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Avast One Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started

This article is about the Scam Guardian Pro feature in the new version of Avast One. For information about using the Avast Premium Security version of Scam Guardian Pro, refer to the following article: Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started.
 

Scam Guardian Pro is a feature of Avast One Antivirus that provides users with the following tools to recognize and avoid online threats, improving digital security:

For a list of differences between the free version, Scam Guardian, and the paid version, Scam Guardian Pro, visit the following article: Scam Guardian Pro - FAQs.
  1. Avast Assistant is an AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Web Guard, formerly known as Web Shield, scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites.
  3. Email Guard, formerly known as Email Guardian, is a premium feature that scans incoming emails in your online email accounts, labeling received emails to indicate potential scam and phishing risks.
  4. Deepfake Guard: A feature that uses AI to analyze audio and video content in real time, detect deepfakes, and alert you to potential video-based scams.

Refer to the sections below to learn how to use these features.

Use Avast Assistant

Avast Assistant is designed to work in all languages but currently performs best in the following: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

These languages were chosen based on factors such as user demand, the availability of cybersecurity threat data, and the linguistic complexity involved in scam detection. Language support is continuously expanding, with future updates expected to include additional languages as the system learns and evolves.

Avast Assistant is an AI-powered virtual support tool that helps users stay safe online. It analyzes text messages, emails, links, and images to detect potential scams, phishing attempts, and other cybersecurity threats. Aside from identifying suspicious content, the assistant provides practical guidance to help users understand and appropriately respond to safety concerns.

To use Avast Assistant, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Avast One, ensure Avast Premium Security is selected, and go to Scam Guardian.
  2. Ensure that Avast Assistant is selected.
  3. In the Avast Assistant panel, you can:
    • Upload an image showing suspicious text, email, or webpage for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Enter text from a suspicious email or message, or a suspect URL for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Ask a question about any cybersecurity topic.

For more information about these options, refer to the sections below.

Upload an image to Avast Assistant

Supported image formats include PNG, JPG, and JPEG. The maximum file size limit is 5 MB.
  1. Click Upload (the + icon). Locate the file on your device, then click Open.
  2. Once the image has been uploaded, type your question into the field and click Submit (the arrow icon).
  3. Avast Assistant analyzes the submitted information. If a scam is detected, an explanation is provided along with advice on the next steps to take. You can continue asking further questions or uploading additional images in the same conversation.

Paste text or ask a question

  1. Write your question or paste a suspicious message or a link in the Avast Assistant field, then click Submit (the arrow icon).
  2. Avast Assistant will provide an answer to your question or an analysis of the submitted text or link. You can continue asking further questions in the same conversation.

Use Web Guard

Web Guard is a core protection feature in Avast Antivirus that scans internet activity in real-time to block malware like malicious scripts and help you avoid suspicious websites. It is enabled by default to help ensure robust security. However, users can adjust settings for detection sensitivity and malware handling.

To access Web Guard, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Avast One, ensure Avast Premium Security is selected, and go to Scam Guardian.
  2. Select Web Guard.
  3. By default, Web Guard is on. If needed, click the slider to turn it off.
    To help ensure your security, we recommend keeping Web Guard enabled and only disabling it for temporary troubleshooting purposes.

To manage Web Guard settings:

  1. Click Settings (the gear icon) on the Web Guard screen.
  2. Select the Web Guard tab, then optionally tick (enable) or untick (disable) the following settings:
    1. Enable Web Guard: Blocks web attacks & unsafe downloads. To temporarily disable Web Guard, untick the box, then select a time duration, and click OK, Stop. Web Guard automatically enables again when the specified time duration elapses.
    2. Enable HTTPS scanning: Includes scanning of encrypted websites. HTTPS scanning protects your PC against malware delivered by TLS and SSL encrypted HTTPS traffic when you browse the internet. This feature is enabled by default to ensure your full security. If you disable HTTPS scanning, any malware delivered by HTTPS traffic is hidden by TLS/SSL encryption and your computer is more vulnerable to threats.
    3. Scan web traffic of uncommon applications: Automatically scan HTTPS traffic of potentially suspicious applications.
    4. Enable QUIC/HTTP3 scanning: Scans communications sent and received via Google's QUIC protocol.
    5. Enable WebSocket protocol scanning: Scan the network traffic commonly used by web applications.
    6. Enable DNS/DoH scanning: Scan the network traffic for malicious domain resolutions.
    7. Protect against botnets: Prevents botnets from using your computer to attack other computers.
    8. Enable Script scanning: Prevents browsers and other applications from running potentially malicious scripts. This includes remote threats from the web and outside sources.
    9. Enable hardware network acceleration: Speeds up web scanning by using your network adapter’s built‑in acceleration, which helps reduce processor load. Restart your Windows device to apply the changes.
    10. Enable site blocking: Allows you to block access to specific websites. To block access to a website from your PC, click Show blocked websites ▸ Add website, then enter the website address. Click Close to confirm the addition and return to Web Guard settings.
    11. Generate report file: Automatically generates reports of scan results.
  3. Ensure that the Settings tab is selected, then optionally use the sliders to enable or disable the following settings:
    1. Notify me about potentially unwanted programs: When potentially unwanted programs (PUP) are detected, you are notified with an alert message.
    2. Scan for Tools: Tools are apps that can be used for accessing, controlling, or potentially harming computers.
    3. Verify suspicious URLs: Suspicious URLs are checked against Avast's list of reputable websites.
    4. Scan secure connections: HTTPS (secured) sites are scanned for malware as well as HTTP sites.
    5. Force downgrade HTTP3 (Recommended): Automatically downgrades all web traffic to HTTP2 or HTTP to scan for malicious code.

To exclude websites or domains from being scanned by Web Guard:

  1. Click Settings (the gear icon) on the Web Guard screen.
  2. Select the Exceptions tab, then click Add exceptions.
  3. Enter the URL of the website you want to exclude from being scanned and select the Web server services type, then click Add.
  4. If prompted, enter the password that you use when you start your Mac, then click OK to authorize the change.

The website is added to the exceptions list.

To remove an excluded item, hover your cursor over the server panel in the exceptions list, then click the X icon.

Use Email Guard

Email Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

Email Guard scans incoming emails and labels them as safe or unsafe to highlight potential scam and phishing threats. These labels are added directly in your online email account, enhancing your safety when checking emails on any device or browser. Refer to the following support articles for more information:

Use Deepfake Guard

Deepfake Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

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.

Scam Guardian Pro is a feature of Mobile Security that provides users with the following tools to recognize and avoid online threats, improving digital security:

For a list of differences between the free version, Scam Guardian, and the paid version, Scam Guardian Pro, visit the following article: Scam Guardian Pro - FAQs.
  1. Avast Assistant: An AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Web Guard (formerly known as Web Shield): This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites.
  3. SMS Guard: A scam protection tool that scans text messages in your default messaging app to help detect potentially risky links or scam content, with optional AI-powered detection.
  4. Email Guard: A feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts to help detect potential scam and phishing risks, with AI-powered detection available as an optional setting.
  5. Call Guard: Automatically blocks suspicious and scam calls, and helps you identify whether incoming calls are from trusted contacts, businesses, or potentially risky sources.
  6. Link Guard: This features scans links you access from outside your browser, such as links from emails or messages, and warns you if they are dangerous before opening them in your default browser.
  1. Avast Assistant: An AI-powered cybersecurity assistant that analyzes texts, emails, and links for potential scams and cybersecurity concerns. It can also be used for any online safety related questions.
  2. Web Guard (formerly known as Web Shield): This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites. A local VPN (Virtual Private Network) is required to enable this feature.
  3. Email Guard: A feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts to help detect potential scam and phishing risks, with AI-powered detection available as an optional setting.
  4. SMS Guard: A scam protection tool that scans text messages in your default messaging app to help detect potentially risky links or scam content, with optional AI-powered detection.
    SMS Guard does not support iMessages.
  5. Call Guard: Automatically blocks suspicious and scam calls, and helps you identify whether incoming calls are from trusted contacts, businesses, or potentially risky sources.

Refer to the sections below to learn how to use these features.

Use Avast Assistant

Avast Assistant is designed to work in all languages but currently performs best in the following: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

These languages were chosen based on factors such as user demand, the availability of cybersecurity threat data, and the linguistic complexity involved in scam detection. Language support is continuously expanding, with future updates expected to include additional languages as the system learns and evolves.

Avast Assistant is an AI-powered virtual support tool that helps users stay safe online. It analyzes text messages, emails, links, and images to detect potential scams, phishing attempts, and other cybersecurity threats. Aside from identifying suspicious content, the assistant provides practical guidance to help users understand and appropriately respond to safety concerns.

To use Avast Assistant, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap the Avast Assistant panel at the top of the screen.
  3. In the Avast Assistant panel, you can:
    • Upload an image showing suspicious text, email, or webpage for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Enter text from a suspicious email or message, or a suspect URL for analysis by Avast Assistant.
    • Ask a question about any cybersecurity topic.

For more information about these options, refer to the sections below:

Upload an image to Avast Assistant

  1. Tap Add image, then select an image on your device.
  2. Avast Assistant analyzes the submitted information. If a scam is detected, an explanation is provided along with advice on the next steps to take. You can continue asking further questions or uploading additional images in the same conversation.

Paste text or ask a question

  1. Write your question or paste a suspicious message or a link in the Avast Assistant field, then tap the Submit icon.
  2. Avast Assistant will provide an answer to your question or an analysis of the submitted text or link. You can continue asking further questions in the same conversation.

Set up Web Guard

To enable Web Guard:

  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Web Guard.
  3. Tap Continue ▸ OK to add Accessibility permitions.
  4. On the Accessibility screen, tap Installed apps ▸ Avast One Service.
    The steps may be different depending on your device model and Android version.
  5. Tap the slider so that it changes from OFF to ON.
  6. Optionally, tap Continue ▸ Allow to stop optimizing battery usage for Avast One, so that it can run unrestricted in the background.
  7. Web Guard is now enabled. You can view the number of analyzed links and detected threats on this page.
  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Web Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup.
  4. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to add VPN configurations.
  5. Web Guard is now enabled. You can view the number of analyzed links and detected threats on this page.
To disable Web Guard, tap Disable Web Guard.

Set up Email Guard

Email Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

Email Guard scans your incoming emails when you check them using a web browser. To learn about how to set up and use the feature, refer to the following article: Email Guard - Getting Started.

Set up SMS Guard

SMS Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

To enable SMS Guard:

  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap SMS Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup.
  4. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to allow Avast Assistant to scan incoming messages for risky links.
  5. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to allow Avast Assistant to alert you when you receive a risky message.
    The steps may be different depending on your device model and Android version.
  6. Optionally, tap Continue ▸ Allow to help Avast One identify SMS messages sent by unknown numbers.
  7. SMS Guard is now enabled. To enable AI-powered detection, ensure that the slider next to Avast Assistant scam detection is ON.
  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap SMS Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup ▸ Open Settings.
  4. On the Messages Settings screen, tap Unknown & Spam.
  5. Ensure that the Filter Unknown Senders slider is ON and tap Avast Security ▸ Enable.
  6. SMS Guard is now enabled. To enable AI-powered detection, ensure that the slider next to Avast Assistant scam detection is ON.
To disable SMS Guard, tap Unknown & Spam on the Messages Settings screen, then tap None under SMS filtering.

Set up Email Guard

Email Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

Email Guard scans your incoming emails when you check them using a web browser. To learn about how to set up and use the feature, refer to the following article: Email Guard - Getting Started.

Set up Call Guard

Call Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

To enable Call Guard:

  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Call Guard.
  3. Tap Continue.
  4. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to help Avast One identify and block calls.
  5. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to allow Avast One to display blocked calls.
  6. Tap Continue ▸ Allow to set Avast One as your default caller ID & spam app.
  7. Optionally, tap Continue ▸ Allow to help Avast One identify calls from unknown numbers.
  8. Call Guard is now enabled. Ensure that the sliders next to Block scam calls and Identify incoming calls are ON.
  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Call Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup ▸ Open Settings.
  4. On the Phone Settings screen, tap Call Blocking & Identification.
  5. Ensure that all Avast One sliders are ON. If needed, tap Edit to move Avast One to the top of the list.
  6. Call Guard is now enabled. To automatically block spam and suspicious calls, ensure that the slider next to Block automatically is ON.
To disable Call Guard, tap Disable Call Guard.

Set up Link Guard

Link Guard is a premium feature that requires a paid subscription.

To enable Link Guard:

  1. Open Avast One and tap Explore ▸ Scam Guardian Pro.
  2. Tap Link Guard.
  3. Tap Start setup.
  4. Tap Set default browsers.
  5. On the Default apps screen, tap Browser app, then select Avast One as your default web browser in your Android settings. This requirement is only a system formality so that Avast One can scan for threats. Link Guard is designed to open a link in a third-party web browser after checking it.
    The steps may be different depending on your device model and Android version.
  6. Link Guard is now enabled. Optionally tap Change to choose another browser for Link Guard to use.

Further recommendations

For more information about Avast One, refer to the following article:

  • Avast One
  • Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS


Updated on: 4/8/26

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