of AVG's antivirus product was in distribution. PC Magazine said even the free version of 6.0 wasn't worth it. However, by 2004 the software's performance at correctly identifying malicious software in lab tests had improved.

Version 7.5 of AVG AntiVirus, released in October 2006, was the first version that was marketed directly to consumers, rather than PC manufacturers. It was also the first to consolidate AVG's cybersecurity products into a single software suite and user interface. This trend continued with better integration across AVG's features in version 8. Version 9 was released in 2009. It improved scan speeds and added identity theft protection features.

Expansion through Acquisition
Many of the features and software products under the AVG brand were acquired from other companies. AVG bought spyware software from Ewido Networks in 2006, browser security products from Exploit Prevention Labs in 2007, and software behavioral analysis software from Sana Security in 2009.

AVG acquired mobile security technology from DroidSecurity in 2011 and from Location Labs in 2014. AVG also made acquisitions for parental control software and remote monitoring. It acquired privacy software from Privacy Choice in 2013, followed by the HideMyAss! VPN and privacy tool from Privax in 2015.

In July 2016, Avast acquired AVG for $1.3 billion. The new combined incorporated software from both companies into their products. Later, Avast acquired utility software programs like MyRoll.

Early 2000s
LinkScanner is a component of the AVG AntiVirus suite that scans links on a web page for malicious software before the user visits them. Initially, it created dramatic spikes in traffic data for webmasters, because LinkScanner clicked on links under the guise of being a real user. AVG responded by reworking the software to rely on a blacklist of links and checking URLs against the database without clicking them.

In 2012, AVG published a "do not track" extension for internet browsers that prevents websites from using cookies to collect personal information from the user. This was followed by a "do not track" app for mobile phones that prevents location-tracking. In 2015, Crumble for Chrome added a Do Not Track tool that prevents cookies and other tracking software based on their behavior, rather than a blacklist.

In 2013, AVG released a utility for mobile devices that manages power settings and computing tasks to conserve energy. That year, the first AVG AntiVirus product for macs was released and the user interface of the PC version was reworked to give it a similar look and feel as Windows 8. In 2015, AVG AntiVirus 2015 was published. According to Tom's Guide, it missed malware caught by competing products, but got most of it and used less computing resources.

In 2015, a security vulnerability was discovered in AVG's Web Tuneup Google Chrome plug-in, which is installed automatically with AVG Antivirus unless the user opts out. The vulnerability was fixed with a patch. It is unknown whether any private user data, such as browsing histories, was compromised before the vulnerability was patched.

Recent history
In January 2017, Avast released new versions of AVG TuneUp, AntiVirus, and Internet Security that integrates the AVG and Avast product lines, following the acquisition of AVG by Avast the prior year. It also released new software products for businesses that incorporate the technology of both companies.

Software
AVG develops and markets software for IT security, privacy, performance optimization, and other utility services on desktop computers and mobile devices. It is one of the largest brands of cybersecurity software.

AVG is best-known for its antivirus product. AVG AntiVirus is a freeware program that relies heavily on heuristic analysis to determine if a program's code is behaving like malicious software. It scans a computer's documents, programs, and emails for suspicious behavior, then rates each file's risk based on its behavior and alerts the user of files with a high rating. AVG Antivirus has features intended to protect the user's PC from malware, phishing, and viruses. It also has firewall, identity protection, anti-ransomware, anti-spam, and webcam control features for paid users.

Avast also develops software for data backup, parental controls, and other services. AVG produces a variety of other computer optimization and utility software products, like AVG PC TuneUp.

A majority of AVG's revenues come from free users upgrading to paid versions. The rest comes from advertisements displayed to free users, collecting and selling user information to advertisers, and automatically installing browser toolbars when users do not opt-out during the installation process.

Reception
AV-TEST gave AVG Antivirus 17.5 points out of 18 points in a three-part review of protection, performance, and usability. PC Magazine gave AVG AntiVirus four out of five stars. The magazine said AVG performed well at detecting malicious software in lab tests, but scans took longer than expected. It also noted that AVG provides unlimited licenses for all of the devices in a household. PC World said AVG Internet Security was a "decent security suite that gives adequate protection and adds little weight to your system." In their lab tests, AVG detected 98-99 percent of malicious software, compared to 100 percent of some competitors. However, it consumed less computing power and was easy-to-use. A 2017 review of the AntiVirus product by the same magazine provided similar pros and cons, but said some aspects of the user interface were not intuitive.

PC World said the AVG spyware program found more adware and spyware than competitors, but it also had a high rate of false positives. AVG's now-discontinued secure-search browser toolbar was unpopular. The toolbar was installed automatically unless the user opted-out and was difficult to un-install. Some writers referred to it as malware or foistware.