Avast is offering a suite of security tools specifically designed to stay out of a gamer’s way while blocking modern threats.

Avast brings decades of cybersecurity experience to help keep gamers protected across desktop and mobile. From advanced antivirus and performance tools to VPN, Cleanup, and AntiTrack –  it’s built for how you play.

With powerful anti-scam protection, Avast helps block fake messages, scam SMS, and shady links before they hit.

It’s generally understood that running an antivirus while gaming is a bit of a nuisance. Most of us have had a match interrupted by a “virus definitions updated” pop-up or noticed a frame rate dip because a background scan decided to start during a boss fight. However, with the rise of more sophisticated phishing and “deepfake” scams in 2026, going completely unprotected isn’t really a viable option anymore. Avast seems to have realized this, leaning into a “set it and forget it” approach that focuses on performance as much as protection.

Security That Doesn’t Tank Your FPS

The core of the Avast offering for gamers is their Cleanup Premium and performance optimization tools. Rather than just being a passive shield, the software includes a “Do Not Disturb” mode that specifically silences non-essential notifications when a game is running in full-screen. This is a small thing, but if you’ve ever lost a game because of a Windows update notification, you’ll appreciate the quiet.

They also include a Cleanup utility that targets background processes. From my experience, most “gaming boosters” are just not helpful, but Avast’s version focuses on “hibernating” apps that drain CPU and RAM—essentially giving your game priority without you having to manually kill tasks in the Task Manager every time you boot up Steam.

Protection Against Modern “Shady Links”

Gaming news recently has been full of stories about account hijacking via Discord scams and fake “beta access” emails. Avast’s Scam Guardian and Deepfake Guard (their newer AI-driven tools) are designed to catch these.

• Anti-Scam Protection: This blocks fake SMS and messages that try to trick you into giving up your login credentials.
• AntiTrack: This is particularly useful if you spend a lot of time on forums or trade sites. It masks your “digital fingerprint,” preventing advertisers and data miners from building a profile on your browsing habits.
• VPN: The inclusion of Avast SecureLine VPN is a nice touch for those of us who occasionally play on public Wi-Fi or want to avoid DDoS attacks, though I’ve found it’s best used for privacy rather than trying to lower ping.

One Step Ahead

The “Start simple, upgrade when you are ready” philosophy is a fair way to handle it. You can get the basics for free, but the “Ultimate” bundle is where the performance tools—like the Driver Updater and Cleanup Premium—actually live. Given that they are currently offering a significant discount, it’s a better time than most to actually get a license.

You can currently get up to 80% off via their link: https://www.nng4trk.com/LHN1RX/55W57N2/

It’s a solid enough setup. It keeps the malware out and the frame rates steady, which is really all I’m looking for in a security suite.