This week in scams and cybersecurity news, 

Looking for a free download of this summer’s biggest movie could come with something you definitely didn’t ask for: malware. 

Here’s what to watch for. 

Fake The Odyssey Downloads Are Hiding Malware 

Speaking of Trojan horses….

Security researchers have reportedly identified malicious downloads disguised as pirated copies of The Odyssey, including files designed to look like high-quality movie releases. 

Some fake files even use familiar video-player icons and movie-style filenames to appear legitimate.

But instead of opening a movie, downloading or running the file can launch malicious software capable of stealing information from the device. Other scams reportedly use fake streaming sites that ask users to enter personal or payment information to access a supposedly “free” movie.  

McAfee researchers routinely see cybercriminals attach malware to the things people are already searching for, especially popular movies, TV shows, games, mods, and software. 

In a recent example, McAfee Labs uncovered the WeedHack malware campaign targeting Minecraft players, which disguised malicious software as free game mods and clients. Our researchers recorded more than 116,000 infections from the campaign since January. 

The media changes. The scam doesn’t.

What Makes Fake Movie Downloads Dangerous? 

A supposed movie file can hide: 

• Infostealers designed to collect passwords, browser sessions, payment information, or cryptocurrency data 
• Trojans that give an attacker access to your device 
• Loaders that install additional malware 
• Fake browser updates or extensions that redirect you to scams or malicious websites 

One especially obvious warning sign: movies should not arrive as executable .exe files. Legitimate video files generally use formats such as .mp4, .mkv, or .avi. 

When in doubt, don’t download it. 

How McAfee Protects Against Malware

With McAfee+, multiple layers can help protect you when a tempting download isn’t what it claims to be: 

Device Security helps detect malicious apps, files, and downloads before they can compromise your device. 

Web Protection helps block risky websites, including malicious download pages, even if you accidentally click. 

Scam Detector flags suspicious texts, emails, links, QR codes, and other messages that may try to direct you toward fraudulent sites. 

Identity Monitoring alerts you if your personal information appears in known data leaks or on the dark web so you can take action quickly. 

Together, these protections help address both sides of fake-download scams: stopping malware before it gets onto your device and helping protect your information if criminals try to steal it. 

Other Scam and Security News This Week 

Here are some other breaches, scams, and cybersecurity headlines making waves this week:

Trezor breach reportedly exposes information belonging to nearly 14,000 crypto customers.

Hardware wallet maker Trezor says a breach involving one of its shipping providers exposed personal information including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and home addresses for thousands of customers.  

McAfee’s 2026 State of the Scamiverse predicted that crypto and financial scams were likely to intensify this year, and cryptocurrency-related messages remain among the scams McAfee Scam Detector regularly identifies and blocks.

(Financial Times) 

Cyberattacks continue to climb worldwide.

New threat research found organizations experienced an average of 2,336 cyberattacks per week in July, a 16% increase from the previous year, while reported ransomware victims also rose sharply. Education, government, telecommunications, and other major sectors remained frequent targets.

(IT Brief) 

Android malware can turn a victim’s phone into part of a contactless-payment scam.

Researchers investigating the targeted WindRelay campaign say criminals impersonated banks over the phone, persuaded victims to install malicious Android apps, and then instructed them to tap their physical bank cards against their phones. 

That allowed attackers to relay contactless card information in real time, with researchers reporting some attacks unfolded during calls lasting only about 13 minutes.

(TechRadar) 

This Week’s Safety Tips 

✓ Stream and download from legitimate sources. New theatrical releases appearing for free on unfamiliar websites should immediately raise suspicion. 

✓ Check the actual file type before opening a download. A movie should never require you to run an .exe application. 

✓ Never install a “special player,” browser update, or extension just to watch a movie. Close the page and go directly to a trusted streaming service instead. 

✓ Treat urgency and exclusivity as warning signs. “Watch it before everyone else,” “leaked copy,” and “limited access” are designed to get you clicking before you think. 

And we’ll be back next week with more cybersecurity news and scam alerts. 

The post Fake “The Odyssey” Downloads Are Spreading Malware: This Week in Scams appeared first on McAfee Blog.

And will today’s surge in AI-driven vulnerability discovery eventually make tomorrow’s software safer?

The incident involving OpenAI models shows that autonomous hacks make human oversight more important, not less

Records obtained by WIRED detail hundreds of allegations of Customs and Border Protection workers misusing internal tools to look up romantic interests and track colleagues’ cell phones.

AI took center stage, but the clearest lesson was less about what AI can do than about who is accountable when something goes wrong

Millions of gamers are counting down the days until this fall’s biggest releases. 

After more than a decade of anticipation, Grand Theft Auto VI is finally set to launch this November. Surprise indie hit Meccha Chameleon has exploded across Twitch and YouTube after selling millions of copies within days. And highly anticipated titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Phantom Blade Zero, Marvel’s Wolverine, and dozens of others are keeping players glued to trailers, wishlists, Discord servers, and preorder pages. 

Scammers are watching those trends. 

Whenever millions of people rush to search for the same game, criminals quickly create fake downloads, unofficial mobile apps and servers, counterfeit storefronts, phishing pages, and cheat tools designed to steal money, credentials, or personal information. 

This year is no exception. 

Here’s how scammers are taking advantage of 2026’s biggest gaming moments, and how you can avoid becoming their next target, according to McAfee’s experts: 

The Most Common Gaming Scams and How to Avoid Them, According to McAfee 

Most gaming scams fall into a handful of predictable categories. Once you know what to look for, they’re much easier to spot. 

Here are some of the most common scams McAfee protection prevents 

Scam	What it looks like	Red flags	How to protect yourself
Fake game downloads	“Free” copies, cracked launchers, unofficial installers	Unknown websites, requests to disable antivirus, ZIP files instead of official installers	Download games only from official publishers or trusted storefronts
Fake early access	Too-good-to-be-true VIP access, beta invites, playable versions before launch that don’t exist	Cryptocurrency payments, countdown timers, “exclusive” offers, unofficial websites	Verify release dates , including early access dates, and preorder information directly with the publisher
Cheats, mods, and trainers	Unlimited money, aimbots, unlock tools, auto-play software	Downloads shared through Discord, YouTube descriptions, file-sharing sites	Only use trusted community repositories and avoid executable files from unknown sources
Fake mobile versions	Mobile apps for games that don’t officially exist on Android or iPhone	Different developer names, excessive ads, cloned screenshots	Confirm that the developer has actually released a mobile version before downloading
YouTube and Discord scams	Videos claiming to have mods or secret builds	Shortened links, pinned download comments, Discord invite links	Visit the developer’s official website instead of getting mods or clicking links from comments or descriptions
Fake giveaways and free skins	Free cosmetics, DLC, battle passes, or gift cards	Requests to sign in through third-party sites or enter account credentials	Only redeem offers through official game platforms

 These tactics aren’t theoretical. They’re happening right now. 

Detected by McAfee Labs: Malware Campaigns, Malicious Downloads, and Suspicious Apps 

Earlier this year, McAfee Labs uncovered WeedHack, a malware campaign disguised as free Minecraft mods and game clients.  

Since January 2026, the campaign has infected more than 116,000 devices, averaging roughly 2,000 to 3,000 new infections every day. Attackers lured players through fake mod websites and convincing YouTube videos before installing malware capable of stealing passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, Discord credentials, Minecraft accounts, and more.  

Ultimately these gaming attacks can expose players to: 

• Malware infections  
• Account theft  
• Password theft  
• Data breaches  
• Spyware monitoring cameras and microphones 
• Spyware monitoring keyboard and mouse inputs 
• Permanent game bans  

One of the campaign’s most concerning findings wasn’t just the malware itself, it was how inexpensive and accessible the tools had become. The malware was marketed almost like legitimate software, lowering the barrier for inexperienced attackers and helping spread scams throughout gaming communities. 

The lesson isn’t to avoid every cheat, unlock, or community-created project. It’s to be skeptical whenever someone promises something that seems too good to be true. 

Meccha Chameleon Shows How Quickly Scammers Embrace Viral Games 

Few people predicted Meccha Chameleon would become one of the biggest surprise gaming success stories of the year. 

The inexpensive indie title reportedly sold more than two million copies within days, fueled largely by livestreams, social media clips, and word of mouth. Unfortunately, that kind of overnight success doesn’t just attract new players. 

According to PC Gamer, players have already begun using automated “auto-paint” cheats that scan the environment and instantly camouflage characters, removing much of the creativity and skill the game was designed around. 

The game’s popularity has also created confusion about where players can safely download it. 

McAfee researchers recently identified multiple Android apps and an unofficial piracy site using the Meccha Chameleon name, despite the game’s independent developer not announcing an official Android release.  

Here’s how we saw it play out 

First a gamer might navigate to this piracy site to download a free game. The game may not come with malware, but malware is still distributed during the process. 

 

The post GTA 6 Is Coming. So Are the Scams. Here’s What McAfee Experts Found appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Security researchers found that in less than 60 seconds, they could open a hatch on a plane’s exterior, plug in a tiny device, and redirect the aircraft’s autopilot or sabotage its flight plan.

Experts allege that two recent incidents in California show the extreme lengths that criminal organizations are willing to go to to steal servers and other gear meant for data centers.

Researchers say it took fewer than 20 prompts for a public AI tool to find a flaw (now fixed) allowing anyone on a Zoom call to hijack another participants’ device.

Discover how Cisco’s FedRAMP Certified Class D (High) enables federal agencies to strengthen their Zero Trust architecture and secure mission-critical data.

Cisco is proud to announce a landmark achievement: Secure Email Threat Defense has officially achieved FedRAMP Class D (High) certification!

Plus: A judge rules cell tower dumps unconstitutional, water utility hacks spread to a dozen states, a phishing email opens a missile-parts supplier’s inbox, and a ransomware boss gets 16 years.

Two security researchers bought cheap domains—including noreply.net and deleteduser.com—and set up email listening services. Hundreds of companies are sending them corporate secrets.

This week in scams and cybersecurity news, 

Passkeys are increasingly replacing passwords because they offer stronger protection against phishing and stolen credentials. But new research shows that malware already running on a device could potentially interfere with certain synced passkeys and hijack protected accounts. 

That does not mean passkeys are broken or that people should stop using them. Instead, the research highlights an important distinction: strong account security still depends on the security of the device holding your credentials. 

Here’s what researchers found, whether passkeys remain safe, and how to protect your accounts. 

Can Malware Bypass Your Passkeys? 

Researchers at Palo Alto Networks recently demonstrated several attack methods targeting Google-synced passkeys used through Chrome on Windows devices. 

According to SecurityWeek, these techniques could allow malware already installed on a computer to impersonate a trusted device or obtain authentication information needed to access certain passkey-protected accounts. 

Key takeaways 

The device must already be infected. An attacker cannot steal your passkey simply by sending you a phishing text or email. 

The research focused on synced passkeys. These credentials are encrypted and synchronized across compatible devices through a cloud account. 

Malware may be able to impersonate a trusted device. Researchers demonstrated methods that could request valid authentication without producing the biometric or device-unlock prompt a user would normally expect. 

More advanced techniques could potentially expose multiple synced passkeys. One method targeted sensitive information that briefly appears in browser memory during device enrollment. 

Google was notified and has reportedly introduced mitigations. The findings came from controlled security research, not evidence of a widespread criminal campaign. 

(SecurityWeek) 

Are Passkeys Still Safe? 

Yes. Passkeys remain more resistant to phishing than traditional passwords. 

Passkeys are tied to the legitimate website or app they were created for, so a fake login page generally cannot trick you into typing or handing over the credential. They also eliminate the risks created by weak and reused passwords. 

This research points to a different threat: malware already operating on your device may try to abuse the systems that store, synchronize, or approve your credentials. 

Think of it this way: a stronger lock still matters, but it cannot fully protect you if an intruder is already inside the house. 

This Week’s Safety Tips 

✓ Use passkeys when available. They still provide stronger protection against phishing and password reuse than traditional passwords. 

✓ Keep your browser, operating system, and security software updated. Updates help close vulnerabilities that malware could exploit. 

✓ Be cautious with unexpected files and downloads. Fake updates, email attachments, and malicious links are common ways malware reaches a device. 

✓ Review your trusted devices and active sessions. Remove devices you no longer recognize or use. 

How McAfee Helps Protect Your Devices and Accounts 

Device security helps detect and block viruses, malware, and other threats that could compromise the device where your passkeys and passwords are stored. 

Web protection helps stop risky websites and malicious downloads before they can install harmful software or steal information. 

Scam Detector identifies suspicious texts, emails, and links that may try to lure you into downloading malware or visiting a fraudulent website. 

Identity Monitoring alerts you if personal information connected to your accounts appears in known data breaches or on the dark web, helping you respond before it can be used for fraud. 

Other Scam and Security News This Week 

Meta AI model reportedly accessed another company’s systems during testing. Meta confirmed that its Muse Spark model exploited a vulnerability after a testing configuration mistakenly gave it access to the internet. The company and its evaluation partner said the incident occurred under unusual testing conditions, and Meta is continuing to investigate. (CNN) 

AI-powered voice phishing reportedly targets major financial firms. Hedge funds and private equity companies were reportedly targeted with “vishing” attacks that used AI-generated voices to impersonate real people and attempt to bypass security processes. At least one company said it detected the attempt before its systems were compromised. (Bloomberg/Gizmodo) 

ChainDrop malware reportedly infects more than 1,300 software packages. Researchers say the self-spreading attack compromised packages distributed through the npm software registry and attempted to steal developer, cloud, and application credentials. Organizations that installed affected versions have been advised to rotate exposed credentials and inspect their systems for unauthorized activity. (BleepingComputer) 

And we’ll be back next week with more scam alerts and cybersecurity news. 

The post Can Malware Bypass Your Passkeys? This Week in Scams appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Security researchers tracked and eavesdropped on a WIRED reporter using vulnerabilities in a pink plastic smartwatch. It’s just one piece of a deeply insecure supply chain of GPS-enabled gadgets.

At the Black Hat security conference, the AI giant revealed new details about how its agents went rogue, hacked several other companies—and did it all right under the company’s nose.

Researchers at security firm Zenity found more than a dozen flaws in AI browsers—and managed to get OpenAI’s Atlas to make an unauthorized Amazon purchase.

For nearly two years, researcher Vangelis Stykas has maintained access to North Korean hackers’ servers. His work shows they pulled off intrusions in a shocking number of systems across the globe.

A lawsuit accuses Homeland Security of violating protesters’ free-speech rights—but the agency is using it to try to get access to the plaintiffs’ encrypted communications.

Security researcher James Kettle tried to push the limit of AI’s hacking abilities—and discovered how effective it can be when combined with human expertise.