What is Scam Guardian?

Scam Guardian is a feature of Avast Antivirus that provides tools to identify and avoid online scams. It includes Avast Assistant for AI-driven scam detection and answers to cybersecurity-related questions, Web Guard for real-time protection against malicious websites, and Email Guard for scanning incoming emails for scam and phishing risks.

What is Avast Assistant?

Avast Assistant is an AI-driven tool designed to analyze texts, emails, and links for signs of scams. It helps users identify potential scams that could lead to financial loss, identity theft, or other cyber threats. Beyond detecting suspicious content, it serves as a cybersecurity resource, allowing users to ask questions on various topics related to online safety. The assistant provides clear, practical advice on recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and maintaining secure digital habits.

How do I use Avast Assistant?

For information about accessing and using Avast Assistant, refer to the following article: Scam Guardian - Getting Started.

How does Avast Assistant analyze scams?

Avast Assistant leverages advanced artificial intelligence combined with proprietary cybersecurity data to detect indicators typically associated with scams and fraudulent activity. It analyzes the content of images, texts, emails, and links that you upload, identifying suspicious patterns such as phishing attempts, malicious links, spoofed senders, and other warning signs. When a potential threat is detected, Avast Assistant highlights why the message or site may be unsafe and provides clear explanations to help users understand the risks. Additionally, it offers practical advice on recommended next steps to protect yourself and avoid falling victim to scams.

Why do I need Avast Assistant?

While Email Guard and Web Guard focus on detection and prevention, Avast Assistant focuses on detention and response. For example, Email Guard filters scam emails before the user even knows they are present. Similarly, if a user is about to visit a malicious URL, Web Guard triggers, allowing them to choose whether to proceed to the website. When it comes to Avast Assistant, the potential scam message has already reached the user, and now they need a tool to determine if it is a scam. Avast Assistant provides not just the answer but also additional information, explaining why it made that assessment and what potential next steps the user should take.

Does Avast Assistant detect all scams?

While Avast Assistant is highly effective, it may not always determine if a message is a scam. In such cases, it offers guidance to help users assess the situation further.

Can Avast Assistant be trusted?

Avast Assistant is developed using advanced AI and proprietary cybersecurity data, supported by a vast library of known phishing attacks and scam patterns to improve scam detection.

Which languages does Avast Assistant support?

Our AI Assistant is designed to work in all languages but currently performs best in the following: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. These languages were selected based on cybersecurity data and demand, and we aim to expand the support in the future.

Which file types are supported when uploading images?

Supported image formats include PNG, JPG, and JPEG. The maximum file size limit is 5 MB.

What is Web Guard?

Web Guard, formerly known as Web Shield, is a core feature of Avast Antivirus, which scans internet activity in real-time to prevent malware, such as malicious scripts, from being downloaded. It is enabled by default, to help ensure strong security. However, users can adjust settings for detection sensitivity and malware handling. Refer to the following articles for customization options:

• Adjusting settings for Avast Antivirus Core Shields
• Excluding certain files or websites from scanning in Avast Antivirus
• HTTPS scanning in Web Guard - FAQs
• Managing HTTPS scanning in Web Guard in Avast Antivirus
• Exclude certain files or websites from scanning in Avast Antivirus
• Managing the Core Shields and Email Guard in Avast Security for Mac

What is Email Guard?

Email Guard scans incoming emails and labels them as safe or unsafe to highlight potential scam and phishing threats. These labels appear in your online email account, improving security across devices and browsers. It is a premium feature and requires a paid subscription to use. Refer to the following articles for more information:

• Email Guard - FAQs
• Email Guard - Getting Started