Waze is great for fast reroutes and real-time alerts, while Google Maps delivers deep Gemini integration and more features. Here's my pick after extensive testing.
Cybersecurity researchers are warning of two cybercrime groups that are carrying out "rapid, high-impact attacks" operating almost within the confines of SaaS environments, while leaving minimal traces of their actions.
The clusters, Cordial Spider (aka BlackFile, CL-CRI-1116, O-UNC-045, and UNC6671) and Snarky Spider (aka O-UNC-025 and UNC6661), have been attributed to high-speed data theft and
Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a new China-aligned espionage campaign targeting government and defense sectors across South, East, and Southeast Asia, along with one European government belonging to NATO.
Trend Micro has attributed the activity to a threat activity cluster it tracks under the temporary designation SHADOW-EARTH-053. The adversarial collective is assessed to
Exploitation was underway before patches landed, at least one victim reports ransomware demand
CISA has added a critical cPanel bug to its known-exploited list, confirming that attackers are already poking holes in one of the internet's most widely used hosting stacks.…
You’re scrolling through Facebook or TikTok and see it.
A flash sale from a brand you recognize. A limited-time investment opportunity. A job posting that promises quick money.
The ad has comments. The account looks polished. Maybe someone you follow even liked it.
So you click.
From there, things move fast. You’re pushed to act quickly, enter your information, or send payment before the “deal” disappears. And just like that, the money is gone or your account is compromised.
This isn’t an edge case anymore. According to new FTC data, nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam in 2025 said it started on social media, with total losses hitting $2.1 billion.
That’s why McAfee+ Advanced includes comprehensive protection designed to help you spot and stop scams at every step, including McAfee’s Scam Detector, which flags suspicious links and messages and explains why they may be risky, along with identity and privacy tools that help protect your information if a scam slips through.
How Social Media Ad Scams Work
A social media ad scam is when scammers use paid ads, fake profiles, or hijacked accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to promote fake products, services, or investment opportunities in order to steal money or personal information.
Step
What happens
What to do
How McAfee helps
1
You see an ad, post, or DM promoting a deal, job, or investment
Don’t engage immediately, even if it looks legitimate
Scam Detector flags suspicious links and messages before you interact
2
The ad links to a website or moves you into DMs
Avoid clicking unfamiliar links or continuing off-platform
Safe Browsing helps block risky or newly created websites
3
You’re pressured to act quickly or “secure your spot”
Slow down and verify the company independently
Scam Detector explains urgency tactics and why they’re risky
4
You’re asked to pay, share login info, or download something
Never send money or credentials based on a social media interaction
Identity Monitoring helps protect your personal data if exposed
5
The product never arrives, the investment disappears, or your account is compromised
Report the scam and secure your accounts immediately
Personal Data Cleanup and monitoring help reduce ongoing exposure
Red Flags To Watch For
Deals that feel unusually cheap or urgent
Ads linking to unfamiliar or slightly misspelled websites
Requests to move conversations off-platform quickly
Payment requests via apps, crypto, or wire transfer
Accounts with limited history or inconsistent engagement
And that is the first part of This Week in Scams! This Friday we’re taking a different format to talk about this new FTC data and all that it reveals.
Let’s keep digging in:
FTC Report: Social Media Scams Are Now The Most Costly Fraud Channel
New data from the FTC shows just how dominant social media has become in the scam landscape.
Social media scams drove $2.1 billion in reported losses in 2025
Losses have increased eightfold since 2020
Investment scams alone accounted for $1.1 billion of those losses
Where Scams Are Happening And What’s Changing
Category
What to know
Most common scams
Shopping scams lead, with over 40% of victims reporting purchases from social media ads that never arrived
Most costly scams
Investment scams drive the biggest losses, often starting with ads or group chats showing fake success
What’s changing
Scammers are using platform tools like ads, targeting, and profile data to reach people more precisely than ever
Altman's crew now doing the same gatekeeping it recently mocked
OpenAI is lining up a limited release of its new GPT-5.5-Cyber model to a handpicked circle of "cyber defenders," just weeks after taking a swipe at Anthropic for doing almost exactly the same thing.…
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