Avast Expands Scam Guardian Globally and Launches Deepfake Guard

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.

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

Argus Feb 3 session

-5.63% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – GEN

On Feb 3, the day this news came out, GEN closed 5.63% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Feb 3 session.

Market Context

On Feb 3, the day this news came out, the stock closed 5.6% below the previous close. A negative rea...

Analysis

On Feb 3, the day this news came out, the stock closed 5.6% below the previous close. A negative reaction despite product expansion would fit a pattern where AI and threat-intelligence updates have not always supported the share price, with moves like -3.68% and -1.64% after prior reports. The stock already traded below its 27.97 200-day MA and only 4.62% above its 52-week low, so further downside would raise questions about sentiment toward GEN’s growth and monetization of new security features.

Key Figures

Deepfake scams detected: 159,378 instances Quarter referenced: Q4 2025 Minimum RAM (low-end PCs): 8GB RAM +3 more

Deepfake scams detected

159,378 instances

Unique deepfake scams with clear scam intent in Q4 2025

Quarter referenced

Q4 2025

Period when Gen video scam detection was active

Minimum RAM (low-end PCs)

8GB RAM

Lower-spec Windows PCs requirement for Deepfake Guard opt-in download

Minimum CPU cores (low-end PCs)

4 CPU cores

Lower-spec Windows PCs requirement for Deepfake Guard opt-in download

RAM requirement (high-end PCs)

16GB RAM

Traditional high-end PCs requirement for Deepfake Guard

CPU cores (high-end PCs)

6+ CPU cores

Traditional high-end PCs requirement for Deepfake Guard

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 27

5 events

1. Jan 27

   AI consumer study

   24h Move

   -1.6%

   Norton report on AI relationships, loneliness, and rising dating scams.

2. Jan 20

   Threat report

   24h Move

   -3.7%

   Gen Q4 threat report detailing scams in ads, feeds, and video.

3. Jan 15

   Acquisition filing

   24h Move

   +0.5%

   RYVYL S-4 filing for proposed acquisition of RTB Digital.

4. Jan 8

   Earnings date notice

   24h Move

   +1.6%

   Announcement of GEN’s fiscal Q3 2026 results release date and call.

5. Dec 9

   Cybersecurity outlook

   24h Move

   +1.1%

   2026 cybersecurity predictions highlighting AI, deepfakes, and browser threats.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

deepfake, ai pcs, cpu cores

3 terms

deepfake technical

"Gen Threat Labs detected 159,378 instances of unique deepfake scams"

A deepfake is an audio or video created or altered by artificial intelligence to make someone appear to say or do things they never did; think of it as a highly convincing digital impersonation. For investors, deepfakes matter because they can trigger sudden swings in a company’s stock, spread false news, enable fraud or insider manipulation, and raise legal or reputation risks that affect a firm's value and regulatory exposure.

ai pcs technical

"shining on the latest generation of AI PCs from Intel and Qualcomm"

AI PCs are personal computers designed with built-in hardware and software optimized to run artificial intelligence tasks—such as voice assistants, image editing, real-time language translation, and smart automation—locally rather than relying solely on remote servers. For investors, they matter because they can drive sales, shift demand toward specialized chips and software, and reshape competitive position across device makers, chipmakers, and cloud providers much like how smartphones changed consumer computing.

cpu cores technical

"Windows 11, 8GB of RAM and 4 CPU cores. Traditional high-end PCs must run"

CPU cores are the individual processing units inside a computer chip that execute instructions; think of each core as a worker on an assembly line handling its own tasks. For investors, core count matters because more or faster cores can improve a device’s performance, energy use and ability to run multiple applications or data-heavy workloads, which influences product competitiveness, sales potential and a chipmaker’s market position.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Add on Google Not now

Avast Deepfake Guard runs on traditional lower and high-end Windows PCs, bringing advanced scam detection to millions of people across the globe

TEMPE, Ariz. and PRAGUE, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Avast, a leader in digital security and privacy and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), today announced the full international availability of Avast Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro on mobile devices, alongside the launch of Avast Deepfake Guard on Windows PCs, a new AI-powered feature designed to proactively analyze and detect malicious audio in video content. Together, these launches mark a significant expansion of the Avast scam protection ecosystem – extending coverage across mobile and PC, helping protect people wherever scams appear, from text messages to calls and video platforms.

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  press@GenDigital.com	Edelman for Gen Courtney.Rowles@edelman.com

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

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is Avast Deepfake Guard and when did GEN launch it?

Avast Deepfake Guard is an AI feature that detects malicious audio in videos in real time on Windows PCs. According to the company, it launched globally on Feb 3, 2026, and is included in Avast Premium Security for supported devices.

How many deepfake scam incidents did GEN detect in Q4 2025?

GEN's threat labs detected 159,378 unique deepfake scams in Q4 2025. According to the company, these combined manipulated media with clear scam intent across devices where video detection was active.

Which platforms does Avast Deepfake Guard support for analysis?

Deepfake Guard supports English video analysis across major platforms including YouTube, Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, Vimeo, DailyMotion. According to the company, coverage targets common video sources where scams appear during normal viewing.

What are the Windows system requirements for Deepfake Guard (GEN)?

Deepfake Guard supports Windows 11 on high-end and AI PCs; lower PCs require Windows 11, 8GB RAM, and 4 CPU cores for manual detection. According to the company, automated detection requires higher specs or AI PC chips.

Will enabling Deepfake Guard affect my PC performance?

Enabling automated detection may cause a minimal performance impact on some systems. According to the company, automated detection is disabled by default on many PCs and not recommended on lower-spec devices to avoid performance issues.