General

What is Scam Guardian?

Scam Guardian offers features to help verify website legitimacy and reduce the risk of fraudulent interactions. It automatically checks sites for authenticity indicators, while Avast Assistant allows you to manually review suspicious offers or messages to determine if they may be scams.

What is the difference between Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro?

Refer to the chart below for a comparison of features available in Scam Guardian (the free version) and Scam Guardian Pro (the paid version):

How can I get Scam Guardian Pro?

Scam Guardian Pro is included in any version of the paid Avast Premium Security subscription.

Scam Guardian Pro is included in any version of the paid Avast Mobile Security subscription.

For detailed information about Avast Mobile Security subscription tiers, refer to the following article: Avast Mobile Security - FAQs.

For detailed information about Avast Mobile Security subscription tiers, refer to the following article: Avast Mobile Security - FAQs.

Avast Assistant

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 Pro - 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.

How often is Avast Assistant updated?

Avast Assistant uses real-time learning for continuous improvement. It does not rely on fixed schedule updates. Each user submission of a suspicious text, email, or link enhances the AI model. This allows it to become more effective at identifying new scams. In other words, the scam detection engine is constantly refined. This continuous machine learning approach ensures our detection capabilities are always evolving. It helps us stay ahead of emerging scam tactics.

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.

Can Avast Assistant be uninstalled from Avast Antivirus?

No. Unlike other components, Avast Assistant cannot be removed from Avast Antivirus. However, Avast Assistant does not run in the background. It only activates when you open it to ask a question or check a message. If you do not use it, it remains inactive.

No. Avast Assistant cannot be removed from Avast Antivirus. However, Avast Assistant does not run in the background. It only activates when you open it to ask a question or check a message. If you do not use it, it remains inactive.

Features

What is Web Guard?

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

What is Deepfake Guard?

Deepfake Guard is a security feature that uses advanced AI to analyze audio and video content in real time, detect synthetic voices, and identify deepfake-based scams. These scams often involve realistic fake voices or videos created to impersonate trusted individuals or promote fraudulent schemes, such as cryptocurrency offers using AI-generated deepfakes of public figures. By spotting these manipulations as you watch or listen, deepfake protection helps prevent users from being tricked into sharing money or personal information.

Refer to the following article for more information: Deepfake Guard - Getting Started.

What is SMS Guard?

SMS Guard is a paid feature that provides real-time protection by scanning text messages in your default messaging app for risky links or scam content using Avast Assistant’s AI-powered analysis. These scams often involve fraudulent sites or manipulation aimed at compromising your personal information or finances. If a potential threat is detected, you receive an alert along with guidance on the next steps to stay safe.

For detailed information about using the SMS Guard, refer to the following article: Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started.

What is Call Guard?

Call Guard is a paid feature that protects you by identifying incoming calls and showing the caller’s information, even if the number isn not in your contacts. It also automatically blocks suspicious or scam calls before they reach you, helping you stay safe and avoid unwanted interruptions.

For detailed information about using the Call Guard, refer to the following article: Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started.

What is Link Guard?

Link Guard is a paid feature that adds an extra layer of security when you open links from outside your browser, such as in emails, SMS, or messaging apps. It quickly scans the link in the background using Avast Mobile Security. If the link is safe, it opens in your default browser as usual. If it is dangerous, you see a warning so you can choose whether to return to safety or proceed at your own risk.

For detailed information about using the Link Guard, refer to the following article: Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started.

Troubleshooting

Is Scam Guardian Pro automatically enabled after installation?

It depends on the feature. Web Guard is enabled by default and Avast Assistant and manual Deepfake Guard are always available for on‑demand checks. However, Email Guard and Deepfake Guard automatic detection must be enabled manually.

It depends on the feature. Web Guard is enabled by default and Avast Assistant is always available for on‑demand checks. However, Email Guard must be enabled manually.

While Avast Assistant is always available for on‑demand checks, questions, or support without requiring additional setup, real‑time protection features such as Web Guard, Email Guard, SMS Guard, Call Guard, or Link Guard must be enabled manually. These features require specific permissions to access emails, calls, and messages, so they can only work after you turn them on.

While Avast Assistant is always available for on‑demand checks, questions, or support without requiring additional setup, real‑time protection features such as Web Guard, Email Guard, SMS Guard, or Call Guard must be enabled manually. These features require specific permissions to access emails, calls, and messages, so they can only work after you turn them on.

For information on how to setup these features, refer to the following articles:

For information on how to setup these features, refer to the following article:

• Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started
• Email Guard - Getting Started
• Deepfake Guard - Getting Started

How can I check if Scam Guardian Pro is actively monitoring for scams?

Scam Guardian Pro provides a stats summary so you can confirm that scam protection features are active. Open Avast Mobile Security and go to Scam Guardian Pro to view the number of items scanned and any threats detected over a recent period. These counters update automatically and give you a running summary of recent activity.

To test this in real-time:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and go to Scam Guardian Pro.
2. Tap Web Guard. Note the number of analyzed links.
3. Open your browser and visit a few websites.
4. Return to Avast Mobile Security ▸ Scam Guardian Pro ▸ Web Guard.
5. Check if the number has increased.

How can I turn off Scam Guardian scam detection?

Real‑time protection features such as Web Guard, Email Guard, or Deepfake Guard can be turned off individually in the app settings.

Real‑time protection features such as Web Guard, or Email Guard can be turned off individually in the app settings.

Real‑time protection features such as Web Guard, Email Guard, SMS Guard, Call Guard, or Link Guard can be turned off individually in the app settings. Because these features rely on your permissions, you can enable or disable them at any time.

Real‑time protection features such as Web Guard, Email Guard, SMS Guard, or Call Guard can be turned off individually in the app settings. Because these features rely on your permissions, you can enable or disable them at any time.

If you use Avast Assistant to check suspicious messages or links, it does not require setup or permissions, so there is nothing to turn off.

Avast Assistant does not run in the background. It only activates when you open it to ask a question or check a message. If you do not use it, it remains inactive.

Is there a specialized support team for scam detection?

No. Our support teams handle scam‑related questions through our customer support channel and community forums.