Avast gets a new CEO

[Firebytes]

I just learned that ALWIL Software (Avast Antivirus) has appointed a new CEO who was in the past a senior vice president at Symantec. I wondered if anyone else here was aware of this or had any thoughts on this move. Do you think it will bring any major changes to Avast's business model?

http://www.avast.com/eng/vince-steckler-to-lead-global-expansion-of-alwil-software.html

[the Tester]

I hadn't heard about it, but it may be a good thing.
The new CEO has global experience in marketing and that has to be a good thing.

[tgell]

Well, I would start to worry about the free version if Vince Steckler has the "Symantec corporate philosophy".

[Vladimyr]

-{ Quote: "Well, I would start to worry about the free version if Vince Steckler has the "Symantec corporate philosophy"." }-

I wouldn't worry then. It would be hard to have any "Symantec corporate philosophy" when you're no longer corporate with Symantec.

[cqpreson]

I am also worried about free version,maybe free version will disappear.

[Az7]

As Vince stated: “When I saw the avast! product while I was at Symantec, my first reaction was that the product was just too good to be free. Then when I started discussions with Alwil, I realized that this was the key to the success of avast! As a company we truly believe that all internet users deserve the best possible free protection against viruses and spyware. We have an extraordinarily large community and we are committed to providing them the best possible free security for their routine internet usage. And then to provide the extra protection for their on-line shopping, banking, or business needs we have some of the world’s best premium products. I am proud to join Alwil and will continue to focus our sales, marketing and product initiatives on growing, nurturing and serving our customer community. It is this focus on the community that will drive the company’s further success.”

[cqpreson]

-{ Quote: "As Vince stated: “When I saw the avast! product while I was at Symantec, my first reaction was that the product was just too good to be free. Then when I started discussions with Alwil, I realized that this was the key to the success of avast! As a company we truly believe that all internet users deserve the best possible free protection against viruses and spyware. We have an extraordinarily large community and we are committed to providing them the best possible free security for their routine internet usage. And then to provide the extra protection for their on-line shopping, banking, or business needs we have some of the world’s best premium products. I am proud to join Alwil and will continue to focus our sales, marketing and product initiatives on growing, nurturing and serving our customer community. It is this focus on the community that will drive the company’s further success.”" }-

It seems that AVAST will continue being free for home.And sell paid to business companies.It is a news.

[Firecat]

-{ Quote: "our sales, marketing and product initiatives on growing, nurturing and serving our customer community." }-

Very interesting words, then it appears the new direction will be on better marketing of premium (paid) products and possibly an increase in regional support centers (I could even dream about varied pricing depending on the region but let us not dream too much ;D). I guess the onus is not there yet on product development but marketing may require a new version released in definite time frames (not 1 year in every case :)), so I guess we might start seeing new major versions being released in a quicker timeframe (I guess ~2 years from the release of current product, but let us see :D).

[Fuzzfas]

-{ Quote: "I just learned that ALWIL Software (Avast Antivirus) has appointed a new CEO who was in the past a senior vice president at Symantec. " }-

Does this mean that we must wait for the next Avast version to have as default an all-yellow skin? ;D

[gery]

yes lol
and maybe a new name symwil ;D ;D ;D

[arjanm]

Mr Vince, please no "Avast 2010" nonsense, with yearly new versions forced by the marketing department. Just release when a new release is needed, not because it's a new season. :P

[raven211]

-{ Quote: "Mr Vince, please no "Avast 2010" nonsense, with yearly new versions forced by the marketing department. Just release when a new release is needed, not because it's a new season. :P" }-

You don't know much, do you? :)

[Zimzi]

-{ Quote: "yes lol
and maybe a new name symwil ;D ;D ;D" }-

or, maybe, Avastec? ;D

[gery]

-{ Quote: "or, maybe, Avastec? ;D" }-
yap this one sounds far better

[vlk]

No worries folks, Vince is a very nice guy and discontinuing the free AV is really the last thing he'd do...

BTW Vince plans to start blogging soon, so if you get some time, please be sure to visit our blog at http://blog.avast.com. The virus lab people are also quite active there so you may learn some interesting stuff.

[sorry to mods for this shameless plug 8) ]


Cheers
Vlk

[gery]

-{ Quote: "No worries folks, Vince is a very nice guy and discontinuing the free AV is really the last thing he'd do...


Cheers
Vlk" }-
the last thing? i get the point. well the thing is that when symantec bought pctools everyone predicted the worst but nothing happened. hope nothing happens to too though the guy did not buy it just was hired by them maybe:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[cqpreson]

-{ Quote: "No worries folks, Vince is a very nice guy and discontinuing the free AV is really the last thing he'd do...

Cheers
Vlk" }-

Will he discontinue the free AV?Does that mean AVAST will strat paid?

[vlk]

Sorry for not being clearer, what I meant is that Vince doesn't even think about discontinuing it (that is, the free AV will carry on).

[simisg]

even if avast no more free.... we have now microsoft in our side (security essentials) i think symantec must also go to the free side to survive xexe.

[raven211]

-{ Quote: "even if avast no more free.... we have now microsoft in our side (security essentials) i think symantec must also go to the free side to survive xexe." }-

Wrong again - read the employee's post; Avast! Home Edition FREE will remain just as it's - FREE.

[simisg]

ok i believe it i just say if.....not

[catnotspam]

-{ Quote: "yes lol
and maybe a new name symwil ;D ;D ;D" }-

well congatulation to Alwil (Avast) :) :):) :) :) :) :)

[Astech]

I don't care about the name or who is in charge if the product is good, in my opinion Avast needs a few upgrades (heuristics for starters) and I would like to see Avast 5.0 sooner then later.

[Page42]

I'm not overly enthused by the move, but if Alwil sees it as good, then I have faith in their vision. For those of us who are not as madly in love with Symantec as a few of our fellow Wilders members appear to be :) I would say that the fact that Alwil has merely hired an ex-Symantec employee is not as terrifying as would be a press release stating that Symantec had just purchased Alwil. ;)

[raven211]

-{ Quote: "I'm not overly enthused by the move, but if Alwil sees it as good, then I have faith in their vision. For those of us who are not as madly in love with Symantec as a few of our fellow Wilders members appear to be :) I would say that the fact that Alwil has merely hired an ex-Symantec employee is not as terrifying as would be a press release stating that Symantec had just purchased Alwil. ;)" }-

Definitely, and I would personally not like that type of move to happen in the future either. FYI I'm not bound to the company - I'm just a dedicated user of their product(s). ;) Everything else is just a personal reaction not related to a specific company at all. :)

[Saraceno]

-{ Quote: "No worries folks, Vince is a very nice guy and discontinuing the free AV is really the last thing he'd do...

BTW Vince plans to start blogging soon, so if you get some time, please be sure to visit our blog at http://blog.avast.com. The virus lab people are also quite active there so you may learn some interesting stuff.

[sorry to mods for this shameless plug 8) ]


Cheers
Vlk" }-

Look forward to seeing what experience the new CEO brings to avast!

And thanks for the blog link, some good stuff there. :)



Antivirus screensaver. Another avast! favorite, the antivirus screensaver is basically a special screensaver that is able to run a full system scan when it makes most sense – i.e.when the system is idle. It can run on top of another screensaver (with just a small top-level window showing the scan progress), so you don’t have to sacrifice your favorite screensaver in order to use it.

To enable the avast! screensaver, open the system screensaver properties window, and select “avast! antivirus” from the list.
http://blog.avast.com/2009/07/17/avast’s-top-5-hidden-gems/#more-343

[Black_N]

-{ Quote: "Well, I would start to worry about the free version if Vince Steckler has the "Symantec corporate philosophy"." }-

I wouldn't worry then.
http://blog.avast.com/2009/07/20/avast-5-is-coming-soon/
-{ Quote: "The product will be offered in three flavors: a free AV (that will supersede avast! 4.8 Home Edition), a paid AV (successor of avast! Professional Edition) and a full Internet Security suite. As usual, all customers (or users) with a valid avast! subscription will get a free upgrade to this new version...
" }-

[twl845]

-{ Quote: "No worries folks, Vince is a very nice guy and discontinuing the free AV is really the last thing he'd do...

BTW Vince plans to start blogging soon, so if you get some time, please be sure to visit our blog at http://blog.avast.com. The virus lab people are also quite active there so you may learn some interesting stuff.

[sorry to mods for this shameless plug 8) ]


Cheers
Vlk" }-
I'm sure Vince is a nice guy, but experience tells me he has to justify his job by looking busy, which usually means changing things for the sake of it.

[RejZoR]

There will most probably be one massive change that could make avast! the ultimate No.1 free AV on our planet, but it's to early for me to go into any kind of details. It was just a brief discusion with Vlk and small group of us and i think they are heading in the right direction. You'll see this when avast! 5 arrives...

[vlk]

Let's not overhype it though. ;)

[RejZoR]

Well, i think it has a great potential.

[raven211]

-{ Quote: "Well, i think it has a great potential." }-

I'm looking forward to a message/blog post describing that "potential" in detail. ;)

[trjam]

Personally I sick of all AVs. That is why I am hoping Avast brings something,"stable" to the market. That isnt asking much.

[Boost]

:thumb: I'll be tryin out Avast! 5 when it's available!

[Technical]

-{ Quote: "I'm looking forward to a message/blog post describing that "potential" in detail. ;)" }-
http://blog.avast.com/2009/07/17/avast%E2%80%99s-top-5-hidden-gems/#more-343

[firzen771]

-{ Quote: "http://blog.avast.com/2009/07/17/avast%E2%80%99s-top-5-hidden-gems/#more-343" }-

thats an old post, he means about the NEW stuff theyre adding in v5.

[flyrfan111]

-{ Quote: "Personally I sick of all AVs. That is why I am hoping Avast brings something,"stable" to the market. That isnt asking much." }-

I wasn't aware that Avast 4.8 was unstable, works fine on one of systems.

[Firecat]

-{ Quote: "I wasn't aware that Avast 4.8 was unstable, works fine on one of systems." }-
I'm sure he meant "stable" in a different way.......I'll let him explain that though :)

[The Hammer]

-{ Quote: "Personally I sick of all AVs. That is why I am hoping Avast brings something,"stable" to the market. That isnt asking much." }-Well since you have a licence for everyone's products I guess you should know.;) ;D

[bellgamin]

-{ Quote: "I'm sure Vince is a nice guy, but experience tells me he has to justify his job by looking busy, which usually means changing things for the sake of it." }-In my salad days, when some newly-promoted Division chief proudly displayed his amazing reorganization plan, seeking approval, I often said: "That's an interesting solution. WHAT'S the problem?"

Much of the time, that question left them speechless.

[Saraceno]

Insightful comment there bellgamin.

Apart from an outdated GUI, the best part with avast is how trouble-free and stable it runs. This reduces the amount of time needed for support and help. The program seems to just run with minimal user setup and interaction.

Hopefully these new features don't affect its stability, or make it difficult to use, which could then group it into the basket with other AVs that require intense support to fix problems/conflicts.
:)

[RejZoR]

Actually most of the actual program changes were there long before Vince joined ALWIL Software. He's mostly reponsible for non programming stuff, marketing, global recognition and stuff like that.