Qihoo

Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd., commonly known as Qihoo or Qihoo 360, is a Chinese internet technology company that provides security software, web browsers, online advertising, and mobile services. The company is best known for its antivirus software and security suite, 360 Total Security, as well as for its 360 Safe Browser and 360 Mobile Security products.

History and development: Qihoo was founded in 2005 by Zhou Hongyi and colleagues as a provider of free antivirus software. It rapidly gained users through a freemium and bundled distribution model, and expanded its offerings beyond antivirus to include a web browser (360 Safe Browser) and a search engine (360 Search). Over time, the firm diversified into online advertising, mobile services, and related digital products, building a broad consumer technology footprint in China.

Public listing and market presence: Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd. went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011 under the ticker QIHU, marking one of the early large Chinese internet security firms to list in the United States. The company has since operated as a publicly traded technology group with a focus on security software, online advertising, and mobile applications.

Products and services: Core offerings include 360 Total Security antivirus, 360 Safe Browser, and 360 Mobile Security. The business also runs free security tools, a web portal and online advertising platform, a mobile app ecosystem, and cloud services. It has pursued a strategy that combines consumer software with digital advertising and related services.

Market position: Headquartered in Beijing, Qihoo 360 has been a major player in China’s consumer internet market, competing with other large Chinese tech firms in security software, browsers, and online advertising. The company has influenced the development of China’s security software ecosystem and contributed to the broader growth of free-to-use digital services.