Since 2021, Avira has been owned by American software company NortonLifeLock (now Gen Digital), which also operates Norton, Avast and AVG.

[2] Avira periodically "cleans out" its virus definition files, replacing specific signatures with generic ones for a general increase in performance and scanning speed.

[citation needed] Heuristic virus detection involves extensive analysis and investigation of the affected codes for functions typical of malware.

If the code being scanned exhibits these characteristic features it is reported as being suspicious, although not necessarily malware; the user decides whether to act on or ignore the warning.

[citation needed] The ProActiv component uses rule sets developed by the Avira Malware Research Center to identify suspicious behavior.

Mac: operating system MacOS 10.15 (Catalina) or higher; 500 MB free hard disk space Avira offers its antivirus engine in the form of a software development kit to implement in complementary products.

Strategic and technology partners of Avira include Canonical, CYAN Networks, IBM, intelligence AG, Microsoft, novell, OPSWAT, Synergy Systems and others.

[6] Tjark Auerbach, the founder of Avira sold almost 100% of his stake in the company to the Investcorp Group of Manama (Bahrain) in April 2020.

[9] The directors of Investcorp Group belong to several royal families of Middle East countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, etc.

A remote attacker could have exploited this vulnerability by crafting an ACE archive and delivering it via a malicious web page or e-mail.

[27] In January 2008, Anti-Malware Test Lab gave Avira "gold" status for proactive virus detection and detection/removal of rootkits.