Grisoft

Grisoft was a software company established in the Czech Republic in 1997 that specialized in security software and antivirus technology. Its best-known product, AVG Anti-Virus, became one of the most widely distributed antivirus programs worldwide, gaining particular popularity for offering a free edition alongside paid security suites.

In 2006 Grisoft expanded its capabilities by acquiring Ewido Networks, a security company focused on anti-malware technology, and began integrating its technologies into its product line. To reflect its flagship product, the company adopted the AVG Technologies name in 2008, signaling a shift to a broader security software brand beyond antivirus alone. Under AVG Technologies, the company broadened its offerings to include internet security suites, privacy tools, and mobile security for multiple platforms.

In 2016 Avast Software, another Czech security company, announced its acquisition of AVG Technologies for about $1.3 billion. The deal was completed later that year, and AVG continued as a brand within Avast’s portfolio, with its products marketed alongside Avast’s own security solutions. Since the acquisition, the Grisoft name has largely become historical, with its legacy assets and product lines integrated into Avast’s corporate structure, while the AVG brand persisted as a key product line.

Grisoft’s trajectory reflects the broader consolidation in the consumer security software sector and the rise of freeware-based models that contributed to the mainstream adoption of antivirus software.