Avast Makes AI-Driven Scam Defense Available for Free Worldwide

Rhea-AI Summary

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.

Positive

• 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

Negative

• 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

Cybersecurity Analyst

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 186% while phishing scams increased by a staggering 466% compared to the previous quarter. This timing suggests the product launch is directly responsive to market conditions rather than just routine product evolution.

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

TEMPE, Ariz. and PRAGUE, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by a commitment to make cutting-edge scam protection available to everyone, Avast, a leader in digital security and privacy and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), has unveiled Scam Guardian, a new AI-powered offering integrated into its award-winning¹ Avast Free Antivirus.

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 186% between January and March 2025, revealing sensitive information such as passwords, emails, and credit card details. Over the same timeframe, reports of phishing scams rose by 466% compared to the previous quarter, making up almost a third of all scam submissions observed by Gen.

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 press@GenDigital.com	Edelman for Gen Allie.thompson@edelman.com

 

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SOURCE Gen Digital Inc.

FAQ

What new features did Gen (GEN) announce for Avast Free Antivirus?

Gen announced Scam Guardian, a free AI-powered scam protection service integrated into Avast Free Antivirus, featuring Avast Assistant for 24/7 protection guidance and Web Guard for detecting hidden scams.

How much did phishing scams increase according to Gen's Q1 2025 Threat Report?

According to Gen's Q1 2025 Threat Report, phishing scams increased by 466% compared to the previous quarter, representing almost one-third of all scam submissions.

What additional features are included in Scam Guardian Pro compared to the free version?

Scam Guardian Pro includes all free version features plus Email Guard, which uses AI to analyze email context and detect scams before opening them, available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

When will Gen (GEN) add new features to Scam Guardian Pro?

Gen plans to add additional AI-powered tools to Scam Guardian Pro later in 2025, including protection against sophisticated scams targeting SMS and phone calls.

How much did data breaches increase in Q1 2025 according to Gen's report?

According to Gen's Q1 2025 Threat Report, breached records of individuals increased by 186% between January and March 2025, exposing sensitive information like passwords, emails, and credit card details.