Avast’s Free AI Scam Protection Now Available Worldwide
▼ Summary
– Avast has launched Scam Guardian, a free AI-powered scam protection service integrated into its Avast Free Antivirus to democratize access to advanced security.
– Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to create highly convincing and personalized scams, making them harder to detect.
– A premium version, Scam Guardian Pro, is available in Avast Premium Security, offering enhanced AI protection against email scams.
– Scam Guardian uses proprietary AI trained on scam data to analyze context and language, detecting deceptive intent and hidden threats in website code.
– Recent data shows a 186% surge in breached records and a 466% increase in phishing scams in early 2025, highlighting the growing threat landscape.
In a major move for global cybersecurity, Avast has launched its free AI scam protection tool, Scam Guardian, worldwide through its widely used Avast Free Antivirus platform. This initiative aims to place advanced scam defense within everyone’s reach, regardless of their budget. The announcement comes as cybercriminals increasingly harness artificial intelligence to produce highly personalized and believable scams, making it difficult for individuals to distinguish between legitimate communications and fraudulent attempts.
A premium tier, Scam Guardian Pro, is also being introduced within Avast Premium Security, offering an extra shield specifically against email-based scams. Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen, Avast’s parent company, emphasized the growing threat. “Modern scams are far from amateurish, they are precisely tailored, heavily targeted, and enhanced by artificial intelligence,” she explained. “With the surge in data breaches exposing personal details, anyone anywhere is now a potential target. That’s why providing powerful, AI-driven protection to everyone is more critical than ever. We are leveling the playing field by delivering world-class scam defense that helps people secure their digital and financial safety.”
Recent data underscores the urgency. The Q1/2025 Gen Threat Report reveals a staggering 186% increase in breached individual records between January and March 2025, exposing sensitive information like passwords, email addresses, and credit card numbers. During that same period, reports of phishing scams skyrocketed by 466% compared to the previous quarter, accounting for nearly one-third of all scam submissions observed by Gen.
As data breaches multiply, attackers gain more material to craft convincing, hyper-personalized scam campaigns that easily evade traditional detection methods. Scam Guardian acts like a digital fraud investigator, employing proprietary AI trained on scam intelligence from Gen Threat Labs. It goes beyond simply identifying malicious links; it analyzes the context and language within communications to more accurately pinpoint signs of deceptive or harmful intent. The tool also uncovers hidden threats embedded in website code, neutralizing risks to provide safer online browsing and shopping experiences.
Key features of Scam Guardian available in the free antivirus include:
- Avast Assistant: This feature offers round-the-clock, AI-powered guidance on suspicious websites, SMS messages, emails, links, and offers. Users can engage in an open dialogue when uncertain about a potential scam. The assistant uses natural language processing to interpret questions and deliver straightforward advice on the next steps.
For users seeking enhanced security, Scam Guardian Pro includes all the above features plus:
- Email Guard: This AI-powered tool examines the context and meaning within email content to identify scams. It scans and flags both safe and suspicious emails before they are opened, offering protection across all email accounts and devices.
By downloading Avast Free Antivirus, users can take a straightforward first step toward more secure online activities, including browsing, shopping, and banking.
(Source: Bleeping Computer)