Avast Makes AI-Driven Scam Defense Available for Free Worldwide
Avast, part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), has launched Scam Guardian, a free AI-powered scam protection service integrated into Avast Free Antivirus, alongside a premium version called Scam Guardian Pro. The launch comes as cybercrime statistics show alarming trends, with breached records increasing by 186% and phishing scams surging by 466% in Q1 2025.
The AI-powered solution includes features like Avast Assistant, providing 24/7 protection guidance, and Web Guard for detecting hidden scams. The Pro version adds Email Guard for advanced email protection. The company plans to expand Pro features later this year to include protection against SMS and phone call scams.
Avast, parte di Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), ha lanciato Scam Guardian, un servizio gratuito di protezione dalle truffe basato sull'intelligenza artificiale, integrato in Avast Free Antivirus, insieme a una versione premium chiamata Scam Guardian Pro. Il lancio arriva in un momento in cui le statistiche sul cybercrimine mostrano tendenze preoccupanti, con un aumento del 186% dei dati compromessi e un'impennata del 466% delle truffe di phishing nel primo trimestre del 2025.
La soluzione basata su IA include funzionalità come Avast Assistant, che offre assistenza continua 24/7, e Web Guard per rilevare truffe nascoste. La versione Pro aggiunge Email Guard per una protezione avanzata delle email. L'azienda prevede di ampliare le funzionalità Pro entro la fine dell'anno per includere la protezione contro truffe via SMS e telefonate.
Avast, parte de Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), ha lanzado Scam Guardian, un servicio gratuito de protección contra estafas impulsado por inteligencia artificial, integrado en Avast Free Antivirus, junto con una versión premium llamada Scam Guardian Pro. El lanzamiento se produce en un contexto donde las estadísticas de ciberdelitos muestran tendencias alarmantes, con un aumento del 186% en registros comprometidos y un incremento del 466% en estafas de phishing en el primer trimestre de 2025.
La solución impulsada por IA incluye funciones como Avast Assistant, que ofrece orientación de protección las 24 horas, y Web Guard para detectar estafas ocultas. La versión Pro añade Email Guard para una protección avanzada del correo electrónico. La compañía planea ampliar las funciones Pro a finales de este año para incluir protección contra estafas por SMS y llamadas telefónicas.
Avast는 Gen (NASDAQ: GEN)의 자회사로서, Avast Free Antivirus에 통합된 무료 AI 기반 사기 방지 서비스 Scam Guardian과 프리미엄 버전인 Scam Guardian Pro를 출시했습니다. 이번 출시는 2025년 1분기 사이버 범죄 통계에서 데이터 유출이 186% 증가하고 피싱 사기가 466% 급증하는 등 심각한 추세가 나타난 가운데 이루어졌습니다.
이 AI 기반 솔루션은 24시간 보호 안내를 제공하는 Avast Assistant와 숨겨진 사기를 탐지하는 Web Guard 기능을 포함합니다. Pro 버전에는 고급 이메일 보호 기능인 Email Guard가 추가되었습니다. 회사는 올해 말까지 Pro 기능을 확장하여 SMS 및 전화 사기 방지 기능도 포함할 계획입니다.
Avast, faisant partie de Gen (NASDAQ : GEN), a lancé Scam Guardian, un service gratuit de protection contre les arnaques alimenté par l'IA, intégré à Avast Free Antivirus, ainsi qu'une version premium appelée Scam Guardian Pro. Ce lancement intervient alors que les statistiques sur la cybercriminalité montrent des tendances inquiétantes, avec une augmentation de 186% des données compromises et une hausse de 466% des attaques de phishing au premier trimestre 2025.
La solution basée sur l'IA comprend des fonctionnalités telles que Avast Assistant, offrant une assistance 24h/24, et Web Guard pour détecter les arnaques cachées. La version Pro ajoute Email Guard pour une protection avancée des emails. La société prévoit d'étendre les fonctionnalités Pro plus tard cette année pour inclure la protection contre les arnaques par SMS et appels téléphoniques.
Avast, Teil von Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), hat Scam Guardian eingeführt, einen kostenlosen KI-gestützten Betrugsschutzdienst, der in Avast Free Antivirus integriert ist, sowie eine Premium-Version namens Scam Guardian Pro. Der Start erfolgt vor dem Hintergrund alarmierender Cyberkriminalitätsstatistiken, die im ersten Quartal 2025 einen Anstieg der kompromittierten Daten um 186% und der Phishing-Betrügereien um 466% zeigen.
Die KI-basierte Lösung umfasst Funktionen wie Avast Assistant, der rund um die Uhr Schutzanweisungen bietet, und Web Guard zur Erkennung versteckter Betrügereien. Die Pro-Version ergänzt Email Guard für erweiterten E-Mail-Schutz. Das Unternehmen plant, die Pro-Funktionen noch in diesem Jahr um Schutz vor SMS- und Telefonbetrug zu erweitern.
- Launch of free AI-powered scam protection service making advanced security accessible to everyone
- Integration into existing Avast Free Antivirus platform expands protection to current user base
- Premium version offers additional revenue stream through enhanced protection features
- Planned expansion of Pro features indicates strong product development pipeline
- Rising cybercrime statistics (186% increase in breached records, 466% rise in phishing scams) indicate growing security challenges
- Free version may cannibalize potential premium subscriptions
- Competitive pressure to offer advanced features for free could impact profit margins
Insights
Avast's AI scam protection tools strengthen its freemium model amid rising cyberthreats, potentially improving user acquisition and retention.
Gen's launch of Avast Scam Guardian represents a strategic enhancement of their security ecosystem during a critical period of escalating cyber threats. The data from their Q1/2025 threat report is particularly alarming - breached records surged by
The technical approach here is noteworthy. Rather than relying solely on traditional URL blacklisting, their AI system analyzes contextual and linguistic patterns to identify deceptive intent while also examining website code for concealed threats. This multi-faceted approach addresses the increasing sophistication of AI-generated scams that traditional detection methods often miss.
From a business strategy perspective, the freemium implementation is particularly clever. By integrating substantial AI capabilities (Avast Assistant and Web Guard) into the free tier, Gen can potentially expand its user base and brand presence. Meanwhile, reserving Email Guard for premium subscribers creates clearer value differentiation that could improve conversion rates to paid subscriptions.
The company's decision to frame this as "democratizing AI protection" aligns with current technology narratives around accessibility and could resonate with both consumers and investors. The phased product strategy, with additional AI tools for SMS and phone call protection planned for later this year, indicates an ongoing commitment to this technology direction.
For Gen, this product launch reinforces its position in the consumer security market while modernizing its technological approach. As cybercriminals increasingly leverage AI for attacks, security companies must demonstrate equivalent AI defensive capabilities to maintain relevance. This release shows Gen actively evolving with the threat landscape rather than falling behind.
Avast debuts Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro as data breaches and scams soar
Cybercriminals continue to abuse AI to craft increasingly convincing scam attacks at an alarming rate. Available at no cost, the new service marks a significant step forward in democratizing AI scam protection. A premium version, Scam Guardian Pro, has also been added to Avast Premium Security, giving customers an enhanced layer of AI protection against email scams.
"Today's scams aren't crude or obvious – they're tailored, targeted, and AI-enhanced, making it harder than ever to tell the difference between truth and deception," said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. "As scammers take advantage of rising data breaches and leaked personal information, anyone anywhere can become a victim of scams. That's why it's never been more important to make powerful AI-powered scam protection available to everyone, everywhere. We're levelling the playing field with world class scam defense that helps people strengthen their digital and financial safety."
According to the recent Q1/2025 Gen Threat Report, breached records of individuals surged by more than
As data breaches rise, so do the opportunities for attackers to exploit leaked information to launch targeted, hyper-personalized scam campaigns that are harder than ever to spot. Like a seasoned scam investigator, Scam Guardian uses proprietary AI trained on scam data from Gen Threat Labs to go beyond just detecting malicious URLs—it also analyzes context and language to more effectively identify signs of deceptive or harmful intent. Scam Guardian also helps to pull back the curtain on hidden threats in website code and neutralizes them to keep people safer as they browse and shop online.
Key features available in Scam Guardian for Avast Free Antivirus, include:
- Avast Assistant: Provides 24/7 AI-powered scam protection guidance on suspicious websites, SMS messages, emails, links, offers, and more. Allows people to engage in open dialogue when they're unsure about a potential scam and uses natural language to better understand queries and deliver clear advice on what to do next. Available on Windows and Mac.
- Web Guard: Uses the collective power of Gen Threat Labs telemetry and AI trained on millions of frequently visited websites to continuously analyze and detect hidden scams in content and code – offering unique visibility into dangerous URLs. Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS2.
Scam Guardian Pro includes everything in Avast Scam Guardian, plus:
- Email Guard: Uses AI to understand the context of emails and the meaning of words to detect scams. Scans and flags safe and suspicious emails before you open them, helping to protect your email wherever you check it, no matter what device you use to log in. Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS3.
Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro are available to download now as part of Avast Free Antivirus and Avast Premium Security. Later this year, additional AI-powered tools will be added to Scam Guardian Pro for greater protection against sophisticated scams targeting other communication channels, including SMS and phone calls.
For more information, please visit www.avast.com.
About Avast
Avast is a leader in digital security and privacy, and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. Avast protects hundreds of millions of users from online threats, for Mobile, PC or Mac, and is top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Learn more at Avast.com.
1 AV-Comparatives, "Top-Rated Product 2024 Award" & AV-Comparatives, "Real-World Protection 2024 Award" - Jan-Dec 2024.
2 Content and code scanning is only available on Windows and Mac.
3 Email Guard is included, but mobile platforms do not have the Scam Guardian user interface.
Mike Healey | Allie Thompson |
Gen | Edelman for Gen |
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SOURCE Gen Digital Inc.
FAQ
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