Avast Expands Scam Guardian Globally and Launches Deepfake Guard
Rhea-AI Summary
Avast (NASDAQ: GEN) expanded its scam protection on Feb 3, 2026 by rolling Avast Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro to mobile globally and launching Avast Deepfake Guard for Windows PCs.
Deepfake Guard analyzes audio in videos on-device, detected 159,378 unique deepfake scams in Q4 2025, supports English analysis across major platforms, and is included in Avast Premium Security. System requirements and opt-in/automated detection behavior vary by PC class.
Positive
- Detected 159,378 unique deepfake scams in Q4 2025
- Global mobile rollout of Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro
- Deepfake Guard included in Avast Premium Security
- Supports major platforms: YouTube, Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram
Negative
- Automated detection disabled by default on traditional high-end PCs
- Not installed by default on lower-spec Windows PCs; automated detection not recommended
- Enabling detection may cause a minimal performance impact on some systems
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
GEN was down 0.83% pre-news while key software/security peers like OKTA (+3.76%) and FFIV (+2.72%) traded higher. CHKP (+1.12%) and KSPI (+1.73%) also rose, suggesting GEN’s weakness was stock-specific rather than a sector-wide move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27 | AI consumer study | Neutral | -1.6% | Norton report on AI relationships, loneliness, and rising dating scams. |
| Jan 20 | Threat report | Neutral | -3.7% | Gen Q4 threat report detailing scams in ads, feeds, and video. |
| Jan 15 | Acquisition filing | Neutral | +0.5% | RYVYL S-4 filing for proposed acquisition of RTB Digital. |
| Jan 8 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | +1.6% | Announcement of GEN’s fiscal Q3 2026 results release date and call. |
| Dec 9 | Cybersecurity outlook | Positive | +1.1% | 2026 cybersecurity predictions highlighting AI, deepfakes, and browser threats. |
Recent news has produced modest, generally aligned price reactions.
Over the past few months, GEN has released several threat and AI-related updates. A Norton AI intimacy study on Jan 27, 2026 coincided with a -1.64% move, while a Q4 threat report on Jan 20, 2026 saw shares fall 3.68%. An earnings date announcement on Jan 8, 2026 correlated with a 1.58% rise, and 2026 cybersecurity predictions on Dec 9, 2025 aligned with a 1.12% gain. Today’s global expansion of Avast’s scam and deepfake protection continues this focus on AI-driven security and scam prevention.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement expands GEN’s security ecosystem with Avast Scam Guardian on mobile and Deepfake Guard on Windows, targeting rising deepfake and scam activity evidenced by 159,378 detected deepfake scams in Q4 2025. It builds on recent AI and threat-centric communications from GEN. Investors may track adoption within Avast Premium Security, platform coverage across major video and social sites, and how these capabilities contribute to broader Cyber Safety and Trust‑Based Solutions performance in upcoming earnings reports.
Key Terms
deepfake technical
ai pcs technical
cpu cores technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Avast Deepfake Guard runs on traditional lower and high-end Windows PCs, bringing advanced scam detection to millions of people across the globe
Avast Deepfake Guard is designed to run on Windows PCs*, delivering powerful protection on today's devices while shining on the latest generation of AI PCs from Intel and Qualcomm. By bringing AI-driven deepfake scam detection to devices people already own, Avast is expanding access to advanced protection at a time when scam deepfakes are becoming more convincing and widespread.
"Deepfakes are a serious threat, but they're a symptom of a larger problem: deception," said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. "AI-generated content on its own isn't inherently harmful. The risk comes when scammers use it to create urgency, apply pressure, and take advantage of trust. That's what Avast Deepfake Guard is built for: helping people understand when something may be manipulated and make safer decisions in the moment. By expanding Avast Scam Guardian globally on mobile, we're empowering people worldwide to identify and avoid scam calls, texts and emails with confidence."
As video becomes the default way people learn, communicate, and make decisions, scammers have followed the audience. In Q4 2025, across devices where the new Gen video scam detection was active, Gen Threat Labs detected 159,378 instances of unique deepfake scams that combined manipulated media with clear scam intent, showing how frequently they are being used for fraud. YouTube accounts for the largest share of blocked deepfake-enabled scam videos on PCs, followed by Facebook and then X. Most deepfake scams also appear as part of normal viewing, not as downloads, attachments, or links, meaning they're woven into everyday video consumption and hide in plain sight, making them harder to spot.
Avast Deepfake Guard works to detect these surreptitious scam deepfakes in real time, directly on the device for greater speed and privacy, and warns you before you fall victim.
Deepfake Guard is now included in Avast Premium Security and supports English language video analysis across major platforms including Facebook, DailyMotion, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Vimeo, X, and YouTube.
For more information, visit https://www.avast.com.
*Deepfake Guard is an opt-in download with manual detection for lower specification PCs running Windows 11, 8GB of RAM and 4 CPU cores. Traditional high-end PCs must run Windows 11 and have a minimum of 16GB of RAM and 6+ CPU cores on their processors.
Disclaimer
Avast Deepfake Guard functionality may vary depending on device type and system capabilities. The feature supports AI PCs powered by Intel® Core™ Ultra processors, and Qualcomm Snapdragon® X series chips where automated detection is enabled. On traditional high-end PCs, Deepfake Guard is available with automated detection disabled by default, but people may choose to enable it, acknowledging a minimal potential impact on system performance. On lower-end traditional PCs, Deepfake Guard is not installed by default; people may opt to install the feature, however automated detection is not recommended on these devices due to potential performance impacts.
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.
Mike Healey | Courtney Rowles |
Gen | Edelman for Gen |
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avast-expands-scam-guardian-globally-and-launches-deepfake-guard-302677035.html
SOURCE Gen Digital Inc.
FAQ
What is Avast Deepfake Guard and when did GEN launch it?
How many deepfake scam incidents did GEN detect in Q4 2025?
Which platforms does Avast Deepfake Guard support for analysis?
What are the Windows system requirements for Deepfake Guard (GEN)?
Will enabling Deepfake Guard affect my PC performance?
