Login
McAfee has been named the top brand in the Antivirus and Security Software category in TIME and Statista’s 2024 World’s Best Brands list, ranking above all major industry competitors.
The list, which surveyed over 22,000 U.S. consumers, ranks brands based on trust, awareness, and customer satisfaction across 66 industries.
TIME’s World’s Best Brands of 2024 rankings highlight consumer preferences across industries, from tech to retail. The inclusion of cybersecurity in the list speaks to a broader trend: digital safety is no longer just a concern for businesses and IT professionals—it’s a household necessity.
Recent data supports this shift. A global McAfee study found that 59% of people have fallen victim to an online scam or know someone who has, with 87% of those affected losing money—an average loss of $1,366 USD. As the financial and personal stakes of online security continue to rise, consumers are looking for trusted brands that offer comprehensive, easy-to-use protection.
For those looking to strengthen their digital defenses, McAfee+ provides award-winning security that protects against malware, scams, and online fraud—allowing consumers to browse, shop, and connect with confidence.
The post McAfee Named #1 Antivirus and Security Software Brand in TIME’s 2024 World’s Best Brands appeared first on McAfee Blog.
McAfee Total Protection users can feel even more secure online knowing that AV-Comparatives has named it the best in 2024 for both real-world protection and overall speed.
The two awards – the 2024 Real-World Protection Gold Award and the Best Overall Speed Gold Award – underscore McAfee’s commitment to providing powerful security without compromising PC performance, a critical combination at a time when 59% of people globally report falling victim to an online scam or knowing someone who has, with 87% of these individuals losing money—an astounding average loss of $1,366 USD.
“We are honored to receive both the Best Real-World Protection and the Best PC Performance awards,” said McAfee Chief Technology Officer Steve Grobman. “AV-Comparatives is a renowned institute with a reputation for analysis and quality assurance that stands tall, and this recognition further reinforces our leadership in online protection. With our AI-powered threat protection, we remain committed to staying one step ahead of cybercriminals while having the lowest impact on PC performance, so that people can enjoy their online lives with confidence.”
Each year, AV-Comparatives rigorously tests leading consumer security products to evaluate their effectiveness in real-world scenarios as well as their impact on system performance. McAfee’s standout results reflect the strength of its:
Protect yourself and your family today with McAfee Total Protection, which includes the award-winning anti-malware technology, scam protection, identity monitoring, Secure VPN, password management, and safe browsing capabilities for all-in-one security.
Get started with a free trial of McAfee Total Protection here. McAfee’s award-winning technology is also available in McAfee+ Premium, McAfee+ Advanced, and McAfee+ Ultimate.
Read the full report on AV-Comparatives’ awards here.
The post AV-Comparatives Crowns McAfee as 2024’s Leader in Online Protection and Speed appeared first on McAfee Blog.
You know that “Hi, how are you?” text from a stranger? It’s one of the top scams worldwide—right along with those fake delivery notices that try to reel you in a scam site with a fishy link. Now you have extra protection against them and all other kinds of scams with our new McAfee Scam Detector.
The time’s right for it too. Those scam stats above came from our latest research, which also uncovered just how often people get hit with scams and how costly they can be. 59% of Americans said they or someone they know has fallen for an online scam in the last 12 months, with scam victims losing an average of $1,471 to the scam.
Now here’s where our Scam Detector comes in. It helps stop scammers in their tracks with real-time protection against fake emails, suspicious texts, and deepfake videos that look incredibly real. By design, it helps you protect what scammers want — your money and your personal info.
McAfee Scam Detector starts with McAfee Smart AI, the same technology that already powers our online protection. From there, it helps keep you safe from email, text message, and video scams:
The best part is that we do this automatically. Once it’s set up, McAfee Scam Detector goes to work immediately. No need to copy, paste, or second-guess if a message is fake — we take care of it all for you, all in real-time. If we spot something sketchy, it lets you know, whether that’s on your mobile app, email inbox, or video platform.
Also, it lets you know what’s suspicious and why. That’s important to us. When it comes to scams, “knowing one when you see one” goes a long way toward keeping yourself safer online. Explaining why something’s dangerous can help you spot threats even when you’re on devices without McAfee-powered protection.
Soon, McAfee Scam Detector will be included in all McAfee+, McAfee Total Protection, and McAfee LiveSafe plans at no extra cost. It protects you wherever you’re online. Whether you’re using a phone, laptop, tablet, or Chromebook, our Scam Detector keeps you safe.
The post Introducing McAfee Scam Detector— Stop Scams Before They Strike appeared first on McAfee Blog.
In our digital age, a computer is not just a tool; it’s a gateway to a world of possibilities, entertainment, and creativity. The speed of everyday tasks from gaming, and streaming TV shows to editing images and videos can make us more productive but also make our computers more fun to use. When exploring our software choices, it’s vital to choose apps and services, such as online protection tools that have a minimal impact on your computer, allowing you to live your best life online, without the concerns of your PC slowing down.
McAfee has once again proven its excellence by securing the #1 spot in the AV-Comparatives PC Performance Test. With an impressive overall impact score of only 2.8, McAfee Total Protection outperformed all other security vendors, showcasing its lightweight design and exceptional performance. Download the full report from AV-Comparatives here.
AV-Comparatives, an Austria-based test-lab renowned for its comprehensive evaluations, conducted an extensive Performance Test to measure the impact of consumer security software on system performance. In this test, 16 security products, including McAfee Total Protection, were rigorously evaluated on a low-end PC with an Intel Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and SSD system drives. The tests were conducted on a clean Windows 10, 64-Bit system with the security software installed using default settings.
With an overall impact score of 2.8, McAfee Total Protection emerged as the lightest product in the test, surpassing the industry average of 12.3. This outstanding performance has earned McAfee Total Protection the highest possible ranking: ADVANCED+ 3 Stars. This achievement reaffirms McAfee’s commitment to delivering top-notch security solutions that prioritize both protection and performance. McAfee has consistently received the highest ADVANCED+ ratings for performance in all AV-Comparatives Performance Tests since October 2016. This track record of excellence demonstrates McAfee’s dedication to continuous improvement and delivering exceptional products.
To ensure the accuracy of the results, AV-Comparatives examined various activities such as file copying, application installation and launching, file downloading, and web browsing. All tests were conducted with an active internet connection, allowing for the evaluation of the real-world impact of cloud services and features. McAfee Total Protection excelled in all these areas, showcasing its ability to provide robust security without compromising system performance. Whether you’re a gamer, a movie buff, a budding photographer, or a video editor, the enhanced performance can significantly refine how you engage with your hobbies and passions. Learn how your computer can also be more fun!
For gamers, the benefits of a faster computer are immediately noticeable. Modern games require substantial system resources, including fast processors and powerful graphics cards, to run smoothly. Online protection with a minimal impact on your computer’s performance, lets you enjoy games as the developers intended, with minimal lag and stunning visuals.
Streaming TV shows and movies has become a staple of home entertainment. Platforms like Netflix and Disney Plus offer 4K streaming for many titles and an optimized computer can mean enjoying the best streaming content without buffering.
Photography enthusiasts and graphic designers know that image editing can be resource-intensive, especially with high-resolution images and complex effects. A more efficient computer speeds up the performance of software like Adobe Photoshop, allowing for quicker loading of images, smoother application of effects, and more responsive overall editing. This not only saves time but also makes the creative process more enjoyable.
Video editing is perhaps the most demanding task that regular consumers undertake on their computers. Editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro can leverage the additional power of a faster computer to render video faster, apply effects more smoothly, and improve the playback of high-resolution footage in real time. This means less time waiting and more time creating.
Investing in robust, tried, and tested online security solutions offers peace of mind, without compromises to your system performance. If you find your current computer lagging in your digital aspirations, it might be time to consider stepping up to more capable online protection. Stay protected with McAfee and experience the perfect balance of security and efficiency.
The post McAfee Dominates AV-Comparatives PC Performance Test appeared first on McAfee Blog.
This year marks the world’s biggest election year yet.
An estimated four billion voters will head to the polls across more than 60 national elections worldwide in 2024 — all at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make history of its own. Without question, the harmful use of AI will play a role in election interference worldwide.
In fact, it already has.
In January, thousands of U.S. voters in New Hampshire received an AI robocall that impersonated President Joe Biden, urging them not to vote in the primary. In the UK, more than 100 deepfake social media ads impersonated Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the Meta platform last December[ii]. Similarly, the 2023 parliamentary elections in Slovakia spawned deepfake audio clips that featured false proposals for rigging votes and raising the price of beer[iii].
We can’t put it more plainly. The harmful use of AI has the potential to influence an election.
In just over a year, AI tools have rapidly evolved, offering a wealth of benefits. It analyzes health data on massive scales, which promotes better healthcare outcomes. It helps supermarkets bring the freshest produce to the aisles by streamlining the supply chain. And it does plenty of helpful everyday things too, like recommending movies and shows in our streaming queues based on what we like.
Yet as with practically any technology, whether AI helps or harms is up to the person using it. And plenty of bad actors have chosen to use it for harm. Scammers have used it to dupe people with convincing “deepfakes” that impersonate everyone from Taylor Swift to members of their own family with phony audio, video, and photos created by AI. Further, AI has also helped scammers spin up phishing emails and texts that look achingly legit, all on a massive scale thanks to AI’s ease of use.
Now, consider how those same deepfakes and scams might influence an election year. We have no doubt, the examples cited above are only the start.
Within this climate, we’ve pledged to help prevent deceptive AI content from interfering with this year’s global elections as part of the “Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections.” We join leading tech companies such as Adobe, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok to play our part in protecting elections and the electoral process.
Collectively, we’ll bring our respective powers to combat deepfakes and other harmful uses of AI. That includes digital content such as AI-generated audio, video, and images that deceptively fake or alter the appearance, voice, or actions of political candidates, election officials, and other figures in democratic elections. Likewise, it further covers content that provides false info about when, where, and how people can cast their vote.
A set of seven principles guide the way for this accord, with each signatory of the pledge lending their strengths to the cause:
In all, we see the tech accord as one important step that tech and media companies can take to keep people safe from harmful AI-generated content. Now in this election year. And moving forward as AI continues to shape and reshape what we see and hear online.
Yet beyond this accord and the companies that have signed on remains an important point: the accord represents just one step in preserving the integrity of elections in the age of AI. As tech companies, we can, and will, do our part to prevent harmful AI from influencing elections. However, fair elections remain a product of nations and their people. With that, the rule of law comes unmistakably into play.
Legislation and regulations that curb the harmful use of AI and that levy penalties on its creators will provide another vital step in the broader solution. One example: we’ve seen how the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recently made AI robocalls illegal. With its ruling, the FCC gives State Attorney Generals across the country new tools to go after the bad actors behind nefarious robocalls[iv]. And that’s very much a step in the right direction.
Protecting people from the ill use of AI calls for commitment from all corners. Globally, we face a challenge tremendously imposing in nature. Yet not insurmountable. Collectively, we can keep people safer. Text from the accord we co-signed puts it well, “The protection of electoral integrity and public trust is a shared responsibility and a common good that transcends partisan interests and national borders.”
We’re proud to say that we’ll contribute to that goal with everything we can bring to bear.
[i] https://apnews.com/article/new-hampshire-primary-biden-ai-deepfake-robocall-f3469ceb6dd613079092287994663db5
[ii] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/12/deepfake-video-adverts-sunak-facebook-alarm-ai-risk-election
[iii] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-29/trolls-in-slovakian-election-tap-ai-deepfakes-to-spread-disinfo
[iv] https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-400393A1.pdf
The post McAfee Joins Tech Accord to Combat Use of AI in 2024 Elections appeared first on McAfee Blog.
The tables have turned. Now you can use AI to spot and block scam texts before they do you harm.
You might have heard how scammers have tapped into the power of AI. It provides them with powerful tools to create convincing-looking scams on a massive scale, which can flood your phone with annoying and malicious texts.
The good news is that we use AI too. And we have for some time to keep you safe. Now, we’ve put AI to use in another powerful way—to put an end to scam texts on your phone.
Our new Text Scam Detector automatically identifies and alerts you if it detects a dangerous URL in your texts. No more wondering if a package delivery message or bank notification is real or not. Our patented AI technology instantaneously detects malicious links to stop you before you click by sending an alert. And as a second line of defense, it can block risky sites if you accidentally follow a scam link in a text, email, social media, and more.
The time couldn’t be more right for this kind of protection. Last year, Americans lost $330 million to text scams alone, more than double the previous year, with an average reported loss of $1,000, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The deluge of these new sophisticated AI-generated scams is making it harder than ever to tell what’s real from what’s fake.
Which is where our use of AI comes in. With it, you can turn the table on scammers and their AI tools.
Here’s a closer look at how Text Scam Detector works:
Text Scam Detector is free for most existing customers, and free to try for new customers.
Most McAfee customers now have Text Scam Detector available. Simply update your app. There’s no need to purchase or download anything separately. Set up Text Scam Detector in your mobile app, then enable Safe Browsing for extra protection or download our web protection extension for your PC or Mac from the McAfee Protection Center. Some exclusions apply¹.
For new customers, Text Scam Detector is available as part of a free seven-day trial of McAfee Mobile Security. After the trial period, McAfee Mobile Security is $2.99 a month or $29.99 annually for a one-year subscription.
As part of our new Text Scam Detector, you can benefit from McAfee’s risky link identification on any platform you use. It can block dangerous links should you accidentally click on one, whether that’s through texts, emails, social media, or a browser. It’s powered by AI as well, and you’ll get it by setting up Safe Browsing on your iOS² or Android device—and by using the WebAdvisor extension on PCs, Macs and iOS.
Scan the QR code to download Text Scam Detector from the Google App store
AI works in your favor. Just as it has for some time now if you’ve used McAfee for your online protection. Text Scam Detector takes it to a new level. As scammers use AI to create increasingly sophisticated attacks, Text Scam Detector can help you tell what’s real and what’s fake.
The post Get Yourself AI-powered Scam Text Protection That Spots and Block Scams in Real Time appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Your privacy means everything. And your identity too. The launch of McAfee Privacy & Identity Guard will protect them both.
We’re proud to announce the launch of McAfee Privacy & Identity Guard in partnership with Staples. Through this partnership, McAfee’s Privacy & Identity Guard will be available at select Staples locations across the U.S. and help customers protect their identity and privacy online.
McAfee’s Privacy & Identity Guard will be sold in the travel section of Staples along with other travel benefits such as passport services, TSA PreCheck sign up, and fingerprinting services. McAfee’s Privacy & Identity Guard offers a natural fit for Staples customers who are on the go, particularly as they rely on their laptops and smartphones to get things done while traveling.
And people certainly have concerns about their privacy and identity when they hit the road. McAfee’s recent Safer Summer Report revealed 1 in 3 people have been scammed when booking or taking trips, with a third (34%) of those losing $1,000 or more. This same study found 61% of all adults worry more about digital safety than physical safety when on vacation.
“As Staples exclusive tech services security partner for the last seven years, we’re excited to partner with Staples on the initial launch of McAfee Privacy & Identity Guard in the U.S.,” said Gagan Singh, McAfee’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. “This online protection product was designed to address consumers’ key concerns about safeguarding personal information online, something that becomes even more at risk when traveling.”
Identity Monitoring – Monitor personal information with timely alerts.
Identity Restoration – Exclusive to Staples customers, these features offer further peace of mind in the event of identity theft or loss.
Privacy Features – Find personal data tied to old, unused online accounts & requests removal of any personal information found on data broker sites.
Is your email on the dark web?
One sign that your privacy and identity is at risk if your email appears on the dark web. Hackers and scammers post email addresses and other personal and financial information on dark web sites—sometimes offered freely, sometimes offered to other hackers and scammers for sale. You can find out if your email is posted on the dark web by visiting https://www.mcafee.com/idscan-staples.
The post McAfee’s New Privacy & Identity Guard Launches at Staples Stores appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Each year the independent labs at AV-TEST announce their best products in IT security, and McAfee has come out on top with AV-TEST’s award for “Best Protection.”
McAfee received the award across a field of 20 different products assessed by AV-TEST, which included evaluation across three key categories:
Maik Morgenstern, CEO of AV-TEST, said: “The test category of protection is an elite discipline in the lab of AV-TEST. That is why we are particularly pleased that we were able to confer such an important and coveted award on McAfee. The consumer user product Total Protection demonstrated with perfect detection in all lab tests that it earned the AV-TEST Best Protection 2022 Award for Consumer Users.”
Their labs utilize thousands of rigorous real-world tests that determine how well online protection performs against known, new, and emerging threats—such as previously unknown zero-day malware, drive-by attacks, malicious downloads from websites, attacks via infected emails, ransomware, and many more.
“Recognition from AV-TEST is an honor,” says Chief Technology Officer, Steve Grobman. “Their reputation for analysis and quality assurance stands tall and further reinforces our leadership in online protection. Grobman also continued to say, “With the internet now an integral part of our daily lives, cybercriminals have stepped in to take advantage of that reliance. As ever, we’re committed to staying one step ahead of them so that people can confidently enjoy their lives online.”
Get a free 30-day trial of McAfee Total Protection, which includes McAfee’s award-winning anti-malware technology plus identity monitoring, Secure VPN, and safe browsing for all-in-one online protection.
The post McAfee Awarded Best Protection by the Labs at AV-TEST appeared first on McAfee Blog.
FreshRSS 