The website, which compares human beings to extraterrestrials, touts arrest numbers from the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration crackdown. But some of its details are really out there.
The Jacksonville Jaguars recently released a viral schedule announcement video that appeared to show their star quarterback chopping off his signature long blond hair. The clip spread quickly online, pulling in nearly 4 million views on X and triggering reactions from fans, friends, and even Lawrence’s grandmother.
The catch? It wasn’t real.
The team later confirmed the moment was partially staged, partially AI-generated and part of the joke. Even Lawrence admitted the fake looked convincing.
And that’s exactly the problem.
What started as a harmless sports prank is also a reminder of how realistic AI-generated videos have become and how easily scammers can use the same technology to fool people online.
Why Deepfake Scams Are Growing Fast
Deepfake scams use artificial intelligence to clone someone’s face, voice, or likeness to create fake videos, ads, phone calls, or social media posts that appear real.
And increasingly, scammers are using celebrities, influencers, athletes, and trusted public figures to do it.
72% of Americans say they’ve seen fake celebrity or influencer endorsements online
39% say they’ve clicked on one
1 in 10 victims lost money or personal data
Average losses reached $525 per person
Why does it work? Because scammers know familiarity lowers our guard.
When people see a recognizable face, whether it’s Trevor Lawrence, Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, or a favorite influencer, they’re more likely to trust what they’re seeing before stopping to question it.
From Funny Sports Videos to Real Financial Scams
The Jaguars video was meant as entertainment.
But scammers are already using the same technology for fraud.
McAfee researchers recently identified a growing wave of celebrity deepfake scams involving fake giveaways, investment schemes, romance scams, and fraudulent ads.
Some recent examples include:
Fake videos of TV personalities promoting “miracle” products
Usernames with extra characters or copied profile photos
Requests for money or personal data
Especially through DMs, crypto links, gift cards, or wire transfers
How McAfee Helps Protect You
AI scams are evolving fast, but layered protection can help you stay ahead of them.
McAfee’s Scam Detector, included in all core McAfee plans, can help identify suspicious links, messages, videos, and deepfake-related scams across texts, email, and social platforms before you click.
Additional protections like Web Protection and Identity Monitoring can also help reduce your risk if scammers attempt to steal your credentials or personal information.
Other Scam News This Week
Charter Confirms Data Breach
Charter Communications confirmed a data breach tied to a third-party vendor, exposing customer information. Whenever breaches like this happen, scammers often follow up with phishing emails and fake customer support calls pretending to help affected users.
7-Eleven Data Breach Reports Surface
Reports surrounding a potential 7-Eleven data breach are circulating online. Consumers should stay alert for fake password reset emails, loyalty account phishing attempts, and scam texts impersonating retailers.
‘Tom Selleck’ Celebrity Scam Highlights Rise of AI Impersonation Fraud
A tragic case tied to an alleged Tom Selleck impersonation scam is drawing attention to the growing threat of celebrity AI fraud. Experts warn that scammers are increasingly using fake celebrity profiles, AI-generated messages, cloned voices, and deepfake videos to build trust with victims online, especially older adults.
The case underscores how emotionally manipulative and financially devastating these scams can become.
Hackers Are Exploiting AI Chatbot “Personalities”
Researchers told The Verge that attackers are beginning to manipulate chatbot behavior and personalities to trick users into unsafe actions, highlighting growing concerns around AI trust and social engineering.
Fake Inheritance Email Scams Are Getting More Convincing
A phishing scam making headlines this week uses fake inheritance notices and “unclaimed estate” emails to pressure victims into sharing personal information.
Unlike older scam emails full of spelling mistakes, newer versions look polished and professional, often using legal-sounding language, fake reference numbers, and urgent 48-hour deadlines designed to trigger panic before people stop to verify the message.
McAfee Safety Tips This Week
The next deepfake won’t always look fake. That’s what makes these scams dangerous.
Here are some practical, go-to tips
Pause before clicking celebrity endorsements or viral videos
Verify accounts through official sources before trusting promotions
Never send money or personal data based on social media messages alone
Be skeptical of urgency, especially “limited time” threats
Use AI-powered scam protection tools to help identify suspicious content before you engage
The US military has long known that cheap fixes could stop location data from exposing its troops. It adopted almost none—and now says adversaries are using the data to target soldiers during a war.
Your Windows PC or Mac already includes built-in security features, and that’s a good thing. These tools provide an important first layer of protection against malware and other common threats users encounter every day.
But today, staying safe online is about much more than blocking viruses.
Scam texts arrive daily. Phishing emails imitate trusted brands. Fake websites are designed to steal passwords and payment information. Personal details can appear on data broker sites. AI Deepfakes are more convincing than ever. And most households use multiple devices, from laptops and phones to tablets and Chromebooks.
That’s why McAfee+ Advanced combines device security with scam protection, identity monitoring, personal info removal, web protection, and secure VPN to help protect the many parts of your digital life.
Let’s break down what built-in security does, and what McAfee does differently:
What Built-In Security Does Well
Both Windows 11 and macOS include a range of built-in security features designed to help protect your device. Depending on your operating system and the apps you use, these may include:
Malware detection and removal
Firewalls
Browser warnings about suspicious websites
Password management tools
Privacy and app permission controls
Together, these features provide an important first layer of protection and help many users stay safer online.
Why Many People Want More Than Basic Device Protection
Built-in security tools are primarily focused on protecting the device itself. However, today’s online threats often target something even more valuable: your identity, your money, and your personal information.
Recent McAfee research found that Americans receive an average of 14 scam messages every day, and more than three in four have encountered an online scam.
Threats now commonly include:
Scam texts pretending to be banks, toll agencies, and delivery companies
Fake job offers via text, email, or social media
Phishing emails
QR code scams
AI-generated voice and video impersonations
Identity theft via smishing and quishing, including hijacking entire social profiles
Exposure of personal information on data broker sites
These risks can follow you across all your devices, not just the computer sitting on your desk.
Built-In Security vs. McAfee Protection
Here are the key differences between built-in security alone, vs additional protection like McAfee.
Built-In Security Has
McAfee+ Advanced Adds
Detecting viruses and malware
Scam protection for suspicious texts, emails, links, QR codes, and deepfakes
Basic privacy controls
Secure VPN to protect your connection on public Wi-Fi
Saving passwords
Password manager with unique password generation and storage.
Warning about some risky websites
Web Protection to help block dangerous sites before they load
Security on one device
Antivirus coverage across your PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets
Doesn’t have this support
Identity monitoring, so you know when your SSN and other info is exposed. Plus personal info removal, so your old data isn’t left spread out across the web.
Why McAfee Stands Out: Speed and Comprehensive Protection
Unlike the old stereotype that stronger protection means a slower computer, independent testing shows McAfee is also the lightest on performance.
In the latest AV-Comparatives PC Performance Test, McAfee Total Protection posted the lowest system impact score of all 20 products tested: just 3.3, compared with the industry average of 12.8.
It also earned the highest possible rating, ADVANCED+. That means McAfee is not just adding more layers of protection. It is doing so while staying out of your way.
For consumers looking for security that goes beyond basic antivirus to help protect against scams, identity theft, privacy risks, and threats across all their devices, that combination is hard to ignore.
Protection Across All Your Devices
Most people no longer rely on a single computer. A typical household may use:
Windows PCs
Macs
iPhones
Android phones
Tablets
Chromebooks
Managing security separately on every device can be difficult. McAfee+ Advanced is designed to provide coverage across your devices under one subscription, helping simplify online protection for individuals and families.
How McAfee+ Advanced Goes Beyond Built-In Security
With McAfee+ Advanced, multiple layers work together before any damage is done:
Scam Detector flags suspicious texts, emails, links, QR codes, and even deepfake videos before you engage
Secure VPN keeps your data private, especially on public Wi-Fi
Web Protection helps block risky sites, even if you do accidentally click helps block risky sites, even if you do accidentally click
Password Manager doesn’t just help you make unique, strong passwords, it keeps them stored and organized for you
Online Account Cleanup assists in taking down your old, forgotten accounts across the web
Social Privacy Manager helps you monitor and changeprivacy settings across your social platforms in just a few clicks
Together, these protections are designed to address the broader range of online risks people face every day.
So, Do Windows PCs and Macs Need Antivirus Software?
Built-in security tools provide an important starting point, but with scam attempts becoming more convincing and personal information more widely exposed, many people need a more comprehensive approach to staying safe online.
McAfee+ Advanced combines device security, scam protection, identity monitoring, privacy tools, and VPN coverage to help you browse, bank, shop, and connect with greater confidence.
Some internet connectivity is returning in Iran after nearly 90 days offline, web monitoring groups say. But it isn’t clear if the reconnection is permanent.
As Americans stew over the looming risk of job-stealing AI and data centers in their back yards, the feds are raising the alarm about a new category of threat, documents obtained by WIRED show.
Plus: Google publishes a live exploit for an unpatched flaw, the feds arrest two men accused of creating thousands of nonconsensual deepfake nudes, and more.
Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off summer, and for millions of Americans, that means road trips, flights, cookouts, and a little online shopping for the deals.
Unfortunately, scammers know this. They count on the fact that you’re distracted, you’re moving fast, and you’re probably connected to a network you don’t own.
Here are five scams surging this holiday weekend, what they look like, and how to stay ahead of them.
1. Fake Travel Alerts from “Your Bank” or Hotel
You’re packing your bag when a text arrives: “Unusual activity detected on your account. Verify now to avoid suspension.”
It looks like it’s from your bank, or maybe your hotel loyalty program. There’s a link. There’s urgency. And that’s exactly the point.
These are brand impersonation scams, and they’re a dominant tactic year-round, but they spike around travel holidays when people are actively monitoring reservations and accounts.
Example of a fraudulent AMEX message.
According to McAfee research, trusted brands like banks, airlines, and hotels are among the most commonly impersonated, and email scams impersonating retail and financial brands have surged up to 85% as major holidays approach.
The message will typically ask you to click a link and “confirm your details” to secure your account or honor a reservation. That link leads to a convincing-looking fake site designed to capture your login credentials, payment info, or both.
How to Avoid Travel Alert Scams:
Don’t click links in unsolicited texts or emails.
Go directly to the company’s app or website by typing the URL yourself.
Remember: pressure is a tactic, not customer service.
McAfee’s Scam Detector can flag suspicious messages before you interact with them, whether they come via text, email, or social media.
2. Fake Memorial Day Weekend “Deals”
Memorial Day is one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Scammers treat it like an open invitation.
Fraudulent retailers flood social feeds with too-good-to-be-true deals on everything from patio furniture to electronics, often impersonating legitimate brands with copycat websites and paid ads.
According to McAfee’s holiday shopping research, 91% of shoppers see ads from unfamiliar retailers, 37% say they might buy from a brand they don’t recognize, and a full 40% of consumers have abandoned a purchase out of fear that the deal wasn’t real.
The most impersonated brands in McAfee’s research span luxury labels (Coach, Dior, Gucci) to mainstream favorites (Apple, Samsung, Nintendo, Disney), exactly the kind of items that show up in “blowout sale” ads. Fake storefronts have grown significantly, with technology URL scams rising nearly 50%.
Once shoppers enter their payment details on a fraudulent site, that information goes directly to criminals. The average scam loss during the holiday shopping period runs around $840 per victim.
How to Avoid Shopping Scams:
Type retailer URLs directly into your browser instead of clicking through ads or social posts.
Look for HTTPS and double-check the domain carefully before entering any payment info.
If a deal looks unbelievably good, verify it on the retailer’s official app before buying.
McAfee’s Web Protection blocks malicious and suspicious sites before they load, including fake checkout pages.
3. QR Code Scams at Gas Stations and Travel Stops
If you’re road-tripping this weekend, you may scan a QR code somewhere. It could be at the gas pump, a rest stop, a parking meter, or a roadside attraction. Scammers know this too.
Criminals increasingly place fake QR codes over legitimate ones on gas station pumps, parking kiosks, and public signs. When you scan, you’re redirected to a convincing-looking payment or login page that captures your financial information. This is known as “quishing” or phishing via QR code.
McAfee research shows just how widespread this risk has become: 68% of people scanned a QR code in the past three months, and 18% ended up on a suspicious or unsafe page after scanning. Among those who did, more than half took a risky action like entering personal information, installing an app, or connecting a digital wallet.
How to Avoid Sketchy QR Codes:
Before scanning any QR code in public, look closely at the sticker or sign.
If it looks like it’s been placed over something else, skip it.
If you do scan, check the URL before proceeding.
McAfee’s Scam Detector now includes instant QR code safety checks that assess risk before you tap, so you’re not flying blind at the gas pump.
This shows how McAfee blocks unsafe QR codes.
4. Public Wi-Fi Traps at Airports, Hotels, and Coffee Shops
Whether you’re waiting at the airport or grabbing coffee before hitting the highway, free Wi-Fi can feel like a gift. But not every “free Wi-Fi” network is what it appears to be.
Hackers set up what are called “evil twin” networks, hotspots with names designed to look exactly like the legitimate network at the airport, hotel, or café you’re in.
The moment you connect, they can use tools called packet sniffers to capture the data you send and receive: passwords, banking credentials, credit card numbers, email logins.
According to McAfee’s travel research, 63% of travelers connect to public Wi-Fi, and 49% use airport Wi-Fi, making these among the riskiest behaviors travelers engage in without realizing it.
Some of these fake networks go further, presenting a phony login screen that captures your username and password for popular services like Google or Apple before you even realize you’ve been compromised.
How to Avoid Malicious Wi-Fi :
Always confirm the exact Wi-Fi network name with staff before connecting.
Turn off auto-join for Wi-Fi on your devices.
And most importantly: use a VPN.
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic, so even if a hacker intercepts it, they’ll only see scrambled data. McAfee’s VPN is included in McAfee+ plans and automatically connects when you join public Wi-Fi, exactly the protection you want when you’re traveling and connecting everywhere.
5. Toll Road and Parking Text Scams (Expect a Surge After the Weekend)
You may have seen these already: a text that says you owe an unpaid toll or parking fee, with a link to pay before penalties kick in. These scams have been circulating for a while, and there’s a good chance Memorial Day weekend is about to make them worse.
Scammers track news cycles and know that millions of Americans will be driving this weekend, many of them through toll roads and unfamiliar areas.
That means they can blast out fake “unpaid toll” texts after the holiday and a significant percentage of recipients will think: “Actually, I did drive somewhere new this weekend.” That uncertainty is exactly what they’re counting on.
Fake court notices threatening parking and toll violations have been making the rounds this spring.
These texts typically impersonate EZPass, SunPass, or state transportation departments and create urgency around a small fee to avoid larger fines. The link leads to a fake payment page designed to steal your credit card details.
How to Avoid Toll Scams:
Don’t click links in unsolicited toll or parking texts.
If you think the charge might be legitimate, go directly to your state’s official toll authority website and look up your account there.
Real toll agencies will not threaten immediate penalties over text with a payment link.
If you receive one of these texts after this weekend, treat it as suspicious by default.
Have a Safe Memorial Day Weekend
Scammers don’t take holidays. If anything, long weekends are peak season. The good news: a little awareness goes a long way. Slow down before you click, verify before you scan, and protect your connection before you log on.
McAfee+ Advanced comes with layered protection across all the moments where scams are most likely to strike, from the gas station to the hotel lobby to your inbox.
Three firms will pay nearly $1 million for selling “Active Listening” technology that they claimed tapped people’s phones for advertising. The FTC alleges the “tech” was just pricey email lists.
GitHub is just the latest victim of TeamPCP, a gang that has carried out a spree of software supply chain attacks that has impacted hundreds of organizations.
One line tucked into a federal highway bill would strip funds from cities and states unless they kill their automated plate tracking programs—effectively banning the tech for all but toll collection.
A new study finds AI companies, defense firms, and dating apps are among 38 data collectors allegedly using manipulative design to confuse users while collecting their data.
You’re comparing airfare on your phone, watching prices climb by the hour, when a deal pops up that feels just good enough to grab. The timer’s ticking. The price looks right. You don’t want to miss it.
You’re comparing airfare on your phone, watching prices climb by the hour, when a deal pops up that feels just good enough to grab. The timer’s ticking. The price looks right. You don’t want to miss it.
That moment, when you’re rushing to lock something in, is exactly where scams thrive.
New McAfee research shows that more than 1 in 3 Americans have encountered a travel-related cyberthreat, and 41% of those impacted lost money, often exceeding $500.
This shows a screenshot of a fake Booking.com website detected by McAfee that was attempting to trick users into running malicious script/code
At the same time, rising travel costs and time pressure are pushing people to make faster, riskier decisions. Those arethe exact conditions scammers rely on.
That’s where protection has toshow up earlier.
McAfee’s Scam Detector lets you check suspicious links, messages, and booking sites before you click, so you can pause and verify instead of giving scammers the edge.
Travel Scams, Red Flags, and How McAfee Protects You
Travel Scam Type
Key Red Flags
How McAfee Helps
Fake travel deals
Prices far below market, pressure to “book now,” sites you’ve never heard of
Scam Detector flags suspicious links and explains why they’re risky, so you can avoid fake deals before you book
Fake booking confirmations
Unexpected messages about bookings you didn’t make, mismatched sender details
Scam Detector analyzes messages before you engage, helping you avoid fake confirmations
Fake airline/hotel websites
Slight URL changes, poor design, being pushed to pay immediately or off-platform
Safe Browsing helps block risky sites before you enter payment details, reducing the chance of fraud
Payment requests outside platforms
Asked to pay via wire transfer, crypto, or direct payment instead of official platforms
Scam Detector flags suspicious payment requests, helping you avoid sending money to scammers
QR code scams
QR codes posted in public with no clear source or context
Scam Detector checks QR links before they open, so you don’t land on malicious sites
Customer service impersonation
Calls or messages asking for login credentials or payment info
Scam Detector detects deepfake AI audio impersonation attempts, helping you avoid sharing sensitive information
AI-generated listings
Photos that look overly polished, details that don’t quite match up
Scam Detector identifies suspicious content patterns, helping you spot listings that aren’t real
Public Wi-Fi attacks
Open networks with no password or security prompts
VPN helps protect your data on public networks, keeping your personal information private
The Findings From Our 2026 Travel Research
McAfee Labs found that many travel scams work because they look familiar and spread fast.
TripAdvisor was the most commonly impersonated travel app, cloned at roughly three times the rate of other major platforms like Kayak, Expedia, and Booking.com.
In some cases, thousands of scam detections traced back to just a handful of fake apps, showing how quickly a convincing scam can take off when travelers are racing to book.
Top 5 Ways Rising Travel Costs Are Driving Risky Decisions
Our 2026 travel survey shows how rising prices and last‑minute pressure are changing traveler behavior, often in ways scammers exploit.
1. Booking faster than usual 90% feel pressure to act quickly
2. Choosing cheaper deals without verifying 32% would book before confirming legitimacy
3. Ignoring red flags 33% admit they’ve done it
4. Trusting messages that look legitimate 41% trust airline/hotel messages without verifying
5. Clicking links without checking the source 20% click first, verify later (or not at all)
The Travel Scams People Are Most Likely to Fall For
According to our consumer survey findings, those who reported falling for a travel scam said these were the methods scammers used to trick them:
1. Fake travel deals or promotions (15%)
2. Scam booking confirmations or updates (15%)
3. Manipulated accommodation listings or photos (15%)
4. Payment requests outside official platforms (11%)
5. Fake vacation rental listings (10%)
6. Fake airline or hotel websites (9%)
7. Customer service impersonation (9%)
8 Ways Travelers Put Themselves at Risk Without Realizing It
These common traveler behaviors are popular avenues for criminals to steal your information, data, and money.
1. Connecting to public Wi-Fi (63%)
2. Scanning QR codes without verifying (62%)
3. Using airport Wi-Fi (49%)
4. Trusting travel-related messages (41%)
5. Logging into financial apps on public Wi-Fi (22%)
6. Sharing travel plans in real time (22%)
7. Clicking travel links without verifying (20%)
8. Using shared/public computers (15%)
How McAfee Protects You Before, During, and After Your Trip
As prices rise and decisions happen in real time, it’s easy to prioritize convenience over caution. But that’s exactly the moment when small checks matter most.
Stage of Travel
What’s Happening
How McAfee Helps
Before You Book
Comparing deals, clicking promotions, booking flights and hotels under time pressure
Scam Detector checks links, messages, and booking sites before you click, helping you avoid fake deals and scam listings
During Your Trip
Connecting to public Wi-Fi, scanning QR codes, receiving travel updates and alerts
VPN helps secure your connection on public Wi-Fi, while Scam Detector flags suspicious messages and unsafe links in real time
After Your Trip
Accounts remain active, travel data stored across platforms, potential exposure from breaches
Identity Monitoring alerts you if your personal information appears online, helping you act quickly before damage spreads
With McAfee+ Advanced, multiple layers work together so you’re not left figuring it out after the damage is done.
Spend more time on your vacation, and less time worrying about scammers who want your vacation fund.
Starting May 19, tech platforms in the US will have to comply with the Take It Down Act. Here’s how more than a dozen major platforms are handling takedown demands for your nonconsensual nudes.
McAfee Total Protection just took first place in the latest AV-Comparatives PC Performance Test, the gold standard for measuring how much (or how little) security software slows down your computer.
With an overall impact score of 3.3 out of a possible 100, McAfee outperformed all 19 other security products tested and earned the highest possible rating: 3 Stars ADVANCED+.
The industry average? 12.8. McAfee came in nearly 4x lower than that. The lower the impact score, the less the software gets in your way
What Is the AV-Comparatives PC Performance Test?
AV-Comparatives is an independent cybersecurity testing lab that has been rigorously evaluating security software since 1999. Unlike a review written by a single journalist or a score based on a company’s own claims, AV-Comparatives tests are:
Independent: delivers unbiased, data‑driven evaluations of security products
Standardized: every product is tested under the same conditions
Widely trusted: regularly cited in product roundups, expert reviews, and buying guides that shape how consumers choose security software
The PC Performance Test specifically measures how much a security product impacts your computer’s everyday speed. Testing is conducted on a real Windows 11 machine (Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, SSD) with all default settings enabled and an active internet connection. That’s the same setup millions of everyday users have at home.
The lower the impact score, the less the software gets in your way.
What McAfee’s Score Actually Means
McAfee Total Protection scored 3.3, the lowest impact score of all 20 products tested, and well below the industry average of 12.8.
Here’s a simple way to think about it: if the average security product takes a measurable toll on your machine while it works in the background, McAfee barely registers. You get full, always-on protection without the sluggishness that frustrates so many users.
This result earned McAfee the ADVANCED+ rating, the highest tier AV-Comparatives awards, reserved for products that deliver top-tier performance with minimal system impact.
Why “Lightweight” Protection Matters More Than You Think
There’s a common misconception that stronger protection means a heavier, slower product. McAfee’s results prove otherwise.
When your security software is slow, you notice it:
Apps take longer to open
Downloads feel sluggish
Your machine lags during everyday tasks
You’re tempted to disable protection to get your speed back, leaving yourself exposed
A lightweight product means protection that works quietly in the background, without making you choose between safety and performance. That’s the promise behind McAfee’s result, and it’s now independently verified.
AV-Comparatives Test Results
First Place, But Not for the First Time
This isn’t a one-off result. McAfee has earned the ADVANCED+ rating consistently across multiple rounds of AV-Comparatives testing, demonstrating that this level of performance isn’t luck. It’s the result of deliberate, sustained engineering.
Independent, repeatable results like these are what separate marketing claims from proven performance.
With McAfee, you get award-winning protection and award-winning performance, so your devices stay secure without slowing you down.
Which McAfee Plans Include This Protection?
The same AI-powered threat protection validated in this test is built into every major McAfee plan:
McAfee+ Premium
McAfee+ Advanced
McAfee+ Ultimate
McAfee Total Protection
McAfee LiveSafe
Whether you’re protecting one device or an entire household, you’re getting the same industry-leading, independently verified performance under the hood.
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