Avast in merger talks with NortonLifeLock

NortonLifeLock and Avast PLC to merge in $8.4 billion transaction
The two companies said they will create a "new, industry-leading consumer Cyber Safety business."
August 10, 2021
https://www.zdnet.com/article/norto...-to-merge-in-8-billion-all-stock-transaction/

 

Ah great! Oh well, once Win10 is EOL I'll probably migrate to Linux full-time anyway.

 

I have been considering doing this. I have tried a half dozen different distros in the last month to see which one I liked most. Still have 4 years until EOL, but I was in a hurry when I learned Microsoft won't be upgrading my pc and laptop to Windows 11.

Norton will have acquired Avira, Avast, AVG and BullGuard. The field is narrowing.

 

It's a done deal. An $8 billion dollar deal. I'm curious to see when Norton will pull the plug on all the free antivirus software.

 

Consolidation of companies is often because of lack of profitability. I have said often here that soon AVs will cost next to nothing or be free. I suspect Microsoft is going to run the table on the remaining firms as well.

 

Handwriting is on the wall. To be sure.

 

NortonLifeLock and Avast Merger would create a new cyber security behemoth
https://www.ghacks.net/2021/08/11/n...r-would-create-a-new-cyber-security-behemoth/

 

Well, if they do it will be game over for them in the consumer space, unless they can somehow entice users to drop Win Defender by offering premium features, but I doubt it.

 

"NortonLifeLock is merging with Avast, which already owned AVG. Add this to Norton’s Purchase of Avira in 2020, and it looks like consolidation is running rampant. How worried should we be that the days of free antivirus are numbered?"
https://uk.pcmag.com/security/135044/is-norton-planning-to-kill-free-antivirus


I would bet that they will continue offering also free versions, as they are a source of tons of data, which is more valuable.

 

I will first note that the "predator" Symantec of old ceased to exist in 2019:

https://www.pcmag.com/news/symantec-becomes-nortonlifelock

However, I really can't see free AV offerings being compatible with the above marketing model.

Also these mergers are just strengthening consolidation against the Microsoft onslaught into security software offerings. Why offer a free AV version when one is already built into Windows and recent AV lab tests show it offers adequate malware protection for most consumers?

Then there is Kaspersky which offers a free AV version many consider the best of the current free AV offerings.

 

In the short term I will agree. They will vacuum up as much of that data as they can. In the long run though I'm not so sure.

 

Yes exactly, why would they kill free AV's if people will then simply stick with Win Defender? It will only give M$ an even bigger market share.

 

Used to use Kaspersky Security Cloud free. Today I restored my OS from a Terabyte TBI disk image file I made half a year ago and used ConfigureDefender tool to set the Windows Defender security to max. That's it for me with free 3rd party AVs. Had been a nice ride since a few years ago.

 

"NortonLifeLock and Avast merger could reduce competition, UK’s Competition Market Authority (CMA) warns

The watchdog will launch a phase two investigation into the merger unless NortonLifeLock and Avast address its concerns within five days..."

https://www.itpro.co.uk/business-st...ock-avast-merger-could-reduce-competition-cma

 

WRONG!!! It's MS Defender that is killing the 3rd party AVs. Problem is that many people are unaware that MS Defender is NOT free. Microsoft is not a charitable organization. The price of MS Defender is obviously built-into the price of Windows OS -- or else Microsoft would not be able to pay for the large, technically-adept staff that it takes to keep MS Defender as a top-tier AV.

Competition is a KEY factor for causing product improvements. Monopolies kill competition. If all the 3rd party top-tier AVs die, then I will switch to Linux. I will NEVER even consider using MS Defender unless Microsoft breaks it out of Windows & sells it as a separate product, at a price commensurate with the cost of the resources Microsoft uses in order to keep MS Defender a top-tier AV.

BOTTOM LINE: In the past, I have never been a fan of Norton products but now I am pulling for them to achieve long-term financial success. (I am presently using AVG & am fervently in hopes that Norton doesn't screw it up.)

 

Windows Defender isn't free, but third-party AV comes with an additional cost (money or data). This is the deciding factor for many Windows Defender users.

 

Exactly!

Plus MS Defender is actually a good AV that is built for the vast majority who never visit forums like we do or have a major interest in security. Since i ditched the 3rd party AV*s i have purchased over the last (many) years, i have had less conflicts and i suspect that's because most if not all 3rd party security software are tested and made to work with MS defender.

 

Microsoft Defender improvement is one of the best things that Microsoft did security-wise for Windows and general users, the old days of infected machines with expired OEM installed antivirus (looking at Norton and McAfee mainly) is just a bad memory now.

Microsoft Defender is free for home users, no strings attached, actually the Redmond giant doesnt care much about Windows sales too much (home users), it is all about the ecosystem value, services and telemetry for the paid ATP version.

Personally I think that the only reason that Microsoft doesnt make *officially* Windows free for home users is because it may impact the sales for small-businesses.

Ps: For context my original Windows 7 license allowed me to upgrade to Windows 8, Windows 10 and now to Windows 11 free of charge, but I have been (happily) paying for Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass.

* https://www.howtogeek.com/244678/you-dont-need-a-product-key-to-install-and-use-windows-10/

* https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22546801/microsoft-windows-11-free-upgrade-details

 

I assume we'll have 3 options at some point, Windows Defender, Kaspersky, and whatever the name will be for the consolidation of all of the other companies. I hope Microsoft addresses the speed issues with opening a network share. I found I was able to exclude network folders but not an entire server. It's frustrating when you open a share and the PC freezes for 30 seconds or so. Every single day. They really need to exclude already scanned files that are known safe.

 

Well said Jack. The performance issues at a business are unacceptable. One of the reasons we use third party at my job. I hope all the third party av's do not get consolidated (my opinion), but it certainly seems to be trending that way.

 

NortonLifeLock and Avast $8.6b deal gets provisional yes from UK regulator
Wed 3 Aug 2022
https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/03/norton_cma/

 

Avast and NortonLifeLock merge to tackle new challenges in Cyber Safety

https://blog.avast.com/avast-nortonlifelock-merge

 

Does this mean they are getting rid of the free antivirus?

 

I hope not. IMO they have too many users on their free version and probably don't want to lose them.

 

NortonLifeLock Completes Merger with Avast

September, 12, 2022

https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/news/news-details/2022/NortonLifeLock-Completes-Merger-with-Avast/default.aspx

"TEMPE, Ariz. and PRAGUE, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NortonLifeLock (NASDAQ: NLOK),
a global leader in Cyber Safety, today announced it has completed its previously
announced acquisition of Avast."

...

"With the completion of the transaction, trading in Avast shares was suspended at
7:30 a.m.BST on September 12, 2022, and the Avast shares will be delisted from
the London Stock Exchange effective as of September 13, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. BST."

"The Combined Company will operate as NortonLifeLock Inc. and discuss its shared
financials and metrics during the fiscal year 2023 second quarter earnings release call.
As it starts merging its operations, the Combined Company will soon announce a new
name that reflects the forward-thinking vision and scale of its comprehensive Cyber
Safety platform and trust-based solutions for consumers around the world. It will also
begin trading under a new stock ticker under the new company name on NASDAQ.
Until that time, the Combined Company will operate as NortonLifeLock Inc. and
continue trading on NASDAQ under its current "NLOK" ticker symbol."