ALWIL Software a.s. is pleased to announce the registration of the 40 millionth user of its multiple award-winning avast! Home Edition antivirus software.

“We are extremely proud of this landmark achievement,” remarked Eduard Kucera, Joint President and CEO of ALWIL Software a.s. “The fact that 40 million home users have entrusted their internet security to our innovative and reliable antivirus technology – and that 20 million of them registered in the past year – demonstrates that our momentum is increasing, and that avast! has become a trusted brand for security protection, not only for avast! Home Edition, but also for our robust, leading edge offering of antivirus solutions for other platforms like PDA,U3 devices and servers.”

The very first avast! antivirus Home Edition user registered in January 2002 and the 20 millionth, just a year ago in October 2006.

“Internet security is a reality and a vital necessity today – no longer just a nice-to-have requirement,” said Joint President Pavel Baudis. “There’s no magic to what we’re doing, but rather a result of hard work, dedication and the ingenuity of our team – and the resounding vote of confidence from industry analysts and the users themselves – this world class, reliable security is now protecting 40 million users from threats to their valuable data and programs that exist on the internet today, and with avast! it is simply install and forget; updates are automatic and then you’ll only hear from avast! when you need it most: when you’re under attack.”

Recipient of CNET Download.com’s coveted 5-Star Rating, winner of SC Magazine’s Best Anti-Virus Award as well as the first product to win in both US and European categories in SC’s history, and multiple winner of Virus Bulletin’s VB100 Award for detection of 100% of “in the wild” viruses, avast! Home Edition is available free of charge for non-commercial home use, both being conditions of the end user license agreement and can be downloaded at www.avast.com and selected download servers in over 30 languages.