McAfee announced upgrades to Scam Detector that make staying safe wherever you’re connected stronger, smarter, and simpler. Scams come through many channels and methods, and the enhanced Scam Detector provides protection every place you need it. You can now instantly check whether a QR code is safe and more easily spot suspicious DMs across your favorite apps. It’s more protection and more peace of mind, at no added cost, so you can feel confident wherever you’re connected.
In 2025, according to McAfee’s 2026 State of the Scamiverse report, Americans were hit hard by online scams, receiving an average of 14 scam messages per day across text, email, and social media. On top of that, people lost nearly 114 hours a year just trying to decide what was real and what wasn’t. It’s a growing burden, and a clear call for protection that meets people in the real moments where online risks show up.
“Scams aren’t just getting smarter they’re getting more personal. Powered by AI, they’re evolving more quickly and getting more targeted every day,” said Joe Manna, Chief Product and Engineering Officer, McAfee. “With these upgrades, we’re making scam protection stronger, faster, and easier for everyone. It’s our job to stay ahead of the threats, something we’ve done for over 25 years.”
What’s new in Scam Detector
Regulators and security experts urge vigilance as AI blurs the line between real and fake content online. To help people stay safer, McAfee’s upgraded Scam Detector now includes:
- Instant QR safety checks. Scan any QR code, including parking, menus, deals, and more, and get quick confirmation the link is safe before you tap.
- Smarter social messaging protection. Get clearer warnings for suspicious texts, emails, and DMs – even those without risky links – across popular platforms, so you can spot more scams faster.
