AVG is a real antivirus brand, now part of Avast and Gen Digital, and its free version is free for personal use. The catch is the privacy record: a 2020 investigation said browsing data from free Avast and AVG products was sold, and the FTC later banned Avast from selling browsing data for advertising.
If you've been offered AVG on a new laptop or spotted a free download, it's fair to ask whether it's safe before it sits inside your computer. I've read AVG's own download page, Wikipedia's record and the FTC's release on its parent company, so here's what the evidence says in plain English.
Who makes AVG and who owns it now
According to Wikipedia, the AVG name comes from Anti-Virus Guard, the first product from a Czech company called Grisoft, launched in 1992. In 2016 Avast agreed to buy AVG for 1.3 billion US dollars, and AVG Technologies is now a subsidiary of Avast, which is part of Gen Digital.
Wikipedia also says Avast merged with NortonLifeLock, and the combined company became Gen Digital. So when you install AVG, you're dealing with a large listed security group, not a small unknown developer.
What AVG's free antivirus does
AVG's download page says it offers a free antivirus download for PC, Mac, Android and iPhone or iPad, and describes real-time protection against viruses, infected emails and scam websites. The same page says the free version is limited to personal and family use, not business or commercial use.
Wikipedia describes the Windows version as freemium: free to download, install, update and use, but technical support requires a premium plan. That's a normal trade-off, though it means a free user who gets stuck may be pointed towards paying.
| What I checked | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Who makes AVG? | AVG Technologies, a subsidiary of Avast, part of Gen Digital |
| Is there a free version? | Yes, for personal and family use |
| Which devices? | AVG's page lists PC, Mac, Android and iPhone or iPad |
| Any privacy history? | Yes: a 2020 investigation and an FTC order against Avast |
| Business use of the free app? | Not allowed, per AVG's page |
The AVG data-selling story you should know about
This is the part most reviews skim past. Wikipedia says that in 2020 a Motherboard and PCMag investigation reported that Avast collected browsing data from its free antivirus products, including AVG, and sold it through a subsidiary called Jumpshot. Avast then announced it would shut Jumpshot down.
Wikipedia also records that in 2019 Mozilla removed the AVG Online Security extension from Firefox Add-ons after a researcher found it collected detailed browsing data and sent it to Avast and AVG servers.
What the FTC said about AVG's parent company
According to the FTC, in 2024 it finalised an order against Avast. The order bans Avast from selling, disclosing or licensing web browsing data for advertising purposes and requires it to pay 16.5 million US dollars. The FTC alleged the data was sold to more than 100 third parties through Jumpshot.
To be fair and exact: the FTC's release refers to Avast and its subsidiaries and doesn't mention AVG by name. But AVG is part of the same group and was named in the 2020 reporting, so I'd treat it as relevant context rather than ignore it.
Wikipedia also lists older complaints, such as a toolbar that reports said installed alongside other software without clear consent and was hard to remove. Those are history rather than today's product, but they explain why people on forums still sound wary.
Is AVG safe to install, then?
Here's how I'd weigh it. AVG is a real, long-running security product from a large company, and nothing I found says the software itself is malware. The risk sits in privacy history, so it's worth reading the current privacy settings on first launch and switching off any data sharing you don't want.
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- Download only from AVG's own website or an official app store.
- Read each screen of the installer, because security suites often offer extra tools or upgrades.
- Check the data-sharing and privacy options once it's installed.
- Use one antivirus at a time, as two running together can clash.
If you're also tightening up the rest of your security, my guides on stopping hackers touching a business website and choosing a password manager cover the other half of staying safe online.
One more practical point: a free antivirus earns its place only if you keep it updated and don't stack several security tools on top of each other. If you run a small business, remember AVG's page says the free version isn't for commercial use, so check what licence fits before you roll it out across a team.
Fake AVG downloads and support scams
Big security names are copied constantly. A pop-up that says your computer is infected and tells you to ring a number is a scam, whatever logo it uses. Real antivirus software doesn't need you to phone a stranger.
- Type the AVG address yourself rather than clicking an advert or an email link.
- Ignore unexpected calls or messages claiming your AVG licence has expired.
- Never give a stranger remote access to your computer.
- Don't pay for renewals through links sent in messages; log in to your account on the official site.
My verdict on AVG
It isn't a scam, and I wouldn't call the software dangerous. It's a recognised antivirus brand with a free version for personal use. But its parent company's record on browsing data is a real reason to be careful with settings, so install it from the official source, review the privacy options and don't use the free version for a business.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns AVG?
AVG Technologies is a subsidiary of Avast, which is part of Gen Digital, according to Wikipedia. Avast agreed to buy AVG in 2016.
Is AVG free?
AVG's download page offers a free antivirus download for PC, Mac, Android and iPhone or iPad, limited to personal and family use. Technical support requires a premium plan.
Did AVG sell user data?
A 2020 Motherboard and PCMag investigation reported that Avast collected browsing data from free products including AVG and sold it through Jumpshot. Avast then said it would shut Jumpshot down.
What did the FTC order say?
The FTC's order bans Avast from selling, disclosing or licensing web browsing data for advertising and requires a 16.5 million US dollar payment. Its release refers to Avast and its subsidiaries, not AVG by name.
Can I use free AVG for my business?
No. AVG's page says the free version is for personal and family use, not business or commercial use.
