Latest news with #AvastFreeAntivirus
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Avast Makes AI-Driven Scam Defense Available For Free Worldwide
Press Release – Avast Avast Assistant provides 24/7 AI-powered scam protection guidance on suspicious websites, SMS messages, emails, links, offers, and more, allowing people to engage in open dialogue when theyre unsure about a potential scam. 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 Avast Scam Guardian, a new AI-powered offering integrated into its award-winning* 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 democratising AI scam protection. A premium version, Avast 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-personalised scam campaigns that are harder than ever to spot. Like a seasoned scam investigator, Avast Scam Guardian uses proprietary AI trained on scam data from Gen Threat Labs to go beyond just detecting malicious URLs – it also analyses context and language to more effectively identify signs of deceptive or harmful intent. Avast Scam Guardian also helps to pull back the curtain on hidden threats in website code and neutralises them to keep people safer as they browse and shop online. Key features available in Avast 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 analyse and detect hidden scams in content and code** – offering unique visibility into dangerous URLs. Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS**. Avast 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 iOS***. Avast 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 Avast Scam Guardian Pro for greater protection against sophisticated scams targeting other communication channels, including SMS and phone calls. For more information, please visit *AV-Comparatives, 'Top-Rated Product 2024 Award' & AV-Comparatives, 'Real-World Protection 2024 Award' – Jan-Dec 2024. **Content and code scanning is only available on Windows and Mac. **Email Guard is included, but mobile platforms do not have the Scam Guardian user interface. 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
Techday NZ
25-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Avast launches free AI scam protection in antivirus for NZ users
Avast has integrated its AI-powered scam protection features into its range of cyber safety products, including free access for customers in New Zealand via Avast Free Antivirus. The new offering, known as Avast Scam Guardian, is now available to users worldwide at no additional charge. There is also a premium tier, Avast Scam Guardian Pro, which enhances protection against email scams and is included in Avast Premium Security. Scam landscape Recent data highlight the scale and sophistication of the threat. According to the Q1/2025 Gen Threat Report, the number of breached personal records rose by more than 186% between January and March 2025. This data includes sensitive information such as passwords, email addresses, and credit card details. In the same three-month period, phishing scams increased by 466% compared to the previous quarter, accounting for almost a third of all scam submissions identified by Gen. Avast notes that cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to develop scams that are more convincing than ever before and harder to detect. The integration of Scam Guardian aims to provide more robust protection at a time when the risk to consumers is growing. "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." Scam Guardian is powered by proprietary AI models trained on scam data from Gen Threat Labs, going beyond the detection of malicious URLs to include analysis of context and language cues. This enables a more nuanced assessment of websites, emails, and other digital content, as well as the ability to identify deceptive or harmful intent in communications. Feature set There are several key features included in Avast Scam Guardian for Avast Free Antivirus users. Avast Assistant operates around the clock to provide AI-driven guidance on suspicious online activity, covering websites, SMS, emails, links, and offers. Users can interact with this assistant to discuss concerns about potential scams and receive clear, practical advice on how to proceed. This service is available on both Windows and Mac platforms. Another component, Web Guard, leverages telemetry from Gen Threat Labs and AI analysis of millions of websites to detect hidden scams within content and code. This offers additional visibility into dangerous URLs. Web Guard covers Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS systems, although content and code scanning is only available on Windows and Mac. The premium Avast Scam Guardian Pro includes all the standard protections and adds Email Guard. This feature uses AI to interpret the context and meaning within email messages, flagging suspicious or safe emails before the user opens them. It works across devices including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. However, while Email Guard is included for mobile platforms, they do not feature the Scam Guardian user interface found on desktop versions. Looking ahead Avast said that further AI-powered features would be added to Scam Guardian Pro later in the year, addressing new vectors of attack such as SMS and phone call scams. These forthcoming tools are intended to strengthen protection against the evolving and increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber scams. Both Scam Guardian and Scam Guardian Pro are currently available to download within Avast Free Antivirus and Avast Premium Security products. In New Zealand, Scam Guardian features are included in the free offering without extra cost.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Avast Makes AI-Driven Scam Defense Available For Free Worldwide
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 Avast Scam Guardian, a new AI-powered offering integrated into its award-winning* 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 democratising AI scam protection. A premium version, Avast 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-personalised scam campaigns that are harder than ever to spot. Like a seasoned scam investigator, Avast Scam Guardian uses proprietary AI trained on scam data from Gen Threat Labs to go beyond just detecting malicious URLs – it also analyses context and language to more effectively identify signs of deceptive or harmful intent. Avast Scam Guardian also helps to pull back the curtain on hidden threats in website code and neutralises them to keep people safer as they browse and shop online. Key features available in Avast 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 analyse and detect hidden scams in content and code** – offering unique visibility into dangerous URLs. Available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS**. Avast 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 iOS***. Avast 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 Avast Scam Guardian Pro for greater protection against sophisticated scams targeting other communication channels, including SMS and phone calls. For more information, please visit *AV-Comparatives, 'Top-Rated Product 2024 Award' & AV-Comparatives, 'Real-World Protection 2024 Award' - Jan-Dec 2024. **Content and code scanning is only available on Windows and Mac. **Email Guard is included, but mobile platforms do not have the Scam Guardian user interface. 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
Associated Press
03-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Gen Brands Norton, Avast, AVG and Avira Earn 16 Award Recognitions Across Third-Party Testing Institutions AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, and AVLab
TEMPE, Ariz. and PRAGUE, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader dedicated to powering Digital Freedom, today announced that independent testing institutions AV-Comparatives, AV-Test and AVLab have recognized multiple products across Gen trusted consumer brands: Norton, Avast, AVG and Avira. 'We recognize the rigor of these tests and are honored to receive awards from three of the leading cybersecurity benchmarking institutions,' said Siggi Stefnisson, Cyber Safety CTO at Gen. 'The threat landscape is changing at a rapid pace, and our team works tirelessly to adjust both our core technology and our products to ensure our customers are protected from the latest threats, year after year.' During the testing process, cybersecurity products go through structured evaluations that measure real-world protection, malware defense, and overall performance. The recognition from these independent testing labs across four Gen brands highlights the company's industry-leading technology, powered by advanced machine learning and AI capabilities. 'At Gen, we are committed to delivering the industry's most innovative Cyber Safety solutions, that address people's unique needs in an ever-changing threat landscape. This recognition reinforces the impact and peace of mind we always strive to provide our customers,' said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. 'These awards from independent labs further validate the trust in our technology.' Gen Brands Recognized for 'Top Rated Products' AV-Comparatives named Avast and AVG 'top rated products,' awarding Gold to Avast, AVG and Avira for Real World Protection, Bronze to Avast for Malware Protection and Bronze Avast and AVG for Advanced Threat Protection. The institute also awarded Norton, Avast and AVG for 'Outstanding Protection Against Fake Online Shops'. Norton, Avast and AVG were additionally recognized as the Best MacOS Security for home users by AV-Test, and AVLab recognized Avast Free Antivirus as winner of the Product of the Year award for its advanced in-the-wild malware protection test as well as recognizing the product for Top Remediation Time. Andreas Clementi, CEO of AV-Comparatives said, 'Our testing process is designed to objectively evaluate product performance under real-world conditions. Gen's products met the criteria for top recognition in multiple categories, indicating reliable security performance across their consumer portfolio.' About Gen Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN) is a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom through its trusted Cyber Safety brands, Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner. The Gen family of consumer brands is rooted in providing safety for the first digital generations. Now, Gen empowers people to live their digital lives safely, privately, and confidently today and for generations to come. Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy and identity protection to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Learn more at .
Associated Press
28-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AV-Comparatives Releases 2024 Summary Report: Celebrating Excellence in Cybersecurity
ESET named as Consumer Product of the Year, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender and Kaspersky win Top-Rated Awards 'Our 2024 Summary Report highlights the best in cybersecurity. Rigorous testing ensures users have the insights needed to choose reliable protection in an ever-evolving threat landscape.' — Andreas Clementi, ceo and founder, AV-Comparatives INNSBRUCK, TYROL, AUSTRIA, January 28, 2025 / / -- AV-Comparatives, the independent antivirus testing lab, is pleased to announce the publication of its annual Summary Report for 2024. This comprehensive report evaluates 16 leading consumer security products for Windows, assessing their performance across multiple rigorous tests conducted throughout the year. Tested Products The 2024 evaluation encompassed the following security solutions: - Avast Free Antivirus - AVG Internet Security - Avira Free Antivirus - Bitdefender Total Security - ESET HOME Security Essential - F-Secure Internet Security - G DATA Total Security - Kaspersky Standard - McAfee Total Protection - Microsoft Defender - Norton Antivirus Plus - Panda Free Antivirus - Quick Heal Internet Security - Total Defense Essential Anti-Virus - TotalAV Antivirus Pro - Trend Micro Internet Security Key Highlights In 2024, AV-Comparatives conducted a series of comprehensive tests to assess each product's ability to: - Protect against real-world internet threats. - Detect recent malicious programs. - Defend against advanced targeted attacks. - Operate efficiently without compromising system performance. Outstanding Performances While all evaluated products met acceptable standards, several distinguished themselves with exceptional performance: - ESET HOME Security Essential: Awarded Product of the Year 2024, ESET achieved the highest 'Advanced+" rating in all seven tests, underscoring its superior protection capabilities. - Avast Free Antivirus: Recognized as a Top-Rated Product, Avast earned 'Advanced+" in six out of seven tests and 'Advanced' in one, securing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test. - AVG Internet Security: Also a Top-Rated Product, AVG mirrored Avast's achievements with 'Advanced+" in six tests and 'Advanced' in one, sharing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test. - Bitdefender Total Security: As a Top-Rated Product, Bitdefender garnered 'Advanced+" in six tests and 'Advanced' in one, earning the Gold Award in the Malware Protection Test. - Kaspersky Standard: Honored as a Top-Rated Product, Kaspersky achieved 'Advanced+" in six tests and 'Advanced' in one, receiving the Gold Award in the False-Positives Test. Additional Recognitions The following products also demonstrated very commendable performance: - Avira Free Antivirus: Secured the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test, highlighting its robust defense against internet-borne threats. - McAfee Total Protection: Earned the Gold Award in the Performance Test, reflecting minimal impact on system performance. - G DATA Total Security: Received the Silver Award in the Malware Protection Test, showcasing effective malware detection capabilities. Areas for Improvement While the majority of products excelled, Trend Micro Internet Security and Quick Heal Internet Security exhibited areas needing enhancement to align with industry leaders. AV-Comparatives encourages these vendors to analyse the detailed findings to bolster their products' effectiveness in future evaluations. Comprehensive User-Interface Review The Summary Report also includes an in-depth user-interface review of all tested products, providing insights into usability aspects such as installation processes, security alerts, scan options, quarantine management, and access controls. Commitment to Transparency and Excellence AV-Comparatives remains dedicated to delivering transparent, comprehensive, and scientifically rigorous cybersecurity assessments. By providing unbiased evaluations, we aim to empower consumers and businesses to make informed decisions about their digital security solutions. For a detailed analysis and the full 2024 Summary Report, please visit: Summary Report 2024 AV-Comparatives X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer:
