AVG Technologies, a provider of free consumer security solutions, today announced that it would acquire DroidSecurity, a cloud-based mobile security company based in Tel Aviv.
DroidSecurity is exclusively focused on protecting smartphones, tablets and other devices running the Android operating system. In October 2010, the company’s mobile security app, antivirus free, surpassed the 4.5 million download milestone, making it one the most popular security applications on the Android platform.
“The potential that exists within the mobile space is extraordinary, and we predict that devices like smart phones will overtake PCs in 2012,” said J.R. Smith, chief executive officer, AVG. “AVG acquired DroidSecurity to accelerate our delivery of sophisticated mobile security and provide users around the world with the reliable and secure technology they need to confidently mitigate the risks associated with using mobile devices.”
This strong momentum for Android is being witnessed directly by DroidSecurity and is evidenced in the company’s user stats. Of the 100,000+ apps currently available on the Android market, DroidSecurity antivirus free consistently ranks in the top 50 of most popular apps.
Google’s Android mobile OS has been declared the fastest growing mobile platform according to recent reports, with over 160,000 Android devices being activated every day. Android’s openness has turned its online app store, Android Market, into a breeding ground for malicious applications capable of stealing sensitive user information from the mobile phones.
Upon completion of the transaction, DroidSecurity will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of AVG and will continue to be headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. CEO and co-founder, Eran Pfeffer, will become the general manager of AVG’s Mobile Solutions Team.
According to a recent market research report, the mobile security client software segment is forecast to grow at a 50% compound annual growth rate from 2009 to 2014.