Cheetah Mobile

Corporate brand

A Chinese mobile-internet company known for utility applications, advertising technology, content services, and consumer software.

Last updated October 18, 2026

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Overview

Cheetah Mobile is a Chinese mobile-internet company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and headquartered in Beijing. It was established in 2010 through the combination of Kingsoft Security, where Chen Rui had served as general manager, and Conew Image, a company founded by Sheng Fu. The business initially built its reputation around mobile utility software, particularly applications intended to clean, optimize, secure, and manage Android devices. Its best-known product became Clean Master, which was marketed internationally as a device-maintenance and optimization tool. Cheetah Mobile used the broad distribution of utility applications to build a global audience and an advertising business. Other products associated with the company included CM Browser, Cheetah Keyboard, security and optimization tools, and content-oriented services such as LiveMe and News Republic. The company also experimented with mobile hardware, advertising technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics as it sought to reduce dependence on a single category of utility applications. Cheetah Mobile expanded through partnerships and acquisitions. In 2014 it completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CMCM, selling American depositary shares at US$14 each. Kingsoft and Tencent were reported as major investors. In 2015, the company announced a global strategic partnership with Yahoo involving search and native-advertising technology. It acquired French mobile-advertising company MobPartner in 2015 and French news-aggregation startup News Republic in 2016. It also collaborated with Cubot on the CheetahPhone, an Android smartphone introduced at Mobile World Congress in 2016. The company’s growth was accompanied by controversy over its advertising and distribution practices. Reports in 2014 alleged that some advertisements associated with Clean Master used deceptive warnings and prompts, and that the application encouraged users to replace Google Chrome with Cheetah Mobile’s browser. In 2018, Cheetah Mobile applications were linked by outside reporting to alleged mobile-advertising click fraud, allegations the company denied. Google removed two applications in 2018 and, in February 2020, removed nearly 600 applications for violations of its advertising policies, including Cheetah Mobile applications. The company’s applications were subsequently unavailable through Google Play, and CM Browser was among Chinese applications blocked by India in June 2020. In September 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced insider-trading and disclosure-related charges against Sheng Fu and Ming Xu, identifying Fu as Cheetah Mobile’s chief executive officer and Xu as its former president and chief technology officer. The SEC alleged that both executives traded company shares after learning of a significant decline in advertising revenue from a major partner. The matter resulted in cease-and-desist orders and civil penalties. These events materially shaped the company’s public profile, shifting attention from its earlier international app expansion to platform compliance, advertising governance, and securities-disclosure issues.

History

Cheetah Mobile originated in the Chinese security-software sector. The company was formed in 2010 through a merger involving Kingsoft Security and Conew Image. Chen Rui had been general manager of Kingsoft Security, while Sheng Fu had founded Conew Image. This combination gave the new business experience in desktop and mobile security as well as a platform for developing consumer internet products. The company’s early growth centered on utility applications for Android devices. Clean Master became its most visible international product, offering functions marketed around storage cleanup, performance optimization, security, and device management. Cheetah Mobile distributed its applications widely outside China and monetized the resulting user base through advertising, partnerships, and related services. The company’s international strategy made it one of the more visible Chinese mobile-app publishers in global app stores during the expansion of the Android ecosystem. Cheetah Mobile became a public company in 2014 through an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. It sold 13 million American depositary shares at US$14 per share, generating approximately US$168 million. Kingsoft and Tencent were identified as significant investors. The listing provided capital and visibility for continued international expansion, product development, and acquisitions. In 2015, Cheetah Mobile broadened its advertising and distribution capabilities. It acquired MobPartner, a French mobile-advertising company, and announced a global strategic partnership with Yahoo. The partnership was designed to place Yahoo search and native advertising within Cheetah Mobile’s applications. In 2016, Cheetah Mobile acquired News Republic, a French news-aggregation startup, reflecting a move beyond device utilities into content and media. The company also partnered with Cubot to introduce the CheetahPhone, an Android smartphone unveiled at Mobile World Congress. The company’s advertising-led model generated criticism. In 2014, reporting described deceptive or alarming advertisements connected with Clean Master’s advertising framework, including prompts that falsely suggested a user’s device had been infected. Other reporting said Clean Master encouraged users to uninstall Google Chrome and install Cheetah Mobile’s browser during optimization flows. These practices attracted scrutiny because they could influence user choices through misleading security messages or aggressive distribution tactics. Cheetah Mobile faced more serious platform-compliance problems in the late 2010s. In 2018, outside reporting connected several of its applications to alleged click fraud in mobile advertising. Cheetah Mobile rejected the allegations, but Google removed two of its applications from Google Play. In February 2020, Google removed nearly 600 applications under policies concerning disruptive advertising and disallowed interstitial advertisements; Cheetah Mobile’s applications were included. By March 2020, the company’s applications were reported to be unavailable on Google Play. CM Browser was later included in India’s June 2020 blocking action against Chinese mobile applications. In September 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought an enforcement action against Sheng Fu and Ming Xu. According to the SEC, the executives learned that advertising revenue from Cheetah Mobile’s largest partner was expected to fall, established a trading plan, and sold shares in 2016. The SEC alleged that the trades avoided losses of approximately US$203,290 for Fu and US$100,127 for Xu. It also alleged that Fu made misleading public statements and did not adequately disclose adverse revenue trends in company reports. The settlement included cease-and-desist orders and civil penalties of US$556,580 for Fu and US$200,254 for Xu. Cheetah Mobile’s history therefore combines rapid international app distribution, diversification into advertising and content, acquisitions and hardware experimentation, and significant challenges involving advertising practices, app-store access, data-driven monetization, and executive securities compliance.

2022
SEC enforcement action against executives
[2]SEC Charges Cheetah Mobile CEO and Former President with Insider Tradingsec.gov
The SEC charged Sheng Fu and Ming Xu over alleged insider trading and misleading revenue disclosures.
2020
Cheetah Mobile applications removed from Google Play
[1]Cheetah Mobile - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Google removed nearly 600 applications, including Cheetah Mobile applications, for alleged violations of advertising policies.
2018
Google removes two applications amid click-fraud allegations
[1]Cheetah Mobile - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Two Cheetah Mobile applications were removed from Google Play after reporting linked the company to alleged mobile-advertising click fraud.
2016
News Republic acquisition and CheetahPhone launch
[1]Cheetah Mobile - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Cheetah Mobile acquired News Republic and introduced the CheetahPhone with Cubot at Mobile World Congress.
2015
MobPartner acquisition and Yahoo partnership
[1]Cheetah Mobile - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The company acquired MobPartner and announced a global strategic partnership with Yahoo involving search and native advertising.
2014
New York Stock Exchange IPO
[1]Cheetah Mobile - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Cheetah Mobile sold 13 million American depositary shares at US$14 each and raised approximately US$168 million.
2010
Company established through merger
[1]Cheetah Mobile - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Cheetah Mobile was formed through the combination of Kingsoft Security and Conew Image.

Products and positioning

A global mobile-software and internet-services provider built around utility applications, advertising-supported distribution, content products, and emerging technology initiatives.

Mobile utility and security application
Clean Master
Clean Master was Cheetah Mobile’s best-known utility application. It was marketed as a tool for removing unwanted files, optimizing device performance, improving storage availability, and providing security-related functions. Its large international distribution helped establish Cheetah Mobile as a global Android-app publisher, while the application’s advertising and user-acquisition practices later became subjects of controversy.
Mobile web browser
CM Browser
CM Browser was Cheetah Mobile’s mobile web-browser product. It was promoted as a lightweight browser connected to the company’s broader utility-app ecosystem. The application was among the company’s products affected by Google Play restrictions and was later included in India’s 2020 blocking action against Chinese mobile applications.
Mobile keyboard
Cheetah Keyboard
Cheetah Keyboard was a mobile input application that extended the brand from device maintenance into everyday communication software. It formed part of Cheetah Mobile’s broader portfolio of consumer-facing Android tools and personalization applications.
Live-streaming and content platform
LiveMe
LiveMe represented Cheetah Mobile’s expansion into social content and live streaming. Unlike the company’s original utility products, the service focused on creator broadcasts, audience interaction, and content consumption, helping diversify the company’s mobile-internet business.
News aggregation application · 2016
News Republic
News Republic was a French news-aggregation startup acquired by Cheetah Mobile in 2016. The acquisition added a content-distribution business to Cheetah Mobile’s portfolio and supported its strategy of combining large-scale mobile reach with advertising and media services.
Android smartphone · 2016
CheetahPhone
CheetahPhone was a smartphone developed with Cubot and presented at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2016. It ran Android 6.0 Marshmallow and represented Cheetah Mobile’s attempt to extend its software brand into consumer hardware.

Controversies

2022
SEC insider-trading and disclosure case
The SEC alleged that Sheng Fu and Ming Xu traded Cheetah Mobile shares after receiving material information about declining advertising revenue. It also alleged that Fu made misleading public statements and failed to disclose negative revenue trends in company reports.
Source
2020
Google Play removal
Google removed nearly 600 applications, including Cheetah Mobile’s applications, citing violations of policies covering disruptive advertising and disallowed interstitial advertisements.
Source
2020
Google removes nearly 600 apps over mobile ad fraud
Google said nearly 600 apps were removed from the Play Store for mobile ad fraud; the article says the apps included all those associated with Cheetah Mobile, and that they were also barred from Google Ad Manager and Google AdMob.
Source
2018
Mobile-advertising click-fraud allegations
Cheetah Mobile applications were implicated in reporting about a large click-fraud scheme involving mobile advertising. Cheetah Mobile denied the allegations, while Google removed two applications from Google Play.
Source
2014
Allegations of deceptive Clean Master advertising
Reports described advertisements connected with Clean Master that used alarming or misleading device-infection warnings. Other reporting alleged that the application encouraged users to replace Google Chrome with Cheetah Mobile’s browser during optimization flows.
Source

2020
Removal of applications from Google PlayOther
Background
Google cited advertising-policy violations in a broad removal of applications from its store.
Action taken
Google removed nearly 600 applications, including Cheetah Mobile applications.
Aftermath
Cheetah Mobile’s applications were reported to be unavailable on Google Play, limiting access to a major global Android distribution channel.
Source
2016
Acquisition of News RepublicM&A
Background
Cheetah Mobile sought to broaden its business from utility software into mobile content and media.
Action taken
The company acquired French news-aggregation startup News Republic.
Aftermath
The transaction added a news-distribution product to Cheetah Mobile’s mobile-internet portfolio.
Reported transaction value. US$57 million (2016)
Source
2016
CheetahPhone introductionProduct launch
Background
The company was testing whether its software brand could extend into consumer hardware.
Action taken
Cheetah Mobile and Cubot introduced the Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based CheetahPhone at Mobile World Congress.
Aftermath
The product demonstrated Cheetah Mobile’s hardware ambitions, although its later commercial status is not established here.
Source
2015
Acquisition of MobPartnerM&A
Background
Cheetah Mobile aimed to strengthen its international mobile-advertising capabilities.
Action taken
The company acquired French mobile-advertising firm MobPartner.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Cheetah Mobile’s advertising technology and international monetization capabilities.
Reported transaction value. US$58 million (2015)
Source
2015
Global Yahoo partnershipStrategy
Background
Cheetah Mobile was expanding its utility applications internationally and needed search and advertising infrastructure.
Action taken
The companies agreed to integrate Yahoo search and native-advertising platforms into Cheetah Mobile applications.
Aftermath
The partnership connected Cheetah Mobile’s global application distribution with Yahoo’s search and advertising products.
Source
2014
Public listing on the New York Stock ExchangeOther
Background
Cheetah Mobile sought capital and international visibility for its mobile-utility and advertising businesses.
Action taken
The company offered 13 million American depositary shares at US$14 per share.
Aftermath
The offering raised approximately US$168 million and established CMCM as the company’s NYSE trading symbol.
IPO proceeds. US$168 million (2014 IPO)
Source

Recent events

2021.06.16
Reported2021.06.18
Cheetah Mobile named to the 2021 Consumer New Force Top 100[7]猎豹移动入选2021消费新势力榜TOP100finance.sina.com.cn
Cheetah Mobile was included in the new retail services category of the 2021 Consumer New Force Top 100.
2020.08.18
Reported2020.08.20
Cheetah Mobile reports second-quarter 2020 results[8]猎豹移动发布 2020 年第二季度财报finance.sina.com.cn
Cheetah Mobile released its second-quarter 2020 financial results, reporting revenue of 394 million yuan, down 59.4% year over year, and non-GAAP net profit attributable to shareholders of 244 million yuan, up 196% year over year.
2020.03.02
Reported2020.03.02
Google removes nearly 600 apps over mobile ad fraud[6]Google removes nearly 600 apps over mobile ad fraudnotebookcheck.net
Google said nearly 600 apps were removed from the Play Store for mobile ad fraud; the article says the apps included all those associated with Cheetah Mobile, and that they were also barred from Google Ad Manager and Google AdMob.
2020.01.28
Reported2020.01.28
Cheetah Mobile and OrionStar announced plans to donate more robots to medical institutions[9]猎豹移动及猎户星空宣布将向医疗机构捐助更多机器人tech.sina.com.cn
Cheetah Mobile and OrionStar said they would donate more intelligent service robots to medical institutions and medical personnel, including in Hubei and Wuhan, to support the pandemic response.
2020.01.08
Reported2020.01.08
TalkingData establishes strategic partnerships for marketing monitoring initiative[10]TalkingData围绕营销监测方案建立战略合作关系tech.sina.com.cn
TalkingData announced strategic partnerships with iQIYI, Kuaishou, Mango TV, CTR, Gouzheng Data, Dangbei, Tingban, Cheetah Mobile, TiYing Media, and SenseTime around its cross-channel marketing monitoring solution.
2019.11.15
Reported2019.11.19
Cheetah Mobile and China Mobile announce strategic cooperation[11]猎豹移动与中国移动宣布战略合作tech.sina.com.cn
Cheetah Mobile and China Mobile announced strategic cooperation in intelligent communications, including introducing Cheetah Mobile’s Bao Xiaomi phone assistant to China Mobile’s He Liuyan call-forwarding platform and jointly expanding communications service scenarios.

Sources11 sources

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