In 2010, Alwil adopted the name of its antivirus software, officially changing its name to Avast.Īvast antivirus software offers a wide range of products for home and business protection. The freemium model garnered over 1 million users by 2004 and an astonishing 20 million users by 2006. The company’s popularity grew immensely in 2001 when its free antivirus software was introduced. The cooperative, originally named Alwil, was established in 1988 by Eduard Kučera and Pavel Baudiš. Avast Software is a Czech cybersecurity company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic.