UK-listed Cybersecurity Firm Avast in Merger Talks With NortonLifeLock

London-listed cybersecurity firm Avast is in advanced talks with U.S. rival NortonLifeLock about a merger that would create a clear leader in consumer security software. From a report: Both companies confirmed the talks late on Wednesday, with Avast saying an offer would be in cash and shares, although it added there was no certainty a deal will be agreed. Avast, which was founded and based in Prague, Czech Republic, is a pioneer of "freemium" software, whereby basic applications are free and subscribers pay for premium features. Its Avast and AVG branded desktop and mobile software had more than 435 million active users at the end of 2020, of which 16.5 million are paying. The shift to home working during COVID-19 spurred demand for its desktop products like antivirus software, and it recorded 7.1% organic growth in adjusted billings to $922 million last year.

Re:

[Ostracus]

But lots of fertilizer is involved in both.

Re:

[ls671]

Furthermore, "NortonLifeLock" seems like a ill advised name to me. It's sounds to me like if you use the product once, you are locked-in for life and forced to use it for the rest of your life!

In this together.

[Ostracus]

Its Avast and AVG branded desktop and mobile software had more than 435 million active users at the end of 2020, of which 16.5 million are paying.

Nice to see that that doesn't just happen to open-source.

A clear market leader...

[cb88]

Aka killing competition... stuff like this is the exact reason antitrust laws exist.

Buying the competitor that makes the exact same type of product should be 100% illegal with zero overhead... oh they do the same thing *immediate rejection*.

junkyard

[awwshit]

There is always someone that wants to own the junkyard.

This is what will happen post merger

[williamyf]

AVG and Piriform will not be operated as subsidiaries anymore, which cuts in backoffice costs (HR, Fiannce, Legal, etc). Ditto for Avast and norton, backoffice will be consolidated as well.

Existing R&D centers in the USoA and Western europe will be downsized or eliminated, in favour of R&D in lower cost areas like Eastern Europe or India.

Then Slowly but deftly, the Three antivirus Engines and Support infrastructure (servers) will be converged into a single product offered worldwide under the three brands, only local tastes will define which badge is more successfull where (probably Norton Badge in USoA, Avast and AVG in other locations).

Re:

[algaeman]

You missed the part about where the free product will never be updated, and paid customers will be shifted to the Norton codebase against their will.

Re:

[trparky]

paid customers will be shifted to the Norton codebase against their will.

Yeah, that's what I fear. Avast, itself, is ok. But Norton? That damn thing is an unmitigated dumpster fire.

Awesome!

[Yo Grark]

This is great news, now there's one less crappy company I can completely ignore!

-Yo Grark

And integrate the bloat?

[X3r0d3d]

Norton security has always been labor intensive and memory hungry. Conversely Avast has always been relatively lightweight by comparison. Let's hope they adopt the lightweight formula instead of the bloat many of us have come to expect from Norton. Don't get me wrong, Norton is effective for it's intended purpose. My issue is the lag that it's software imposes in other programs running on the same machine.

LifeLock is a scam

[dhjdhj]

Instead of paying monthly to be informed of a possible unauthorized attempt to steal your ID, just freeze your credit reports at the three major agencies. That way, a scammer can’t even get started because the bank, car dealer, cellular provider will not be able to perform a credit check and so won’t let you finance a car, borrow money, etc. Better to prevent the problem than having to deal with it later.