AVG Technologies Acquires Leading Online Privacy Firm PrivacyChoice
Acquisition furthers AVG’s commitment to enhance users’ online experience
MELBOURNE – 22 May, 2013 – AVG Technologies N.V. (NYSE: AVG), the provider of Internet and mobile security, privacy and optimization to 150 million active users, has today announced that it has acquired online privacy organization, PrivacyChoice.
Founded in 2009, PrivacyChoice’s primary mission is to make privacy easier. For the past four years the company has been helping people around the world take control of their privacy through web and browser-based tools.
PrivacyChoice provides both B2C and B2B tools, of which the flagship is the consumer-based web application, Privacyfix. Aimed at addressing web users’ privacy concerns, Privacyfix is an award-winning browser plugin that allows users to manage their privacy settings across Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and thousands of other websites. Web users can do this from a single personalised dashboard, on which they can see which companies are tracking them online, which websites may share personal information, and which have experienced data breaches in the past.
“Since founding, our mission has been to deliver more effective and more informed choices about how your data is collected, used and shared,” said Jim Brock, PrivacyChoice’s founder, who will become Vice President of Privacy Products for AVG. “We saw strong synergies between our approach and the efforts AVG continues to make in empowering people when it comes to their online privacy.”
Privacyfix is currently available in the US for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, with Microsoft Internet Explorer and other international markets to follow. As consumers play out more and more of their digital lives on mobile devices, and in recognition of the vast array of challenges presented by mobile privacy, Privacyfix will also be made available this year for iOS and Android, extending privacy protection across smartphones and tablets.
“Our two companies share a vision of empowering consumers to manage their personal information and preferences as they live out their lives online. This is key part of our commitment to delivering privacy, protection and performance software solutions across multiple platforms and devices,” mentioned Sam Hendry, General Manager AVG Technologies AU. “We believe in allowing consumers to take control of their online privacy and this acquisition is a perfect demonstration of the active steps we are taking to support this vision.”
The acquisition bolsters AVG’s online privacy portfolio, reinforcing the “Peace of Mind” philosophy which is fundamental to its company ethos. AVG currently offers a Do Not Track feature, which actively stops websites from tracking users’ movements online, as a free update on certain products.