AVG Technologies B.V.[1] is a brand of cybersecurity, privacy, performance and utility software applications for desktop computers and mobile devices developed by Avast, a part of Gen Digital.

It typically offers freeware, earning revenues from advertisers and from users that upgrade to paid versions for access to more features.

In the early 2000s, AVG expanded internationally and used money from venture capital investments to fund a series of acquisitions.

AVG Technologies was founded by Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach in 1990 under the name Grisoft in Brno, Czechoslovakia.

[3] Grisoft grew as the country loosened its international trade policies, so it could exchange technology with companies in Europe.

[20] In 2014, AVG announced the acquisition of Location Labs, a cybersecurity company focused on mobile devices, for an estimated $220 million.

[25][26] A few months later, an American private equity firm, TA Associates, bought a 25 percent interest in AVG for $200 million.

[26] In July 2017 AVG acquired Piriform Software, a UK-based company that developed CCleaner, a cleanup utility with 130 million installations.

[29] AVG develops and markets software for IT security, privacy, performance optimization, and other utility services on desktop computers and mobile devices.

[31][18] For example, a browser extension called AVG SafePrice looks for better deals online when the user is on a shopping site.

[38] In May 2012, AVG Technologies issued a copyright claim, referred to as a 'takedown request,' for a YouTube video of 1987 pop song "Never Gonna Give You Up", performed by British singer Rick Astley.