A Conversation with Pavel Baudiš (Co-founder of Avast & Board Member of Gen).

In this new English episode of the My Precious Data Podcast, Eddy Willems sits down with a true legend in cybersecurity: Pavel Baudiš, the co-founder of AVAST and current Board Member of GEN.Pavel and Eddy share a friendship that spans decades, back to the early days when computer viruses were spreading on floppy disks, and the word “cybersecurity” didn’t even exist yet. Together, they reflect on the origins of AVAST, the passion that drove early antivirus pioneers, and how the industry evolved from a handful of enthusiasts into a global ecosystem.“When I first saw a computer virus, I didn’t see it as a threat: I saw it as a challenge to be solved,” recalls Pavel Baudiš. “That curiosity, that sense of mission, is what connected many of us in those early days,” adds Eddy Willems.Their conversation touches on the ethics of cybersecurity, the balance between privacy and innovation, and the enduring importance of trust, both between users and companies, and between people in the cybersecurity community itself.It’s a deeply insightful, honest, and sometimes nostalgic dialogue between two industry veterans who have seen the field evolve, but never lost their human perspective.Topics discussed:The creation and evolution of AVASTHow the spirit of curiosity became a global cybersecurity movementEthics, responsibility, and the human factor in digital protectionThe importance of collaboration and trust in an AI-driven world“Cybersecurity was never about fame or fortune. It was, and still is, about doing the right thing.” – Pavel Baudiš.