US computer security firm Norton has purchased Avast for over $8 billion

Norton’s Chief Executive says the move is a “huge step forward for consumer cyber safety”.

The deal secures a leading cyber consumer business and is expected to create a new entity with over 500 million users.

Avast is based in Prague and its offices will be retained. Meanwhile, Norton will retain its offices in Arizona.

The two companies said in the joint press release that their respective boards of directors see an opportunity to “create a new, industry-leading consumer Cyber Safety business, leveraging the established brands, technology and innovation of both groups to deliver substantial benefits to consumers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.”

The two companies said the deal will bring together product lines that are broadly complementary, while giving the combined company a user base of over half a billion customers.

“The deal will broaden the geographic market coverage of the combined company. In addition, the two expect to realise “$280 million of annual gross cost synergies.”

NortonLifeLock CEO Vincent Pilette called the deal “a huge step forward for consumer Cyber Safety” that he said “will ultimately enable us to achieve our vision to protect and empower people to live their digital lives safely.”

 “With this combination, we can strengthen our Cyber Safety platform and make it available to more than 500 million users. We will also have the ability to further accelerate innovation to transform Cyber Safety.”