<s>
Avira	B-Application
Operations	O
GmbH	O
is	O
a	O
German	O
multinational	O
computer	O
security	O
software	O
company	O
mainly	O
known	O
for	O
their	O
Avira	B-Application
Free	O
Security	O
antivirus	B-Application
software	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
was	O
founded	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
antivirus	B-Application
application	O
has	O
been	O
under	O
active	O
development	O
since	O
1986	O
,	O
through	O
its	O
predecessor	O
company	O
H+BEDV	B-Application
Datentechnik	O
GmbH	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
2021	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
is	O
owned	O
by	O
American	O
software	O
company	O
NortonLifeLock	O
(	O
now	O
Gen	O
Digital	O
)	O
,	O
after	O
being	O
previously	O
owned	O
by	O
investment	O
firm	O
Investcorp	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
periodically	O
"	O
cleans	O
out	O
"	O
its	O
virus	O
definition	O
files	O
,	O
replacing	O
specific	O
signatures	O
with	O
generic	O
ones	O
for	O
a	O
general	O
increase	O
in	O
performance	O
and	O
scanning	O
speed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
15MB	O
database	O
clean-out	O
was	O
made	O
on	O
27	O
October	O
2008	O
,	O
causing	O
problems	O
to	O
the	O
users	O
of	O
the	O
Free	O
edition	O
because	O
of	O
its	O
large	O
size	O
and	O
Avira	B-Application
's	O
slow	O
Free	O
edition	O
servers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
responded	O
by	O
reducing	O
the	O
size	O
of	O
the	O
individual	O
update	O
files	O
,	O
delivering	O
less	O
data	O
in	O
each	O
update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
file-by-file	O
scanning	O
feature	O
has	O
jokingly	O
been	O
titled	O
"	O
Luke	B-Application
Filewalker	I-Application
"	O
by	O
the	O
developers	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
reference	O
to	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
media	O
franchise	O
character	O
"	O
Luke	O
Skywalker	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
products	O
contain	O
heuristics	B-Algorithm
that	O
proactively	O
uncover	O
unknown	O
malware	O
,	O
before	O
a	O
special	O
virus	O
signature	O
to	O
combat	O
the	O
damaging	O
element	O
has	O
been	O
created	O
and	O
before	O
a	O
virus	O
guard	O
update	O
has	O
been	O
sent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Heuristic	B-Algorithm
virus	O
detection	O
involves	O
extensive	O
analysis	O
and	O
investigation	O
of	O
the	O
affected	O
codes	O
for	O
functions	O
typical	O
of	O
malware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ProActiv	O
component	O
uses	O
rule	O
sets	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Avira	B-Application
Malware	O
Research	O
Center	O
to	O
identify	O
suspicious	O
behavior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
rule	O
sets	O
are	O
supplied	O
by	O
Avira	B-Application
databases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
ProActiv	O
sends	O
information	O
on	O
suspicious	O
programs	O
to	O
the	O
Avira	B-Application
databases	O
for	O
logging	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
removed	O
their	O
own	O
firewall	O
technology	O
from	O
2014	O
onwards	O
,	O
with	O
protection	O
supplied	O
instead	O
by	O
Windows	O
Firewall	O
(	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
and	O
after	O
)	O
,	O
because	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
and	O
later	O
the	O
Microsoft	O
Certification	O
Program	O
,	O
forces	O
developers	O
to	O
use	O
interfaces	O
introduced	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Protection	O
Cloud	O
(	O
APC	O
)	O
was	O
first	O
introduced	O
in	O
version	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Operating	O
System	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
8	O
/8.1	O
&	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
offers	O
its	O
antivirus	B-Application
engine	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
software	B-Application
development	I-Application
kit	I-Application
to	O
implement	O
in	O
complementary	O
products	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Strategic	O
and	O
technology	O
partners	O
of	O
Avira	B-Application
include	O
Canonical	O
,	O
CYAN	O
Networks	O
,	O
IBM	O
,	O
intelligence	O
AG	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
,	O
novell	O
,	O
OPSWAT	O
,	O
Synergy	O
Systems	O
and	O
others	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
4	O
September	O
2014	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
announced	O
a	O
partnership	O
with	O
Dropbox	O
,	O
to	O
combine	O
Avira	B-Application
's	O
security	O
with	O
Dropbox	O
's	O
"	O
sync	O
and	O
share	O
"	O
capabilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tjark	O
Auerbach	O
,	O
the	O
founder	O
of	O
Avira	B-Application
sold	O
almost	O
100%	O
stakes	O
of	O
the	O
company	O
to	O
the	O
Investcorp	O
Group	O
of	O
Manama	O
(	O
Bahrain	O
)	O
in	O
April	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
UAE	B-Device
also	O
serves	O
as	O
the	O
headquarter	O
of	O
a	O
cybersecurity	O
firm	O
discredited	O
for	O
its	O
involvement	O
in	O
human	O
rights	O
abuses	O
against	O
activists	O
,	O
dissidents	O
arrested	O
for	O
criticizing	O
the	O
monarchy	O
;	O
conducting	O
cyber	O
offensives	O
against	O
FIFA	O
officials	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ruler	O
of	O
Qatar	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
surveillance	O
over	O
Jamal	O
Khashoggi	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
chairman	O
of	O
the	O
Mubadala	O
Group	O
owns	O
an	O
institute	O
called	O
ECSSR	O
or	O
the	O
Emirates	O
Center	O
for	O
Strategic	O
Studies	O
&	O
Research	O
,	O
which	O
allegedly	O
influenced	O
German	O
academics	O
to	O
gain	O
soft-power	O
and	O
impact	O
policies	O
in	O
the	O
conflict	O
of	O
interest	O
of	O
the	O
UAE	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
7	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
NortonLifeLock	O
announced	O
acquisition	O
of	O
Avira	B-Application
for	O
approximately	O
US$360	O
million	O
from	O
Investcorp	O
Technology	O
Partners	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2021	O
,	O
BullGuard	O
joined	O
Avira	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
NortonLifeLock	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
offers	O
the	O
following	O
security	O
products	O
and	O
tools	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
:	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Free	B-Operating_System
Antivirus	I-Operating_System
:	O
The	O
free	O
edition	O
antivirus/anti	O
-spyware	O
,	O
for	O
non-commercial	O
use	O
,	O
with	O
promotional	O
pop-ups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Antivirus	B-Application
Pro	O
:	O
The	O
premium	O
edition	O
antivirus/anti	O
-spyware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
System	O
Speedup	O
Free	O
:	O
A	O
free	O
suite	O
of	O
PC	O
tune-up	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
System	O
Speedup	O
Pro	O
:	O
The	O
premium	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
suite	O
of	O
PC	O
tune-up	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Internet	I-Application
Security	I-Application
Suite	O
:	O
Consists	O
of	O
Antivirus	B-Application
Pro	O
+	O
System	O
Speedup	O
+	O
Firewall	O
Manager	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Ultimate	O
Protection	O
Suite	O
:	O
Consists	O
of	O
Internet	O
Security	O
Suite	O
+	O
additional	O
PC	O
maintenance	O
tools	O
(	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Rescue	O
System	O
:	O
A	O
set	O
of	O
free	O
tools	O
that	O
include	O
a	O
utility	O
used	O
to	O
write	O
a	O
Linux-based	O
bootable	O
CD	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
tool	O
contains	O
the	O
antivirus	B-Application
program	I-Application
and	O
the	O
virus	O
database	O
current	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
boots	O
the	O
machine	O
into	O
the	O
antivirus	B-Application
program	I-Application
,	O
then	O
scans	O
for	O
and	O
removes	O
malware	O
,	O
and	O
restores	O
normal	O
boot	O
and	O
operation	O
if	O
necessary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Free	O
Mac	O
Security	O
for	O
Mac	O
:	O
Runs	O
on	O
OS	O
X	O
10.9	O
and	O
above	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
offers	O
the	O
following	O
security	O
applications	O
for	O
mobile	O
devices	O
running	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Application
:	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Antivirus	B-Application
Security	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
:	O
Free	O
application	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
runs	O
on	O
versions	O
2.2	O
and	O
above	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Antivirus	B-Application
Security	O
Pro	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
:	O
Premium	O
edition	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
runs	O
on	O
versions	O
2.2	O
and	O
above	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Mobile	O
Security	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
Free	O
edition	O
for	O
iOS	B-Application
devices	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
iPhone	B-Device
and	O
iPad	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Phantom	O
VPN	B-Application
:	O
Avira	B-Application
's	O
virtual	B-Application
private	I-Application
network	I-Application
software	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
macOS	O
and	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Prime	O
:	O
In	O
April	O
2017	O
Avira	B-Application
launched	O
a	O
single-user	O
,	O
multi-device	O
subscription-based	O
product	O
designed	O
to	O
provide	O
a	O
complete	O
set	O
of	O
all	O
Avira	B-Application
products	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
duration	O
of	O
the	O
license	O
along	O
with	O
premium	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
Prime	O
is	O
compatible	O
with	O
Windows	O
,	O
OSX	O
,	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Android	B-Application
operating	I-Application
systems	I-Application
and	O
related	O
devices	O
and	O
is	O
available	O
to	O
consumers	O
in	O
5	O
-	O
and	O
25-device	O
editions	O
,	O
dubbed	O
"	O
Avira	B-Application
Prime	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Avira	B-Application
Prime	O
Unlimited	O
"	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
formerly	O
offered	O
free	B-Operating_System
antivirus	I-Operating_System
software	O
for	O
Unix	B-Application
and	O
Linux	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2005	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
was	O
hit	O
by	O
ACE	O
archive	O
buffer	B-General_Concept
overflow	I-General_Concept
vulnerability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
buffer	B-General_Concept
overflow	I-General_Concept
could	O
occur	O
when	O
Avira	B-Application
scanned	O
the	O
malicious	O
archive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
Management	O
Console	O
was	O
hit	O
by	O
the	O
use-after-free	B-Error_Name
remote	O
code	O
execution	O
vulnerability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
vulnerability	O
allowed	O
remote	O
attackers	O
to	O
execute	O
arbitrary	O
code	O
on	O
vulnerable	O
installations	O
of	O
Avira	B-Application
Management	O
Console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
engines	O
were	O
hit	O
by	O
a	O
0-day	O
vulnerability	O
that	O
allowed	O
attackers	O
to	O
get	O
access	O
to	O
a	O
customer	O
's	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2008	O
,	O
Anti-Malware	B-Application
Test	O
Lab	O
gave	O
Avira	B-Application
"	O
gold	O
"	O
status	O
for	O
proactive	O
virus	O
detection	O
and	O
detection/removal	O
of	O
rootkits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AV-Comparatives	O
awarded	O
Avira	B-Application
its	O
"	O
AV	O
Product	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
in	O
its	O
"	O
Summary	O
Report	O
2008.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2009	O
,	O
PC	O
Pro	O
awarded	O
Avira	B-Application
Premium	O
Security	O
Suite	O
9	O
the	O
maximum	O
six	O
stars	O
and	O
a	O
place	O
on	O
its	O
A-list	O
for	O
Internet	O
security	O
software	B-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2009	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
performed	O
at	O
a	O
98.9	O
%	O
percent	O
overall	O
malware	O
detection	O
rate	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
the	O
fastest	O
for	O
both	O
on-demand	O
scans	O
and	O
on-access	O
scans	O
conducted	O
by	O
PC	O
World	O
magazine	O
,	O
which	O
ranked	O
it	O
first	O
on	O
its	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Avira	B-Application
was	O
among	O
the	O
first	O
companies	O
to	O
receive	O
OESIS	O
OK	O
Gold	O
Certification	O
,	O
indicating	O
that	O
both	O
the	O
antispyware	O
and	O
antivirus	B-Application
components	O
of	O
several	O
of	O
its	O
security	O
products	O
achieved	O
the	O
maximum	O
compatibility	O
score	O
with	O
widespread	O
network	O
technologies	O
such	O
as	O
SSL/TLS	B-Protocol
VPN	B-Application
and	O
Network	O
Access	O
Control	O
from	O
companies	O
including	O
Juniper	O
Networks	O
,	O
Cisco	O
Systems	O
,	O
and	O
SonicWALL	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2010	O
,	O
testing	O
by	O
firm	O
AV-TEST	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
tied	O
for	O
first	O
place	O
(	O
with	O
another	O
German	O
company	O
)	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
malware	O
on	O
demand	O
"	O
detection	O
test	O
and	O
earned	O
a	O
99%	O
score	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
adware/spyware	O
on	O
demand	O
"	O
test	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AV-Comparatives	O
gave	O
Avira	B-Application
its	O
Silver	O
award	O
(	O
for	O
99.5	O
%	O
detection	O
rate	O
)	O
in	O
its	O
"	O
Summary	O
Report	O
2010.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
2012	O
,	O
AV-Comparatives	O
awarded	O
Avira	B-Application
with	O
"	O
gold	O
"	O
status	O
for	O
its	O
99.6	O
%	O
performance	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
On-Demand	O
Malware	O
Detection	O
"	O
category	O
and	O
classified	O
Avira	B-Application
as	O
a	O
"	O
Top	O
Rated	O
"	O
product	O
overall	O
for	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
AV-Comparatives	O
August	O
2014	O
"	O
Real-World	O
Protection	O
Test	O
,	O
"	O
with	O
669	O
total	O
test	O
cases	O
tried	O
against	O
various	O
security	O
products	O
,	O
Avira	B-Application
tied	O
for	O
first	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AV-Comparatives	O
awarded	O
Avira	B-Application
its	O
"	O
AV	O
Product	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
in	O
its	O
"	O
Summary	O
Report	O
2016.	O
"	O
</s>
