What SMADSAV does

Smadav Software (operating under the brand Smadsoft) is an Indonesia-based antivirus vendor founded in 2006 in Palangkaraya by Zainuddin Nafarin and built around a niche "second-layer" antivirus concept for Windows PCs. Its flagship product, Smadav, is positioned as a complementary scanner layered on top of Windows Defender or a primary AV, with a particular specialization in protecting against malware that spreads via USB flash drives — a persistent threat vector in Indonesian schools, internet cafes, and SMB environments. The engine combines signature-based detection against a 358,000+ signature database, heuristic rules, and a proprietary machine-learning stack branded Smadav-AI (v1.0), which is iterated across versions (v8, v9.38M, v9.82M) and applied to PC, USB, and Internet scan modules. The product is engineered to be extremely lightweight — under 10 MB on disk and under 20 MB resident memory, including after a 2021 architectural refactor (Rev. 14.7) that compressed the engine footprint by more than 4x.

The business runs on a freemium model: Smadav Free is offered for personal use, while Smadav Pro is sold as an annual per-PC subscription at IDR 30,000/year (~$3.90). The 2018 transition from a lifetime Pro license to a 1-year subscription converted the model into a recurring revenue mechanic. Distribution is digital-direct via the company's own website and Indonesian-language download portals, with local payment rails including QRIS and Bank BSI integration to support Indonesian subscription conversion. The user base is concentrated in Indonesia, with additional active users across Southeast Asia and Africa, but no enterprise SKUs, MSP programs, or large institutional contracts are disclosed. The company is privately held, bootstrapped, and founder-led, with no external funding rounds reported across its 20-year operating history.

Name

SMADSAV

Legal name

Smadav Software (Smadsoft)

Website

https://smadav.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Smadav Software (Smadsoft) is an Indonesia-based, founder-run antivirus vendor that builds a lightweight "second-layer" Windows AV with USB protection, Smadav-AI machine learning, and a 358,000+ signature database, sold via freemium to consumers and SMBs primarily in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Endpoint Antivirus Software

NAICS

Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Cybersecurity Management for SMB (Managed Security Add‑ons) (BPAEABAG)

Keywords

• Antivirus software
• USB malware protection
• Second-layer antivirus
• Endpoint security
• Ransomware protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Palangkaraya

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Smadav Pro License Sales: Annual/subscription-based licensing model for Smadav Pro with 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year license options. Per-seat pricing with volume discounts available for bulk purchases.
2. Freemium Upgrade: Free version available with basic features and ads/upgrade prompts. Free users can upgrade to Pro version by purchasing license keys. Pro adds: remove startup ads, advanced tools, protect settings, exception list, theme customization, admin password, and organizational usage rights.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smadav develops a Windows-based supplementary antivirus suite designed to act as a second layer of protection alongside primary security software such as Windows Security/Defender. Its core strengths are USB Flashdisk virus prevention and cleanup, internet-download protection for executables, AI-driven (Smadav-AI) detection of unknown malware, and anti-ransomware defense, all delivered in a very lightweight package (under 10 MB install, under 20 MB active memory).

Product overview

Smadav is a single-product antivirus suite with two editions: Smadav Free (freeware for personal use) and Smadav Pro (paid version with additional features). Both editions share the same core virus detection engine, which employs AI/machine learning (Smadav-AI), signature-based detection, and heuristic methods. The product functions as a second-layer antivirus designed to complement primary security software. Key add-on tools include One-Virus By-User, Process Manager, System Editor, Win-Force, and Smad-Lock (Pro), plus USB Anti-Exe and Anti-Ransomware protection. Pricing for Smadav Pro starts at $3.90 USD/year for single computer licensing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smadav Free Freeware edition of the Smadav antivirus for individual home PC and laptop users, designed as a second-layer defense alongside a primary antivirus such as Windows Security/Defender. Provides USB Flashdisk virus protection, internet-download scanning, AI/signature/heuristic detection (Smadav-AI), anti-ransomware coverage, and displays startup upgrade prompts for the Pro edition.
• Smadav Pro Paid subscription edition of the Smadav antivirus sold as 1-, 2- or 3-year license keys for 1 to 200 PCs at pricing from $3.90 USD/PC/year (or Rp30,000 IDR/PC/year for Indonesian customers). Adds Pro-only features on top of Smadav Free's detection engine: removal of startup upgrade messages, in-app tools (One-Virus By-User, Process Manager, System Editor, Win-Force, Smad-Lock), additional Protect settings, exception lists, theme size/color customization, admin password protection, and legal usage rights for organizations/companies/NGOs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Predicts latest virus variants without frequent database updates through AI
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Avast: Established consumer antivirus vendor with a large free tier and paid Pro upgrade — directly comparable freemium model to Smadav. Operates globally including Indonesia/Southeast Asia, competing for the same individual and SMB users with broader platform features.
• Bitdefender: Global endpoint security vendor offering consumer antivirus plus SMB and enterprise products. Comparable in core antivirus/anti-malware functionality but operates as a broad incumbent with significantly larger R&D resources than Smadav.
• Trend Micro: Global cybersecurity vendor with consumer antivirus and SMB endpoint security products. Comparable AI-enhanced malware detection capability and Indonesian/SEA market presence, with broader enterprise portfolio.
• ESET: Established antivirus and endpoint protection vendor with strong presence in EMEA and growing APAC distribution. Comparable signature + machine learning detection technology and SMB/consumer product segmentation.
• McAfee: Broad consumer and SMB endpoint security incumbent with antivirus and ransomware protection products. Comparable core functionality to Smadav, though positioned primarily as a primary AV rather than a supplementary layer.
• Sophos: Endpoint security vendor focused on SMB and mid-market with AI-driven malware detection and ransomware protection. Comparable protection features to Smadav's ransomware and heuristic modules, though primarily business-focused rather than consumer.
• Norton (Gen Digital): Consumer antivirus incumbent (part of Gen Digital alongside Avast, AVG) competing in the same paid consumer AV segment. Heavily resourced global brand; serves as a comparison point for Smadav's pricing and lightweight positioning.
• Kaspersky: Major antivirus and endpoint security vendor with consumer free/paid tiers targeting emerging markets including Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Comparable core signature + heuristic + AI detection stack, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• AVG Technologies: Consumer antivirus brand (now under Gen Digital alongside Norton) with a freemium distribution model similar to Smadav. Competes in the same value segment of supplementary antivirus protection for Windows PCs, though with broader feature sets and global marketing budgets.
• Malwarebytes: Direct competitor with the same second-layer/supplementary antivirus positioning designed to run alongside primary AV solutions. Like Smadav, Malwarebytes focuses on malware remediation, ransomware protection, and a lightweight footprint that complements rather than replaces Windows Defender.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMADSAV