Hackers stole about 8.3 million confidential tip records submitted to school safety and crime tip lines across the US and Canada, according to Nevada education officials citing media estimates. The exposed data may include names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. The tips were stored on P3 Global Intel, an anonymous reporting platform owned by safety software company Navigate360, which acknowledged the breach on Oct. 23, 2026, as reported by Reuters.

How the Navigate360 Breach Happened

An attacker accessed Navigate360’s P3 Global Intel system between November 2025 and March 2026 and copied confidential tips. P3 runs the anonymous reporting apps and websites behind many school safety and crime tip lines. According to an April 2026 letter from U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jim Banks, Navigate360’s products are used by more than 35,000 schools and 5,000 public safety agencies.

Here is what’s known so far:

• March 2026: A hacktivist group claimed it stole 93GB of data, including millions of tips.
• 22, 2026: The Nevada Department of Education said about 10% of SafeVoice Nevada tips containing personally identifiable information were compromised between November 2025 and March 2026, in what it called a “criminal multistate cybersecurity incident.”
• 22, 2026: Toronto Crime Stoppers said it had frozen its operations after CBC reported that more than 1.5 million Canadian Crime Stoppers tips, some dating back 25 years, were exposed. The stolen data had been made available to journalists and researchers by the transparency group Distributed Denial of Secrets in March, according to The Record.
• 23, 2026: Navigate360 publicly acknowledged the breach and said sensitive personal data may have been exposed.

Tip records are different from most breached data. A single tip can include the tipster’s details, a student’s name, a description of another person, and sensitive details such as medical information. Nevada says it cannot notify everyone directly because SafeVoice tips are anonymous, so many affected people may never receive a letter.

Exposed personal data often fuels follow-up scams. Americans already receive an average of 14 scam messages a day across text, email, and social media, according to McAfee’s State of the Scamiverse report (January 2026). Breach news gives scammers a fresh, believable pretext to add to that volume.

Red Flags After the Navigate360 Breach

Watch for messages that use this breach as a hook:

• A text or email about “your tip” or “your SafeVoice report” with a link: Scammers copy breach news to steer people to fake claim or login pages.
• A caller who says they’re from Navigate360, a school, or police and asks for your SSN or bank details: Legitimate breach notifications don’t ask for payment, and you should never give your full SSN to an unsolicited caller.
• A demand for payment to “remove” your tip or keep it private: No legitimate organization charges to protect leaked data. This is extortion or a scam.
• Someone who knows details from a tip you submitted: This may mean your tip was exposed. Treat it as a possible safety issue, not just a scam.
• New credit accounts, inquiries, or tax notices you don’t recognize: These are signs your SSN may be in use.
• Mail or calls about credit in your child’s name: Children rarely have credit, so this activity is a warning sign.

How to Protect Yourself After the Navigate360 Breach

If you or your child ever submitted a tip through SafeVoice, a Crime Stoppers program, or another P3-powered tip line, take these steps now:

1. Use only the official notice line. Navigate360’s call center is 833-966-1754, open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, according to the Nevada Department of Education. If a message gives a different number or link, don’t use it.
2. Freeze your credit. A freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion blocks new accounts in your name. It’s free and does not affect your current accounts.
3. Freeze your child’s credit, too. Parents and legal guardians can freeze credit files for children under 16 at no cost. You’ll typically need your child’s birth certificate and Social Security card, your ID, and proof of address. Our guide on how to protect your child from identity theft walks through the freeze and other steps.
4. Check your credit reports. Get free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and look for accounts or inquiries you don’t recognize.
5. Treat unexpected breach messages as suspect. Don’t click links or call numbers in unsolicited texts or emails. Go directly to the official source instead.
6. Turn on multi-factor authentication. Add it to email, banking, and school accounts so a stolen password alone can’t unlock them.

What to Do If Your Information Was Exposed or Misused

Act quickly if you see signs your data is being used:

• Report identity theft: Go to identitytheft.gov to get a recovery plan and an FTC Identity Theft Report.
• Contact your bank or card issuer: Call right away if you see charges or accounts you didn’t open.
• Stop contact and don’t send money: Don’t pay anyone who threatens to release your tip or demands payment.
• Change passwords: Update any account that shares a password you used with a tip app or school portal.
• Call the Navigate360 line: Dial 833-966-1754 to ask about the breach and available help.
• Keep records: Save letters, messages, phone numbers, and any accounts or charges you dispute.
• Contact police: File a report if anyone threatens or harasses you over a tip.

How to Report Navigate360 Breach Scams and Identity Theft

If you encounter suspicious activity, potential scam communications, or identity theft related to the breach, it is essential to report it promptly to the appropriate authorities. Reporting assists law enforcement in tracking fraudulent schemes and protects others from falling victim. Use these official channels:

• Identity theft: identitytheft.gov
• Scam messages or calls: FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Online fraud or extortion: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
• Threats to your safety: Your local police department

While learning about a potential breach can be unsettling, taking a few proactive steps can go a long way in securing your personal information. If you or your child have ever used SafeVoice, Crime Stoppers, or another P3-powered tip service, freezing your credit files is an effective measure to help keep your family protected. As always, stay vigilant and verify any unexpected messages referencing your tip through official channels.

FAQ

Is SafeVoice Nevada still safe to use?

Navigate360 told Nevada that SafeVoice “remains fully operational and available 24/7.” The state has also opened a request for information to evaluate other vendors, according to the Nevada Department of Education.

What information was exposed in the Navigate360 breach?

Navigate360 said names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive information may have been exposed. What was exposed varies by tip.

Which states were affected by the Navigate360 breach?

As of Oct. 27, 2026, Nevada is the only US state that has publicly quantified its impact. Canadian Crime Stoppers programs were also affected. Navigate360 has not published a full list.

The post Navigate360 Breach Exposes Millions of Anonymous Tips: How to Protect Your Family appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Two serious security holes were found in PHP, the behind-the-scenes software that powers a large share of the websites you visit every day. Fixes went out on Oct. 21, 2026. Until each website installs them, attackers could use the holes to take over the computers that run those sites and grab the passwords and data stored there.

For most people, there is nothing to install on your phone or computer. Website owners and hosting providers are responsible for installing the fix. You can still take steps to protect your accounts in case a site you use is compromised.

The PHP security team announced the two flaws, nicknamed PHP2Shell (CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619), in an Oct. 21 security advisory and rated both 9.2 out of 10 for severity. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre warned that “organisations using any version of PHP are affected.” PHP runs about 69.7% of websites whose server-side programming language is known, according to W3Techs data cited by Infosecurity Magazine.

What Is PHP?

PHP is a programming language that runs behind the scenes on many websites. When you log in to an account, add something to a shopping cart, or post a comment, PHP is often the software doing that work on the website’s computer, called a server. It runs on servers, not on your phone or laptop. Many popular website builders, including WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla, are built on PHP.

How the PHP2Shell Vulnerability Works

Both flaws stem from errors that occur while PHP is processing a request from a website visitor. When PHP fails partway through, it can leave data from that request behind in the server’s memory. Attackers can trigger these errors deliberately and exploit the leftover data to gain access to the server.

Both flaws involve how PHP cleans up after handling a request. According to PHP’s Oct. 21 advisory:

• CVE-2026-109618: When PHP runs out of memory at the wrong moment, it can stop while data is only partly set up, then treat that incomplete data as valid.
• CVE-2026-109619: After an error, PHP can keep a reference to memory it has already released, and a later request handled by the same server process can reuse it.

To exploit the flaws, an attacker sends specially built requests to a website and does not need a password. That can expose passwords, digital keys, and other secrets stored in the server’s memory, or let the attacker run their own commands on the server. Wiz Research showed the attack working against WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla sites.

Information about the flaws leaked online on Oct. 20, a day before the fixes came out, according to the PHP Foundation. Cloudflare said it saw attack traffic aimed at its customers after the leak. For a short window, PHP2Shell was effectively a zero-day threat, meaning attackers knew about it before a fix existed.

Artificial intelligence helped find the flaws. OpenAI said the research firm Calif used one of its AI models to find one of them, and Wiz independently found both with help from AI tools.

How the PHP Exploit Could Affect You

The main risk to you is indirect: a website you use gets hacked before it installs the fix. Think of it like a store whose back door was left unlocked. You didn’t do anything wrong, but your information inside the store could still be taken.

If an attacker breaks into a site’s server, they could:

• Steal account information, such as usernames, email addresses, and passwords stored on that site.
• Grab the site’s own keys and passwords, which attackers can use to reach other systems that hold customer data.
• Change what the site shows you, because whoever controls the server controls the pages it sends.

You may also notice some sites going offline for a while. Some Dutch government and education sites went down, and the HR software company BambooHR took its service offline as a precaution. A site going offline doesn’t by itself mean your data was stolen.

Attackers moved quickly. Amazon Threat Intelligence reported that one of its decoy servers caught an attack attempt on Oct. 17, four days before the flaws were made public, and said PHP2Shell “is now seeing broad exploitation attempts in the wild.” One web hosting platform blocked more than 60,000 suspicious requests probing the flaws by the evening of Oct. 21, according to The Hacker News. As of Oct. 23, no successful break-ins had been publicly confirmed, according to SecurityWeek.

Warning Signs to Watch For

You can’t see whether a website runs PHP or has been patched. What you can watch for are signs that a site you use was affected, or that scammers are using the news to trick you. McAfee’s guide to recognizing a phishing email covers more of the tricks to look for.

Red Flag	Why It Matters
A message telling you to download a “PHP update” or “PHP2Shell patch” for your phone or computer	PHP runs on website servers, not personal devices. A message like this is a scam.
An email from a company saying your data may have been exposed	The site may have been breached. Act on it, but log in by typing the site’s address yourself instead of clicking the link.
Password reset emails or login alerts you didn’t request	Someone may be trying to use stolen login details.
A familiar site suddenly asks for unusual information or tries to download a file	The site may have been tampered with. Leave it and check the company’s official channels.
Charges you don’t recognize on a card you used with an online store	Payment details may have been stolen.

How to Protect Yourself

You can’t patch other people’s websites, but you can limit the risk to yourself if one of them is breached. These steps help with PHP2Shell and with data breaches in general.

1. Use a different password for every account. If one site leaks your password, attackers can’t use it to get into your other accounts. A password manager can create and remember them for you.
2. Turn on multi-factor authentication. It adds a second step, like a code sent to your phone, so a stolen password alone isn’t enough to get in.
3. Set up alerts with your bank and card issuer. Text or email alerts for new charges let you spot fraud the day it happens, instead of weeks later on a statement.

If you run a personal blog or small business website: Ask your hosting company to confirm that PHP is updated to version 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36, 8.2.35, or newer. Updating WordPress or your plugins is not enough on its own, according to Cloudflare, because the fix has to be made to PHP itself. If your site runs an older PHP version, ask your host to move it to a supported one.

What to Do If Your Information Was Exposed

If a company tells you your data may have been exposed, act quickly. Being caught up in a breach is not your fault, and these steps can limit the damage.

• Change your password for that site, and on any other account where you used the same one.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication for that account and for your email.
• Call your bank or card issuer if payment details may have been exposed, and ask about freezing or replacing the card.
• Consider a free credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It stops anyone from opening new credit in your name.
• Go to IdentityTheft.gov if your Social Security number or other identity details were exposed. It creates a step-by-step recovery plan.
• Keep records of the breach notice, any suspicious messages, and any charges you dispute.

How to Report It

If you lost money or think someone is using your information, report it:

• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov for scams and fraud
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov for online crime, including hacked websites
• Identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov
• Your bank or card issuer: for any unauthorized charges
• Local police: if you lost money or were threatened

PHP2Shell is a problem that website owners have to fix, but it can still impact your accounts if a site you use is breached. The most important thing you can do is use a unique password and multi-factor authentication for every account, so one breach doesn’t expose the rest.

FAQ

What is PHP2Shell?

PHP2Shell is the nickname for two serious security flaws in PHP, software that runs behind the scenes on many websites. Fixes were released on Oct. 21, 2026.

Do I need to update my phone or computer?

No. PHP runs on website servers, not personal devices, so the fix is up to website owners. Any message telling you to install a “PHP update” on your device is a scam.

Is my information at risk?

It could be, if a site you use was hacked before it installed the fix. Watch for breach notices from companies you do business with, and use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.

How do I know if a website I use was affected?

You can’t tell by looking at a site. Companies that find a breach may notify you by email or post an update on their official website. Check the company’s site directly rather than trusting a link in an email.

Has the PHP exploit been used in real attacks?

Yes. Security firms including Amazon and watchTowr have reported widespread attack attempts, and Amazon saw one as early as Oct. 17, before the fix was public. No confirmed break-ins had been publicly reported as of Oct. 23.

The post PHP2Shell Leak Sparks Emergency Fix for Software Behind Most Websites: How to Stay Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Digital certificates function like digital passports, confirming to your browser that a website is genuine so it can set up an encrypted connection for the information you send. On October 20, 2026, Ars Technica reported that eight intermediate digital certificates were compromised due to weak private signing keys. This vulnerability created a window where bad actors could forge credentials, impersonate legitimate websites, and intercept sensitive web traffic across the internet.

The TLS Certificate Vulnerability: What Happened and the Risks to Your Data

When you visit a secure website, like your bank, email provider, or healthcare portal, your web browser inspects the site’s digital certificate, often called an SSL certificate, to confirm you are connecting to the real service rather than an imposter. These certificates rely on cryptographic keys generated by authorized Certificate Authorities. When those keys are generated properly, each one is an enormous random number, far too large for anyone to guess. The danger comes when that randomness breaks down.

On October 17, 2026, a security researcher checking the Common CA Database discovered that eight subordinate certificates issued by Indian authority eMudhra relied on private keys between 3 and 8 bits in size. The researcher reported the flaw to Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, and eMudhra, and Mozilla made the incident public on October 20 on its Dev Security Policy forum. Keys of this type normally carry about 384 bits of randomness, but one of these compromised keys was generated as the number “4.”

With keys that weak, unauthorized actors could easily discover them and generate counterfeit security certificates for virtually any website. If an attacker positioned themselves between you and the internet, such as on a public Wi-Fi network, they could launch a man-in-the-middle attack. During this attack, your browser would mistakenly trust the fraudulent connection, exposing entered passwords, messages, and personal information.

There is no public evidence that anyone used these keys to forge certificates, and eMudhra says none of the affected certificates were used to issue certificates to websites. However, the weak keys existed from April 2025 until the flaw was reported in October 2026, so no one can say for certain that they went unnoticed for those 17 months.

Warning Signs of an Insecure Connection

A certificate forged with one of these keys would look legitimate to any device that hasn’t received the block, so there may be no visible warning at all. That’s why updates are your main defense. Still, these signs can point to an intercepted or unsafe connection:

• Sudden browser security warnings: On an updated device, a site using one of the blocked certificates triggers alerts like “Your connection is not private.”
• Repeated login requests: Prompts demanding credentials on websites where your browser normally keeps you signed in.
• Unexpected account security alerts: Emails or texts about sign-ins, password changes, or new devices you don’t recognize.
• Address bar discrepancies: URLs that switch from HTTPS to HTTP, or subtle typos in web addresses.
• Suspicious Wi-Fi networks: Networks with names nearly identical to a legitimate one, or that ask for personal details before you can connect.

How to Protect Yourself From Insecure Connections and Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

Google, Mozilla, Apple, and Microsoft have all blocked the compromised certificates. Chrome and Firefox blocked them on October 17, the day the flaw was reported. Android devices received a block on October 19, and Apple and Microsoft devices followed on October 19 and 20. Most browsers are now protected, but apps and older devices that don’t get regular updates may still trust the bad certificates. Keeping everything up to date closes that gap:

• Keep your web browser up to date. Browsers receive lists of blocked certificates automatically, but installing any pending update and restarting your browser makes sure you have the latest protections.
• Install all pending operating system updates. Operating systems maintain internal certificate trust stores. Updating your phone, tablet, and computer helps non-browser apps, including mobile banking and email clients, reject compromised certificates. Older devices that no longer receive updates are the most exposed.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities. Man-in-the-middle attacks require access to your shared network path. When accessing sensitive accounts, mobile cellular data or a private home network you control is generally safer.
• Heed certificate warnings. If your browser blocks a page due to an invalid certificate, close the tab immediately rather than clicking past the warning screen.

What to Do If You’ve Already Been Targeted

If you have reason to believe you entered sensitive information over an untrusted or intercepted connection, act quickly to secure your data and accounts:

• Disconnect and update passwords: Disconnect from the suspicious network immediately. Using a separate, secure connection, change passwords for any accounts accessed during that session and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Notify your financial institutions: Monitor your bank and credit card accounts for unauthorized transactions, and notify your card issuer if financial details were entered.
• Set up a credit freeze: Contact the three primary credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to freeze your credit files if personal identifying details were exposed.
• Document and begin identity recovery: If sensitive personal data was compromised, create a personalized recovery plan through IdentityTheft.gov.

How to Report Suspicious Online Incidents

You can report suspicious cyber activity to official consumer protection agencies. File an incident report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or submit a fraud complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Broad infrastructure vulnerabilities demonstrate why digital security requires cooperation across every layer of the internet. While global security teams and certificate authorities identify and revoke flawed credentials at the root level, taking simple personal actions, such as applying system updates and maintaining healthy browsing habits, goes a long way toward keeping your personal devices secure.

The post Flawed Certificates Left Web Traffic Open to Interception: How to Stay Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.

An international law enforcement operation has dismantled a cybercrime ring responsible for sending more than one billion scam messages to mobile phones and inboxes worldwide. On October 14, 2026, Microsoft collaborated with global police agencies, healthcare defense groups, and cybersecurity partners to seize the servers, web domains, and digital toolkits fueling the fraudulent campaigns. The coordinated operation severed a critical pipeline that criminals relied on to steal passwords, financial credentials, and personal information across the globe.

Authorized by an emergency seizure warrant from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the coordinated disruption dismantled “YAM Store” (tracked as Storm-3119), an underground marketplace selling stolen corporate cloud environments. The operation also took down three affiliated turnkey phishing kits—the Iron Man System (tracked as Storm-2990), CoGUI, and Haozi—which contained over 2,335 malicious templates. In total, investigators deactivated more than 20,000 illicit cloud accounts, blocked 100,000 deceptive web domains, and disrupted attack infrastructure that had targeted over 75,000 organizations across more than 150 countries.

How the Phishing Syndicate Operated

According to technical analysis from Microsoft Threat Intelligence, the syndicate operated as a full-service underground business, providing buyers with everything required to execute large-scale phishing attacks. The criminal supply chain operated across five primary phases:

1. Account Acquisition: Operators acquired abandoned internet domains from legitimate businesses, re-registered them to pass security checks, and fraudulently established genuine Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace accounts.
2. Turnkey Toolkits: The syndicate bundled these verified enterprise accounts with automated phishing platforms like the Iron Man System, which provided prebuilt templates mimicking trusted banks, package carriers, and government agencies.
3. Mass Distribution: Buyers sent waves of text messages and emails from authentic cloud environments, allowing their lures to bypass standard spam filters.
4. Credential Harvesting: When recipients clicked lure links, malicious proxy servers captured entered login passwords, authentication codes, and payment details in real time.
5. Asset Laundering: Stolen funds and marketplace subscription fees were moved through cryptocurrency exchanges, where researchers at TRM Labs helped track and freeze illicit digital assets.

Why Recognizing These Phishing Lures Still Matters

The seizure of YAM Store dealt a major blow to a global cybercrime network, immediately taking hundreds of thousands of active fraud domains offline. However, the commercial model behind these attacks remains intact across the broader threat landscape. As automated kits lower the technical barrier to entry, rogue actors can easily purchase replacement infrastructure to launch new campaigns. Recognizing the difference between how these scammers act and how a legitimate organization behaves can help you spot future variations of these phishing schemes. 

Attack Vector	Common Pretext	Scammer Red Flag	Legitimate Entity Behavior
SMS (Smishing)	Unpaid parking tickets, traffic violations, or municipal road tolls.	Demands immediate payment via an included shortened link to avoid license suspension.	Municipal agencies send citations via postal mail and direct payments to an official government portal.
SMS or Email	Package delivery exceptions (e.g., postal services, FedEx, or UPS).	Claims a package cannot be delivered until an administrative fee (typically $1.50–$5.00) is paid online.	Parcel carriers provide tracking numbers verifiable directly on their official mobile app or primary website.
Email	Corporate account or cloud storage password expiration warnings.	Demands you verify login credentials within 24 hours through an external sign-in form.	Legitimate enterprise platforms manage credential resets within secure internal system settings, not via external forms.
Payment Screen	Fake banking verification or credit card confirmation forms.	Requests two-factor authentication codes, debit PINs, or full billing details on an unfamiliar domain.	Financial institutions never prompt for PINs or temporary codes on third-party payment redirect pages.

How to Protect Yourself from Emerging Phishing Schemes

Because accessible phishing kits make it easy for scammers to replace dismantled networks, staying safe requires consistent verification habits and practical safeguards:

• Navigate independently to official service portals. Never click links inside unexpected text messages or emails regarding parking fines, road tolls, or shipping fees. Open your browser and navigate directly to the verified agency or company website.
• Check the full website address in your browser. Scammers frequently register web addresses that look nearly identical to authentic brands by changing a single letter. Confirm that the URL in your browser bar matches the organization’s official domain before typing any information.
• Switch to an authenticator app for account logins. Instead of receiving login verification codes through SMS text messages, consider using an authenticator app on your phone. Phishing pages can capture texted six-digit codes in real time, but app-based verification makes it much harder for scammers to intercept your account access.
• Verify delivery notifications using your original tracking number. If you receive a message claiming a package is delayed, locate your original purchase confirmation and enter the tracking number directly into the delivery carrier’s official website.
• Treat tiny fee requests as major red flags. Scammers deliberately ask for small sums, such as a $2.50 processing fee, to lower your guard while capturing your full credit card number, expiration date, and security code.

What to Do If You Have Already Been Targeted

If you interacted with a suspicious link, submitted account credentials, or paid a fraudulent fee, take these immediate recovery steps:

1. Sever contact immediately. Do not click further links, reply to the message, or send additional payments.
2. Contact your financial institutions. Call your bank or card issuer immediately to report unauthorized transactions, cancel compromised cards, and dispute fraudulent charges.
3. Update passwords across shared accounts. Reset credentials on any account that shared the exposed password, and select the option to sign out of all active devices in your account settings.
4. Place a credit freeze with the major bureaus. Block scammers from opening fraudulent lines of credit in your name by freezing your credit files with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
5. Submit an official identity theft report. If personal identifiers such as your Social Security number or driver’s license details were submitted, file a recovery plan through the federal identity theft reporting portal.
6. Preserve evidence. Save screenshots of the scam message, sender phone number or email, website URLs, and payment records before deleting anything.

How to Report Phishing Scams

Reporting cybercrime infrastructure helps industry defenders and law enforcement track repeat patterns and build cross-border cases:

• Federal Trade Commission: Submit consumer fraud and deceptive business reports through the Federal Trade Commission complaint assistant.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: File reports involving significant monetary theft, wire fraud, or corporate account compromise with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Federal Communications Commission: Report spam text messages, smishing campaigns, and spoofed phone numbers through the Federal Communications Commission consumer center.
• Local Law Enforcement: File a police report with your local department if you experienced direct financial loss, as financial institutions frequently require a police report number during fraud investigations.
• Mobile Carriers: Forward deceptive text messages directly to the cellular carrier spam reporting shortcode at 7726 (SPAM).

Major takedowns disrupt criminal supply chains and hold malicious operators accountable, but the tools behind these schemes continue to evolve. Verifying unexpected payment requests directly with official organizations, monitoring your financial statements regularly, and securing your accounts with strong authentication remain dependable defenses against online fraud.

The post Global Takedown Hits Network Behind 1 Billion Scam Messages appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Financial scammers are increasingly targeting older Americans, using deceptive online platforms, high-pressure phone pitches, and complex impersonation schemes to drain hard-earned savings. While older consumers are more likely to report suspicious solicitations, those who get caught in these elaborate operations face catastrophic financial consequences. As digital payment systems and online networks evolve, organized criminal rings are extracting record amounts of capital from people preparing for or living in retirement.

On October 19, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) submitted its annual report to Congress, Protecting Older Consumers 2025–2026, detailing the rapid escalation of this trend. The report revealed that fraud losses reported by adults aged 60 and older reached approximately $3 billion in 2025, a fivefold increase from the $600 million reported in 2020. Since most victims do not report fraud to government agencies, the FTC estimates actual losses for older adults in 2025 ranged between $13.3 billion and $119.5 billion.

How Fraud Schemes Target Older Adults

The sharp rise in elder fraud is largely propelled by a surge in massive, individual six-figure losses. Combined losses from older adults who lost $100,000 or more increased nearly sevenfold between 2020 and 2025. While these severe losses represented only 6% of loss reports filed by older adults in 2025, they accounted for 70% of the entire $3 billion total.

Analysis of consumer reports reveals that these catastrophic losses were concentrated in these specific scam categories:

Investment Scams Promoted on Social Media

Investment fraud was the costliest category for older consumers in 2025, with $1.06 billion in reported losses, a 42% jump. Scammers use social media to pitch fake crypto, stock, or automated trading platforms, directing targets to fraudulent sites displaying falsified account balances. When victims request withdrawals, operators demand bogus “taxes” or “administrative fees” before freezing accounts.

Government and Business Impersonation Schemes

Government and business impersonators drew $870 million in losses ($448M government, $422M business). Government imposters claim bank accounts are tied to crime, while business imposters pose as bank or tech support fraud departments. Both fabricate urgent crises, coercing victims to transfer money to “protective custodial accounts” or government “lockboxes.”

Romance Scams That Exploit Trust

Romance scams caused $384 million in reported losses among older adults in 2025 (up 17%). Fraudsters build trust over weeks or months via social media or dating apps before fabricating urgent emergencies—like medical bills or foreign travel issues—to request repeated money transfers.

Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery Schemes

Prize and lottery scams cost older adults $143 million in 2025. Scammers contact targets via phone, mail, or online, claiming major prize wins from known brands but requiring upfront processing fees or taxes to release funds.

Tech Support Deception

Older consumers were over four times (324%) more likely than younger adults to report losing money to tech support scams. Alarming browser pop-ups prompt calls to fake technicians who gain remote access to computers and charge high fees for unneeded services.

Irreversible Payment Methods That Fuel the Losses

While credit cards were the payment method most frequently used by older adults (accounting for 28% of loss reports), payment channels that cannot be easily recalled accounted for the largest aggregate dollar amounts. Bank transfers and payments accounted for over $1.03 billion in reported losses, while cryptocurrency transfers totaled $603 million. In impersonation and sweepstakes scams, criminals also routinely demand payment through retail gift cards, direct bank wires, physical cash sent via couriers, or cash deposits into automated Bitcoin kiosks.

The table below details the top six fraud categories ranked by total reported dollars lost by older adults (ages 60 and older) in 2025, alongside the year-over-year percentage change compared to calendar year 2024.

Fraud Category	2025 Reported Losses (Age 60+)	Change from 2024	2025 Loss Reports	Common Tactic
Investment Scams	$1.059 billion	+42%	10,578	Counterfeit crypto dashboards and fake trading platforms.
Government Imposters	$448 million	+20%	12,183	Threats of arrest or asset seizure to force money transfers.
Business Imposters	$422 million	+12%	24,820	Fake bank fraud alerts directing funds to “safe” accounts.
Romance Scams	$384 million	+17%	6,832	Fabricated emergencies or joint investment pitches from online partners.
Prizes, Sweepstakes & Lotteries	$143 million	-1%	5,280	Upfront fee demands to release fake winnings.
Tech Support Scams	$126 million	-21%	5,334	Browser pop-ups prompting calls to bogus technicians.

Warning Signs of Elder Scams

Federal agencies participating in the nationwide Never Ever campaign, led by the FTC, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have identified clear warning signs that expose fraudulent communications.

• Demands to transfer money to “protect” it: Legitimate banks and government agencies never tell you to move your funds into a separate account, a crypto kiosk, or a temporary vault to keep it safe from fraud.
• Insistence on specific, unusual payment methods: Demands to pay using retail gift cards, cryptocurrency, money-transfer apps, bank wires, or envelopes of cash collected by a courier are red flags that you may be dealing with a scam.
• Demands for complete secrecy: Fraudsters often order you to stay on the line, instruct you not to speak with family members, and supply fake cover stories to recite to bank tellers during cash withdrawals.

How to Protect Yourself and Older Relatives

You do not need to be a technical expert to guard against these schemes. Following five straightforward habits can help protect household savings from scams:

1. Hang up and call a number you know is real. If you get a call or text claiming your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number is in danger, hang up immediately. Do not press any buttons or call back the number that contacted you. Pick up your physical debit card, credit card, or an official paper statement, and call the customer service phone number printed on the back.
2. Talk to a family member or friend before you pay. Scammers rely on panic to make you act before you have time to think. Make it a personal rule to discuss any unexpected financial request, sudden investment tip, or prize notification with a trusted relative, neighbor, or bank employee before you authorize any transfer.
3. Refuse all requests to buy gift cards or use Bitcoin machines. If anyone on the phone tells you to go to a retail store to buy gift cards, or asks you to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM to clear a bill or protect your savings, stop. Legitimate businesses and government offices do not accept payment through these methods.
4. Restart your computer if an alarming warning screen appears. If your screen suddenly freezes with loud alarms or an urgent warning saying you are hacked, never call the phone number shown. Press and hold your computer’s power button until everything turns completely off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. When you reopen your internet browser, click “Cancel” or the “X” if it asks to restore your previous pages.
5. Let unfamiliar phone calls go to voicemail. Scammers can alter the name and phone number that appear on your phone screen to look like a local courthouse, police department, or bank. Let calls from numbers you do not recognize go to voicemail. If a matter is truly legitimate, the organization will leave a message and send official mail.

What to Do If You Have Already Been Targeted

When money has been sent or sensitive personal details have been disclosed, acting promptly improves the chances of limiting damage and recovering funds:

• Cut off all communication: Discontinue every phone call, text exchange, and email thread with the scammer. Never send additional money to “release” previously transferred funds or pay supposed “withdrawal fees.”
• Contact your financial institutions immediately: Call your bank, credit union, or credit card company. Request an immediate recall on any recent wire transfers, flag fraudulent debit or credit charges, and ask the bank to secure your accounts.
• Request the Financial Fraud Kill Chain for wire transfers: If you sent a significant bank wire within the last 72 hours, submit a report immediately to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FBI’s Recovery Asset Team works directly with domestic and international financial networks to freeze fraudulent wire transfers before they settle. In 2025, this process helped freeze $679 million in stolen funds.
• Contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline: Call the DOJ’s free hotline at 1-833-372-8311. Staffed by the Office for Victims of Crime, case managers provide direct support, help you organize reporting documentation, and connect you with local and federal resources.
• Place a security freeze on your credit reports: Restrict identity thieves from opening new lines of credit by freezing your credit files directly with the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Report identity exposure: If you provided your Social Security number, banking details, or driver’s license number, go to IdentityTheft.gov to receive a customized recovery plan.
• Preserve all records: Save written notes, phone numbers, text messages, emails, bank transfer confirmations, and cryptocurrency wallet transaction receipts to share with investigators.

How to Report Elder Fraud

Reporting scam attempts provides law enforcement agencies with the evidence required to identify criminal syndicates, freeze illicit assets, and bring enforcement actions. In fiscal year 2026, FTC enforcement actions resulted in more than $513 million returned to consumers of all ages.

Submit incident details through these official reporting portals:

• Federal Trade Commission: Submit reports through the FTC Fraud Reporting Portal, which feeds directly into the secure Consumer Sentinel Network used by thousands of law enforcement agencies nationwide.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: Report internet fraud, cryptocurrency theft, and wire transfers to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Federal Communications Commission: Report phone number spoofing and unlawful automated calls to the FCC Consumer Complaint Center.
• Local Police or Sheriff’s Department: File a formal police report with your local law enforcement agency. Banks frequently require a copy of an official police report to process fraud disputes.
• Specific Government Agencies: Report calls from Social Security imposters directly to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and report tax-related scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Federal enforcement actions continue to target the infrastructure that enables these operations. In fiscal year 2026, the FTC secured a settlement requiring payment processor Nuvei to turn over $4.85 million for processing transactions for an overseas tech-support scheme that impersonated major US brands. The FTC also took action against operations like American Tax Service, requiring defendants to surrender nearly $10 million in cash and assets for running deceptive tax-debt telemarketing targeting older adults. Staying informed, hanging up on unsolicited calls, and checking in with loved ones remain the most dependable defenses against these escalating threats.

The post Elder Fraud Losses Surge to $3B: FTC Report and Prevention Tips appeared first on McAfee Blog.

The California Department of Education (CDE) announced on October 16, 2026, that unauthorized actors accessed an Educational Testing Service (ETS) server, compromising the educational and demographic records of millions of California public school students. The breach occurred between May 22, 2026, and September 18, 2026, exposing student names, dates of birth, home addresses, disability records, and state assessment scores across three academic years.

While state officials confirmed that Social Security numbers and financial account details were not accessed, exposed personal files elevate the risk of secondary phishing attacks, fraudulent account creation, and child identity theft.

Why did I get mail from Educational Testing Service?

If you received a letter from Educational Testing Service (ETS) about a data breach, it’s likely because you or your child may have been affected by a cybersecurity incident involving California public school student records.

ETS administers standardized tests for California schools, including the CAASPP and ELPAC assessments. Even if you’ve never interacted directly with ETS, the organization may have processed your child’s information through their school.

Following the 2026 ETS data breach, affected families are being notified about potentially exposed personal information, including student names, birth dates, addresses, and academic records.

Is the Educational Testing Service letter legitimate? If you’ve received a data breach notification, don’t ignore it, but verify its authenticity before sharing personal information or following instructions. Visit the official California Department of Education website to confirm details about the breach and available identity protection services.

How the ETS Data Breach Happened

Unauthorized actors used compromised login credentials to gain illicit access to a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) server operated by ETS. Educational Testing Service administers statewide standardized testing assessments for California public schools, including the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).

ETS identified the unauthorized file access on September 25, 2026, and notified school districts on October 2, 2026, before coordinating a public disclosure with the state. An internal investigation confirmed that intruders copied student files intermittently across a four-month window.

What Student Data Was Exposed in the Breach

The scope of exposed data varies by student, but involves records dating back through the 2023–2024 academic year:

Data Category	Exposed in ETS Breach?	Details
Basic Identifiers	Yes	Full student name, date of birth, home address, and school attended
Academic Identifiers	Yes	Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) and standardized test scores
Demographic & Special Records	Yes	Demographic profiles, disability records, and program eligibility files
Social Security Numbers	No	Confirmed not stored on the compromised SFTP server
Financial & Payment Data	No	No credit cards, banking data, or parent billing files were involved
Parent/Guardian Personal Data	No	Contact information and parent personal records were excluded

Because Social Security numbers were not taken, scammers cannot automatically establish traditional lines of credit overnight. However, bad actors frequently bundle basic demographic data with records from other breaches to assemble synthetic profiles or craft convincing spear-phishing schemes aimed at families.

Warning Signs of Child Identity Theft After the Breach

Data breach exposures involving children often manifest months after the initial intrusion. Watch for these indicators that an affected student’s personal information may be circulating among scammers:

• Unsolicited calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from ETS or school officials: Legitimate state agencies will not call or text asking for your child’s Social Security number or payment to receive breach protections.
• Credit offers and pre-approved cards addressed to a minor: Children rarely have credit files, so pre-approved cards, loan offers, or rewards enrollments indicate an active file exists.
• Government and agency notices in your child’s name: Warning letters from the IRS about unpaid taxes, notifications regarding state benefits, or jury duty summonses for a minor signal identity misuse.
• Calls from collection agencies: Debt collectors demanding payment for opened utility accounts, cell phone contracts, or medical services in a student’s name point to fraudulent accounts.
• School enrollment or testing discrepancies: Notifications from educational institutions regarding unauthorized transfers, unknown state test submissions, or modified student records.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Child

Take the following concrete defensive steps to protect your child’s personal data from being weaponized:

1. Activate the state-provided identity protection coverage. ETS is offering two years of complimentary identity monitoring through Experian IdentityWorks. Parents can enroll eligible minor children at Experian IdentityWorks for Minors using the activation code provided in the official CDE breach notification.
2. Place a credit freeze on your child’s credit file. Federal law allows parents and legal guardians to freeze a credit file for children under 16 at no cost to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened. Contact each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) directly to request a minor freeze.
3. Apply a verification test to all breach-related outreach. Scammers exploit news of large breaches to pose as test administrators, district staff, or identity support agents. If someone contacts you seeking account verification, hang up and reach out through the official California Department of Education incident portal.
4. Monitor your household’s digital accounts. Update passwords across school portal logins, parent-teacher applications, and family email accounts, pairing each with multi-factor authentication (MFA) using an authenticator app.
5. Check for existing credit files for older dependents. Students who are 18 or older can review their own credit reports for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com to ensure no accounts have been opened under their names.

What to Do If Your Child’s Information Was Misused

If an unauthorized party uses your child’s personal details to open accounts, secure credit, or claim benefits, take immediate action to limit liability:

• Halt contact and refuse demands for payment: Never send funds or negotiate with debt collectors attempting to collect on fraudulent debts opened in a child’s name.
• Contact the fraud departments of involved companies: Reach out to the bank, merchant, or utility provider that issued the fraudulent account, notify them of child identity fraud, and demand written confirmation that the account is closed and cleared.
• File an identity theft report with the FTC: Submit an official declaration at IdentityTheft.gov. This creates an official Identity Theft Report required by banks and credit bureaus to remove fraudulent records.
• Demand immediate credit file purges: Send copies of your FTC Identity Theft Report and proof of minor custody to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, requesting the immediate deletion of all fraudulent tradelines and inquiries.
• File a police report: Contact your local police department if financial fraud, impersonation, or extortion occurred, and retain the incident report number for your financial documentation.
• Maintain complete paper trails: Log all correspondence, including dates, representative names, case numbers, and copies of collection letters.

How to Report the Threat and Stay Protected

Reporting incidents promptly assists regulatory authorities and cybersecurity investigators in tracking down threat actors and stopping systemic abuse. Use these verified channels:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report identity theft and recover an identity through IdentityTheft.gov, or submit general fraud reports to the FTC Fraud Reporting Portal.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): File cybercrime and data breach reports via the IC3 Portal.
• California Department of Justice: Access identity theft resources and state breach updates via the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Report suspicious caller ID spoofing or phishing robocalls on the FCC Complaints Center.
• California Department of Education Support Line: Families with questions regarding the ETS breach notification can contact the CDE assistance line at 833-931-8488.

Safeguarding student records requires active vigilance. By placing credit freezes, enrolling in complimentary monitoring, and questioning unexpected communications, families can minimize the risks associated with school vendor data security incidents.

The post Educational Testing Service (ETS) California Student Data Breach: What Parents Should Do appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Gen Z grew up online. But that isn’t giving them an advantage against the next generation of AI-powered scams, and the data shows it. 

More than one in three Gen Z adults reported losing money to an online scam in the past year. They’re also encountering several types of online fakes at higher rates than Americans overall, including fake social media profiles, fake recruiters, AI-generated images and deepfake-style videos.

The data points to a new reality for a generation that has spent much of its life online: Digital familiarity alone may not be enough when AI is making fake content easier to create and harder to recognize.

Here’s what we found, plus our Head of Threat Research Abhishek Karnik’s key safety takeaways for Gen Z:

 5 Online Fakes Fooling Gen Z More Often

1. Fake social media profiles: 51% of Gen Z vs. 41% of Americans overall

More than half of Gen Z adults encountered a fake social media profile in the past year, according to McAfee’s research.

In these instances, someone might impersonate a creator, brand, potential romantic partner or even a person you already know. Once contact is established, the conversation can move toward a suspicious link, request for money, investment opportunity or attempt to collect personal information.

Abhishek’s key takeaway: “Treat unexpected messages regarding requests for money or help, with some level of skepticism, even if it’s from familiar-looking accounts. Account takeovers (where a known contact’s account was compromised) and copycat accounts (impersonated accounts where someone created a similar looking profile) are often tactics used to target victims. Call your friend on a trusted number and confirm if they really need help.”

2. AI-generated images presented as real: 51% vs. 44%

AI image tools can produce realistic-looking people, products, places and events that never existed.

For scammers, that creates another way to manufacture credibility. A fake profile can have convincing photos. A fraudulent product listing can appear to show a real item. An investment or giveaway scam can be dressed up with imagery that looks legitimate at first glance.

Abhishek’s key takeaway: “Look for oddities in the images itself. AI is not always perfect and does make errors. But also look beyond the image. Check the account posting it, the surrounding context and whether reputable sources confirm the claim before acting on it.”

3. Deepfake-style videos: 40% vs. 34%

Two in five Gen Z adults said they encountered deepfake-style videos in the past year.

A deepfake is manipulated or AI-generated media designed to make it appear that a real person said or did something they didn’t. Improvements in AI mean visual oddities alone are becoming a less reliable way to identify one.

Abhishek’s key takeaway: “Not all deepfakes are bad. Some are made for entertainment. However, pause to analyze and consider what the video is asking you to do or believe.

A surprising celebrity investment pitch, urgent request for money or unbelievable announcement deserves independent verification, even when the person on screen looks and sounds convincing.”

4. Fake recruiters and job opportunities: 34% vs. 27%

For Gen Z adults entering or moving through the workforce, job hunting increasingly means interacting with people they have never met through email, social media, job platforms and messaging apps.

Scammers can exploit that normal behavior by posing as recruiters or employers. A convincing company name, professional-looking profile and friendly interview process can make a fraudulent opportunity harder to distinguish from the real thing.

Abhishek’s key takeaway: “Be cautious when a recruiter quickly asks for sensitive personal information, asks you to pay upfront costs or moves the hiring process onto an unusual platform like WhatsApp. Verify the role through the employer’s official website and independently confirm that the recruiter works there.”

5. Fake celebrity endorsements: 27% vs. 21%

AI has also made it easier to put familiar faces and voices behind claims they never made.

Fake celebrity endorsements can appear in investment scams, product promotions and giveaways. What makes them powerful is the borrowed trust. Seeing someone familiar can make an unfamiliar offer feel more credible.

Before buying, investing or sharing information, verify the endorsement through the celebrity’s official channels and independently research the company or offer.

3 Scams Hitting Gen Z’s Wallet Harder

Exposure tells us what people are seeing. Financial loss tells another part of the story.

McAfee’s research found Gen Z adults were more likely than Americans overall to report losing money to three particular types of scams:

• Package delivery scams: 25% of Gen Z vs. 18% overall
• Fake customer support scams: 24% vs. 18%
• AI-generated impersonation scams: 20% vs. 15%

Each takes advantage of an ordinary digital interaction.

Abhishek’s key takeaway: “Scams can work by fitting naturally into what someone is already doing online, making verification increasingly important before clicking a link, sending money or sharing sensitive information.”

3 Ways Job Scams Are Shaking Gen Z’s Confidence

The job market provides one of the clearest examples of how scam concerns can affect people even when they never lose money.

McAfee found:

• 65% of Gen Z adults say scam concerns have made them hesitate or avoid applying for a job online, compared with 54% of Americans overall.
• 57% have suspected a recruiter or job opportunity was fake, compared with 43% overall.
• 39% encountered a fake recruiter or job scam in the past year, compared with 31% overall.

For young adults building careers, that uncertainty can carry a real cost. A legitimate recruiter and a scammer may contact someone through the same platforms and use many of the same professional conventions.

Abhishek’s key takeaway: “Verification can help. Search for the position on the company’s official careers page, check the recruiter independently and contact the company through information you find yourself when something feels questionable.”

The Broader Scam Reality Across the U.S.

Gen Z’s experience sits inside a much bigger shift in how Americans navigate life online.

McAfee’s newest research, which combines a nationally representative survey of 5,000 U.S. adults with McAfee Labs analysis of text-based scam activity, found that 88% of Americans encountered at least one type of scam in the past year. Nearly one-third, 31%, reported losing money to one.

The effects extend beyond financial losses.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans, 74%, say they feel the need to double-check most things online before trusting them. Sixty-two percent say figuring out what is real takes more mental energy than it did a year ago. And 82% say concerns about scams have changed something they do online.

That can mean avoiding an unfamiliar retailer, ignoring a legitimate message or deciding against clicking a real link.

AI adds another layer to that uncertainty because convincing content can now be produced faster and at greater scale. As synthetic content becomes part of everyday digital life, spotting scams cannot depend entirely on whether something simply “looks fake.”

For Gen Z, the findings suggest that challenge is already especially visible. They are encountering some forms of manipulated and fraudulent content more frequently while also navigating important parts of early adult life, from finding work to shopping and managing money, online.

The post The Top 5 Scams Hitting Gen Z Harder Than the Rest of America appeared first on McAfee Blog.

A security breach at the Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) exposed unencrypted personal and military records for approximately 3.05 million individuals between October 2025 and July 2026. First reported by Military Times on September 24, 2026, the intrusion compromised sensitive files, including Social Security numbers, belonging to active-duty personnel, veterans, and deceased service members.

With official notification letters dated September 18, 2026, now arriving in physical mailboxes, affected individuals can determine their exposure and enroll in 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity restoration services provided by the Department of Defense through IDX. Understanding the full scope of the incident, confirming whether your records were involved, and establishing immediate account and credit safeguards are essential steps to shielding military benefits and personal finances from targeted exploitation.

How the DMDC Data Breach Happened and What Data Was Compromised

The breach occurred when unauthorized actors exploited a software vulnerability in a DMDC file-sharing system, maintaining access to a server holding unencrypted personnel data for nine months. According to official notification letters mailed by the DMDC on September 18, 2026, unauthorized users accessed personal and military service files between October 2025 and July 2026.

The Pentagon did not issue a public press release prior to dispatching physical mailings. Community members first raised public awareness by sharing letter excerpts on Reddit’s r/Veterans. Pentagon officials confirmed to CNN that the breach compromised records for 2.76 million living individuals and 294,000 deceased service members.

The exposed server contained unencrypted personally identifiable information (PII) belonging to service members, veterans, and military dependents. Compromised records include full names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, contact information, and administrative military service details.

How to Know If Your Information Was Exposed in the Pentagon Breach

The primary notification method for this incident is a physical letter sent via the United States Postal Service. The DMDC began mailing official breach notification letters dated September 18, 2026, directly to affected personnel, veterans, and surviving family members.

The Pentagon has not released an online lookup database to verify individual exposure. The incident affects individuals whose personnel, manpower, or benefits records were stored on the compromised server during the nine-month exposure window, spanning active-duty military, reserve personnel, National Guard, defense civilians, contractors, veterans, and eligible dependents.

If you have moved recently, your notification letter may be delayed or returned to sender. Log in to milConnect to confirm that your mailing address and contact details are current within the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). If your records were maintained in DMDC systems between October 2025 and July 2026, take proactive security steps even before a physical letter arrives.

Red Flags That Cybercriminals Are Using Your Military Data

When personal and military records leak, cybercriminals routinely use the data to stage targeted impersonation schemes and financial fraud. Watch for these warning signs:

• Government impersonation attempts: Unsolicited calls, emails, or text messages claiming to be from the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or TRICARE requesting verification of personal identifiers.
• Benefit redirection notices: Unexpected alerts regarding direct deposit changes, login credential updates, or profile modifications across military portals that you did not initiate.
• Phony breach assistance solicitations: Unofficial communications offering expedited claims, settlements, or data removal services in exchange for an upfront fee or account numbers.
• Unexplained credit or loan activity: Inquiries on your credit report, new credit card accounts, or collection notices for debt you do not recognize.
• Unexpected tax or benefit filings: Notifications from the IRS or state tax authorities stating that a tax return or benefit claim has already been filed in your name.

How Military Personnel Can Protect Themselves

Military personnel and service members should take immediate steps to restrict access to their credit profiles and personal accounts:

1. Enroll in free credit monitoring through the official IDX portal.
   The Defense Department is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity restoration services to affected individuals through IDX. If you received a breach notification letter, use the unique enrollment code included in the mailing to register on the official IDX DMDC response portal or call the support line directly at 1-855-744-4556.
2. Place a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus.
   Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to freeze your credit files. A credit freeze blocks prospective lenders from accessing your credit report, stopping identity thieves from opening loans or lines of credit with your Social Security number.
3. Enable multi-factor authentication on defense portals.
   Log in to MilConnect, VA.gov, and MyPay to update passwords and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA). Use an authenticator app or hardware security key rather than SMS verification where available.
4. Verify official contacts independently.
   The DOD, DMDC, and VA do not initiate contact via phone, text, or email to demand immediate payment or confirmation of your Social Security number. Verify any inquiry by navigating directly to official .gov domains.
5. Inspect TRICARE and medical billing statements.
   Review Explanations of Benefits (EOBs) and medical statements closely. Confirm that all listed provider appointments, diagnostic tests, and prescription orders match care you actually received.

What Military Personnel Should Do If Their Data Was Compromised

If you received an official DMDC notification letter dated September 18, 2026, or notice unauthorized activity on your accounts, execute the following recovery steps:

• File an identity theft report with the FTC. Submit an official report through the Federal Trade Commission identity theft portal to establish your legal rights and dispute fraudulent accounts with creditors and banks.
• Obtain an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). Prevent fraudulent tax filings using your exposed Social Security number by applying for a six-digit IP PIN through the Internal Revenue Service identity protection page.
• Place an extended fraud alert on your credit file. If you choose not to freeze your credit entirely, request an extended fraud alert, which requires lenders to verify your identity before approving credit in your name.
• Notify your financial institutions. Contact the fraud divisions of your bank and credit card issuers to review account statements, replace compromised account numbers, and set up real-time transaction alerts.
• Retain all breach correspondence. Keep physical copies of your DMDC notification letter, agency complaints, police reports, and dispute logs for ongoing tracking.

How Military Personnel Can Report Fraud and Suspicious Activity

Report security incidents, fraudulent accounts, and impersonation attempts directly through official federal reporting channels:

• Department of Defense Inspector General: Report military personnel data misuse or military identity impersonation via the Department of Defense Hotline.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): File an online cybercrime complaint regarding credential misuse or unauthorized financial compromise through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Local Law Enforcement: File a formal police report with your municipal department if an unauthorized party obtains loans, opens accounts, or conducts financial transactions in your name.

Because Social Security numbers and military service records cannot be readily changed, exposure from the DMDC breach presents a persistent risk for active personnel and veterans. Taking proactive security measures now, such as enrolling in the IDX identity monitoring program, locking down credit files, securing military accounts with multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious contact immediately, is critical to preventing long-term identity exploitation.

The post Pentagon Data Breach Impacts 3.05 Million: How Military Personnel Can Protect Themselves appeared first on McAfee Blog.

On October 6, 2026, the ASOS push notification hack sent unauthorized messages to millions of customer devices after cybercriminals accessed a connected third-party platform. ASOS, a British online fashion and cosmetic retailer serving active shoppers worldwide, confirmed that an attacker compromised employee credentials to access external systems. As reported by BBC News, the intrusion exposed customer contact records and personal search histories, although company representatives confirmed that banking and payment information was not accessed.

How the Attack and Social Engineering Breach Worked

The unauthorized messages originated from an extortion ring calling itself the Xuanyewen hacker group. The intruders hijacked the ASOS mobile shopping app interface to broadcast rogue alerts directly to users, claiming they had extracted full customer databases.

The breach did not stem from a software flaw within the ASOS mobile application. Instead, the intruders relied on social engineering, impersonating a trusted contact to deceive an employee into providing valid system credentials.

Those credentials allowed the attackers to sign in to Simon AI, a third-party marketing and personalization platform built on Snowflake Cortex AI that ASOS uses to power customer communications. Once logged in, the threat actors initiated app-wide push alerts and exfiltrated audience data containing customer personal data.

Clarifying the Snowflake Breach Claims

During the intrusion, the hackers claimed they had carried out a direct Snowflake breach to compromise ASOS’s central databases. Official statements from both platforms quickly refuted that claim.

In a corporate statement released through Snowflake’s official statement via Alliance News, a Snowflake spokesperson stated: “We can confirm this issue did not in any way result from a vulnerability, weakness, flaw, or misconfiguration with the Snowflake service… and was not caused by Snowflake.”

Independent reporting and corporate disclosures confirm that the compromise occurred exclusively at the third-party marketing integration layer. Attackers frequently target peripheral marketing tools using stolen credentials because these platforms handle live customer segments without requiring direct access to locked-down corporate networks.

Warning Signs That Your Personal Data Was Compromised

The data accessed during the incident included more than basic contact lists. As documented by BBC’s reporting, data samples provided directly by the threat actors revealed specific customer search histories, including search terms such as “reclaimed vintage.”

In the official ASOS customer breach notification, the retailer stated they did not believe that payment card numbers, banking details, and account passwords were accessed, as those are stored on separate, isolated transactional systems. However, exposed contact information and shopping preferences still present risks for targeted follow-up fraud. Watch for these warning signs that your personal data was exposed:

• Unsolicited push messages: App notifications prompting you to verify your identity, visit external chat platforms, or click unverified links.
• Tailored phishing emails: Messages referencing specific clothing brands, recent browsing queries, or recent order details designed to trick you into revealing passwords.
• Unrequested authentication codes: Password reset messages or multi-factor prompts that you did not initiate.
• Direct contact from extortionists: Unsolicited communications via email or messaging apps claiming to hold your retail browsing data.

How to Protect Your Personal Data

Taking direct defensive steps helps minimize the risk of identity theft or secondary phishing. Use these best practices to protect your personal data:

• Avoid clicking unexpected push notification links: If you receive an unexpected alert about an account security issue, dismiss the message and sign in through an official web browser instead.
• Update your account password: Create a strong, unique password for your ASOS account that is at least 12–16 characters long and not shared across any other platforms.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Set up MFA across your primary email and retail accounts, opting for an authenticator app over SMS codes whenever available.
• Verify retailer messages independently: If you receive an email regarding an order change or account issue, visit the store’s website directly rather than using embedded links.

What to Do If Your Personal Data Was Compromised

If your personal details were exposed or you interacted with the rogue push alert, take these containment measures:

• Cease all contact with extortionists: Do not communicate with extortionists or send payments to individuals offering to delete stolen records.
• Change shared account credentials: If you used your ASOS password on other websites, update those services with unique login combinations immediately.
• Place a credit freeze: Contact the three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to freeze your credit files against unauthorized new accounts.
• Monitor financial statements: Check linked credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges or low-value test transactions.
• Create an identity recovery plan: If sensitive contact or identity records were exposed, file a report at the federal government’s IdentityTheft.gov recovery portal to document the incident and receive a recovery plan.
• Preserve digital evidence: Keep screenshots, message headers, and timestamps of any suspicious texts, emails, or calls you receive.

How to Report Identity Threats and Extortion

Reporting incidents to official oversight agencies helps authorities identify threat infrastructure and take down fraudulent operations:

• Submit digital extortion and hacking incidents to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• File complaints regarding misleading commercial notifications or identity misuse with the Federal Trade Commission fraud reporting portal.
• Report unwanted marketing alerts, unauthorized text messages, or spoofed communications to the Federal Communications Commission complaint center.
• Contact law enforcement directly by filing a report with your local police department if you encounter direct extortion or financial theft.
• Flag compromised account records through the verified ASOS Customer Care portal.

The ASOS App push notifications incident highlights how cybercriminals bypass central infrastructure by using social engineering to compromise connected third-party tools. Practicing strong credential hygiene, staying alert to targeted phishing messages, and reporting suspicious contact to regulators are your most effective steps for keeping your personal information secure.

The post ASOS Push Notification Hack: Inside the Breach and How to Stay Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.

A new cyberattack is weaponizing everyday search results to trick users into running malicious code on their devices. The campaign, dubbed “Adception,” was uncovered by Push Security. By buying paid search ads on Google and routing traffic through trusted web services, attackers are placing deceptive links directly in front of people searching for popular software. Then, they use a social engineering framework known as “ClickFix” to trick people into running malicious scripts on their devices.

How the Adception Campaign Works

Search ads appear at the very top of search engine results, making them easy to click and easy to trust. Malvertising (short for malicious advertising) occurs when cybercriminals buy or hijack legitimate ad placements to spread malware or direct users to fraudulent websites. In this campaign, attackers purchase legitimate ad slots but route clicking visitors through a hidden chain of web redirects before loading a fraudulent website. This detour conceals the final destination from automated ad-review crawlers, allowing malicious ads to bypass platform security filters and reach active searchers.

According to Push Security’s research, the threat actors specifically targeted Mac users searching for Anthropic’s Claude AI assistant. To evade automated detection, the attack chain bounces traffic through legitimate Bing click-tracking redirects and a compromised website. Once a visitor lands on the fake software portal, the attackers deploy an evasion technique known as “ClickFix,” using deceptive troubleshooting prompts to trick macOS users into executing base64-encoded malware directly inside the Z shell (zsh).

The campaign executes across five distinct stages:

1. Sponsored Search Ad Placement: Attackers purchase top-ranked Google search ads that bid on keywords for Anthropic’s Claude desktop app.
2. Cross-Engine Redirection (Google to Bing): Clicking the Google ad routes the visitor through legitimate Bing click-tracking infrastructure. The attackers use this cross-engine detour because automated Google ad-review crawlers do not expect ad traffic to route through a competitor’s tracking domain, effectively blinding them to the ultimate destination.
3. Compromised Intermediary Site: The traffic forwards to a compromised WordPress site owned by a South American retailer, which runs two layers of cloaking to weed out automated scanners and non-Mac operating systems.
4. Deceptive Landing Page: Qualifying visitors land on a counterfeit webpage that closely mimics Anthropic’s official website and branding.
5. ClickFix Terminal Execution: The landing page displays a fake installation error and activates the “AcSig” ClickFix toolkit, which hijacks the user’s clipboard and instructs them to paste code into the macOS Terminal to “fix” the download.

Warning Signs of Deceptive Search Ads

• Unfamiliar or shifting URLs: The address displayed on the ad card does not match the real software vendor, or your browser rapidly redirects through multiple unrelated domains before loading.
• Terminal or command-line prompts: When you arrive at a website through a search ad, it instructs you to open your computer’s terminal, shell, or command prompt to complete a download or resolve an installation error.
• Clipboard hijack instructions: The webpage asks you to copy code or automatically copies script text containing terms like base64, eval, curl, or zsh into your system clipboard.
• Fake system repair messages: On-screen pop-ups claim your browser or operating system requires an immediate manual patch to proceed with a standard download.

How to Protect Yourself from Deceptive Search Ads

• Navigate directly to official vendor sites. Type known web addresses directly into your browser’s address bar rather than searching for download portals.
• Verify the destination URL before clicking. Inspect the displayed web address on search results to ensure it matches the actual company domain.
• Use automated web protection tools: Install a secure browsing extension to automatically protect against malware and phishing sites.
• Never paste unverified code into command-line tools. Legitimate commercial software does not require pasting terminal commands to resolve browser download issues.
• Use official application stores. Download desktop applications directly through official developer portals, the Mac App Store, or the Microsoft Store.

What to Do If You Interacted with a Malicious Ad

If you clicked a deceptive ad and pasted code into your Mac’s Terminal, assume your device has been compromised. Take these immediate steps to limit the damage:

1. Disconnect from the internet immediately. Turn off your Wi-Fi from the menu bar at the top of your screen and unplug any network cables. This cuts off communication between your computer and the attacker’s server.
2. Shut down the Terminal and turn off your Mac. Quit the Terminal app completely. Shut down your computer to stop any background scripts from continuing to run.
3. Change your passwords from a different device. Using your phone or a separate, clean computer, immediately update passwords for your primary email, online banking, and password manager. When prompted, choose the option to “Log out of all devices.”
4. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). For any critical accounts that don’t already have it, enable two-factor authentication using an authenticator app rather than SMS text messages.
5. Run a full antivirus scan. Restart your Mac, keep Wi-Fi turned off, and run an offline security scan using reputable antivirus software to detect and quarantine any installed files.
6. Avoid sensitive logins and seek professional help if uncertain. Do not sign into online banking, email, or password accounts on the affected computer. If your security scan cannot confirm the threat is gone or you feel unsure, take the device to an Apple Store or certified technician to safely wipe and reinstall the operating system.

How to Report Deceptive Ads

• Report rogue ads to Google: Submit an abuse report via the Google Ads Complaints Form to flag fraudulent ad links and advertiser accounts.
• Report redirect abuse to Microsoft: Submit details on hijacked redirect links directly through the Microsoft Security Response Center.
• File an official fraud report: Report deceptive advertising to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Contact cybercrime authorities: File formal reports regarding malware delivery or financial loss with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Notify the impersonated vendor: Alert the affected brand’s support team to inform them of active trademark abuse and domain spoofing.

Deceptive search ads succeed by exploiting everyday browsing habits and the assumption that top-ranked search results are safe. Taking a moment to verify destination URLs and reporting suspicious sponsored listings helps platforms dismantle malicious infrastructure and keeps the broader online community safer. 

The post New Adception Campaign Weaponizes Search Ads: How to Stay Safe From Malvertising appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Security researchers at Jamf Threat Labs issued a September 2026 threat report warning Mac users about a newly discovered malware program called “CloudSyncD.” Disguised as a Zoom installer on unverified download sites, this malicious software tricks users into entering their administrator password, allowing attackers to secretly take remote control of the computer. The campaign targets individuals looking to install or update the popular video conferencing software.

How the CloudSyncD Malware Works

For a detailed technical breakdown of how the malware operates, you can read the full Jamf Threat Labs report. In simple terms, when someone downloads and opens the fake Zoom installer, the malware enacts a process to take control of the Mac:

• Fake System Prompt: The installer opens a pop-up window asking for your computer password, designed to look like an official macOS prompt.
• Hidden Credentials: Once typed, the malware saves your password in a disguised file, hiding the text with invisible characters to bypass standard checks.
• Silent Setup: Using administrative privileges, the malware quietly installs a hidden background program on your system.
• Remote Access: The background program connects your Mac to an attacker’s server, granting hackers full remote access to run commands, steal files, or install additional software.

Malicious Installer Warning Signs and Red Flags

Recognizing a suspicious installer before opening it prevents system compromise:

• Unofficial Download Sources: The file originates from a sponsored search link, file-sharing site, or third-party portal rather than the software’s official web page or the official Mac App Store.
• Immediate Password Requests: A system password prompt appears right when opening a disk image before any setup wizard begins.
• System Security Warnings: macOS Gatekeeper or XProtect displays an alert stating the software is untrusted or lacks a recognized developer signature.
• Unfamiliar Background Processes: Unknown applications or scripts execute with administrative privileges in macOS Activity Monitor.

How to Protect Your Mac From CloudSyncD and Other Malware

Adopting safe download practices reduces the risk of installing malicious macOS software:

• Download exclusively from official sources: Always obtain applications directly from the developer’s official website or the Mac App Store.
• Verify unexpected password prompts: Cancel any password request that appears unexpectedly when opening a newly downloaded file.
• Keep macOS security features active: Ensure built-in protections like macOS Gatekeeper and XProtect remain turned on to flag unverified software.
• Check app signatures before opening: Inspect installer details and developer certificate signatures before approving setup.

What to Do If You’ve Already Used a Fake Zoom Installer

If you downloaded a fraudulent Zoom installer or entered credentials into a suspicious prompt, execute these recovery steps immediately:

• Disconnect from the Internet: Turn off Wi-Fi and unplug Ethernet cables right away to break active communication between your Mac and remote servers.
• Change Account Passwords: Using a separate, secure device, update your Mac administrator password and any account credentials accessed from that computer.
• Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) across your financial, email, and personal accounts.
• Isolate and Remove Malicious Artifacts: Run a full system scan or work with a technical professional to locate and delete unauthorized background files.
• Place a Credit Freeze: If personal or financial data was stored on the computer, place a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Report Fraudulent Installers and Secure Your Mac

Reporting malicious downloads helps threat intelligence researchers and federal agencies track active campaigns. Submit reports regarding fraudulent software installers to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Federal Trade Commission. Notifying the official security team of the impersonated service provider also assists in taking down fake download domains.

Because CloudSyncD installs persistent background files, completely removing every component is essential to restoring system security. Simply deleting the downloaded installer disk image does not eliminate the threat. Ensure all hidden binaries and configuration files are thoroughly purged from your system to revoke remote access and protect your data.

The post CloudSyncD macOS Malware Hidden in Fake Zoom Installer: How to Avoid Malicious Installers appeared first on McAfee Blog.

On October 2, 2026, attackers hijacked Microsoft’s official X account (which reaches over 13 million followers) to execute a cryptocurrency pump-and-dump scheme, as reported by The Verge. The unauthorized access allowed attackers to replace Microsoft’s profile image with its retro mascot Clippy and promote a fraudulent token called $Clippy before the posts were removed. An official statement on Microsoft’s X account confirmed the account was secured, the unauthorized posts were deleted, and an internal investigation into the breach is ongoing.

How the $Clippy Crypto Scam Worked

When cybercriminals gain control of a verified corporate account, they leverage its built-in credibility to trick followers into fake financial investments.

Unauthorized actors gained access to @Microsoft on October 1, 2026. The attackers changed the account’s profile picture to image assets of Clippy, Microsoft’s legacy virtual assistant, and retweeted promotional posts from an impersonator handle, @clippymsftcto.

The malicious posts directed users to external sites promoting a fraudulent $Clippy cryptocurrency token. To confuse followers and delay remediation, the attackers also published a fake apology tweet from @Microsoft claiming control had been restored while continuing to promote the scam. Account access was eventually restored, and X suspended the associated impersonator accounts.

Warning Signs That an Account Has Been Compromised for a Crypto Pump-and-Dump

• Uncharacteristic financial endorsements: Verified corporate accounts suddenly promoting unannounced meme coins, cryptocurrency presales, or Web3 projects.
• Sudden profile changes: Abrupt alterations to official branding, logos, bios, or handles accompanying high-yield investment offers.
• High-pressure purchasing tactics: Posts creating artificial urgency by urging followers to buy unlisted tokens or connect wallets before a deadline.
• External wallet connection links: Unfamiliar links directing users to third-party decentralized finance platforms or signature-draining websites.
• Contradictory apology posts: False status updates or fake “all-clear” statements published during an active breach that still include external links or contract addresses.

How to Protect Yourself from Social Media Crypto Scams

Protecting your assets from social media crypto schemes requires careful verification and strict wallet safety practices.

• Cross-reference announcements on official newsrooms: Confirm product or financial launches on a company’s main website before trusting social media posts.
• Avoid clicking direct links for token sales: Never interact with link shorteners or unfamiliar domains asking you to connect a digital wallet.
• Audit token contracts independently: Use reputable blockchain analytics tools to check liquidity, developer wallet allocations, and contract safety before buying new tokens.
• Remember that verified badges do not guarantee immunity: Blue checkmarks confirm identity verification, but they do not prevent credential theft, session hijacking, or account takeovers.

What to Do If You Have Already Been Targeted

• Disconnect wallet permissions immediately: Use security tools to cancel active smart contract allowances granted to suspicious sites.
• Transfer remaining assets: Move funds to a newly generated, secure wallet if you suspect your private keys or seed phrases were compromised.
• Contact your financial institutions: Notify your bank, credit card company, or crypto exchange immediately if fiat currency or linked accounts were involved.
• Change passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Update credentials across all sensitive accounts using an authenticator app rather than SMS.
• Document transaction evidence: Save wallet addresses, transaction hashes, screenshots of fraudulent posts, and web links for formal reports.
• Report identity exposure: If you shared personal identity or banking details on a phishing site, submit a report to the FTC and get a recovery plan.

How to Report Social Media Crypto Scams

If you encounter or fall victim to a social media crypto scam, report cyber fraud directly to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center and deceptive financial schemes to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also flag hijacked profiles or scam links using on-platform reporting tools directly on X, or contact local law enforcement if you suffered significant financial losses.

High-profile corporate account hijacks demonstrate how quickly bad actors can exploit trusted brands to promote fraudulent schemes. Verifying financial news across primary corporate websites, auditing token contracts, and recognizing red flags remain critical steps to keeping your digital assets secure.

The post Microsoft X Account Hacked in Crypto Scam: How to Spot Hijacked Accounts Promoting Scams appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Authored By: Fernando Ruiz

McAfee’s Mobile Research Team identified more than 1,900 unique applications associated with the campaign across over 500,000 devices in more than 190 countries. Based on publication patterns, we estimate that the operators were releasing approximately 20 to 25 new applications per day, each leveraging different themes, brands, and impersonation targets. The highest concentrations of affected devices were observed in India, Russia, and the United States.

Most of these apps were published on the official android platform impersonating well-known products such as CapCut, Roblox, Zelle, PayPal, Netflix, Xbox Game Pass, Siri, iMessage, etc. under different developer accounts, they shared a common codebase, repeated the same deceptive behaviors, and contacted the same remote server, which told each app where to send its users. That destination was an advertising funnel and in our testing the ads it served led to third-party subscription-fraud pages billing as much as $49.99 per month

McAfee identified the malicious apps, conducted technical analysis, and reported its findings to Google through responsible disclosure channels. Following McAfee’s report, Google removed all of the identified apps from Google Play. McAfee is a member of the App Defense Alliance, which supports collaboration across the mobile ecosystem to improve user protection. McAfee Mobile Security detects these apps as a Medium-Risk Threat. For more information, and to get fully protected, visit McAfee Mobile Security.

The Global Impact

This fake app campaign reached consumers around the world, with McAfee researchers identifying more than 1,900 unique apps across over 500,000 devices in more than 190 countries.

McAfee’s detection data shows how the campaign appeared across key markets. In the United Kingdom, McAfee recorded 11,862 detections, in Germany (5,016 detections), France (4,288), Australia (1,434), and Japan (944).

Market	Devices protected	Global rank	Share of global	Fake apps seen	Top 3 lures
United Kingdom	10,582	#8 of 207	1.98%	970	Streaming/TV/sports (17%), video editors (13%), games (11%)
Germany	4,465	#16	0.84%	444	Health apps (22%), games (16%), AI tools (13%)
France	3,882	#19	0.72%	450	Streaming/TV/sports (20%), AI tools (17%), adult content (10%)
Australia	1,293	#42	0.24%	306	Video editors (16%), AI tools (16%), adult content (15%)
Japan	843	#55	0.16%	229	Health apps (29%), streaming/TV (18%), AI tools (11%)

These figures represent fake app encounters identified by McAfee, not total infections. It reflects where McAfee detected these apps rather than the overall infection rate in each country.

Different Regions, Different Fake App Lures

While the campaign used the same underlying tactics worldwide, the types of apps detected varied by region. Globally, fake video and photo editors accounted for 19% of detections, followed by streaming, TV, and sports apps (13%).

A closer look at individual markets reveals some notable differences:

• United Kingdom: Streaming, TV, and sports apps led at 17% of detections, followed by video and photo editors at 13%.
• Germany: Fake health apps accounted for 22% of detections, followed by games and game modifications at 16%.
• France: Streaming, TV, and sports apps were the most common at 20%, followed by AI tool clones at 17%.
• Australia: Video and photo editors and AI tool clones were nearly tied, each accounting for approximately 16% of detections.
• Japan: Fake health apps stood out at 29% of detections, followed by streaming, TV, and sports apps at 18%.

These findings highlight how the same fake app campaign can appear in very different forms depending on what consumers are looking for. Whether it’s a health app, an AI assistant, a streaming service, or a popular game, familiar names and recognizable branding can make a fraudulent app appear trustworthy.

The risk isn’t limited to one country or one type of app. It’s the same underlying deception: an app that promises a familiar service but delivers something entirely different.

The Financial Impersonators

We identified fake apps impersonating Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay, Mir Pay, Binance and several banks. One fake PayPal app had been downloaded 10,000+ times.

Zelle has no standalone consumer app: it lives inside your bank’s app so anyone searching Google Play for “Zelle” is already confused. And Apple Pay has no Android app at all, so users searching for it cannot find a legitimate result. Both are searches with no correct answer, which makes them ideal traffic to intercept.

Figure 1: Firsts result on Google Play of ‘Zelle’ search are Fake Applications

Combine that with an in-app browser whose address bar is hidden and whose destination the operator controls remotely, and the risk profile of a fake banking app is simply not the same as a fake video editor even when both currently do nothing worse than show ads.

From the user’s perspective the current risk is straightforward: they search Google Play for “Zelle”, the first results include fake apps, and installing it delivers not a banking guide but a stream of full-screen ads. Tapping one leads to a page requesting their credit card details for a “free” trial that then bills them monthly.

What Users Actually Got: Gambling Inventory, on an “Everyone” Rating

In multiple cases we observed a gambling-style quiz funnel: “Win Mega Jackpot,” “50,000 COINS DAILY,” “PLAY FOOTBALL QUIZ,” “Play Now.”

Now consider who was looking at those store pages: Among the apps still available for measurement at the time of our analysis, the ones impersonating children’s and teenagers’ brands had been downloaded more than 86,000 times:

Downloads	App title	Package Name
50,000+	Roblox	com.sitaram.robloxgame1
10,000+	Roblox	com.sitaram.robloxgame3
10,000+	Netflix Game Controller	netflixgamecontroller.uzair1
10,000+	Netflix Game Controller: Play	netflixgamecontroller.uzair2
5,000+	Xbox Game Pass: Play Games	xboxgame.abdul2
1,000+	Fall Guys for Mobile	com.react.fallguysgame1

Across the full campaign we identified 37 apps impersonating games and services aimed at young players: Roblox, Minecraft, Fall Guys, Brawl Stars, Clash of Clans, Deltarune, Xbox Game Pass even GTA VI.

Figure 2: Fake Xbox App with over 5,000 installations

Every one of these listings carried an “Everyone” content rating.

So, the chain runs: a child searches Google Play for Roblox, installs an app called Roblox with the Roblox logo, rated suitable for everyone — and is funneled into gambling-style prize inventory that the operator can redirect at will. No exploit, no permission prompt, no warning.

The Searches With No Correct Answer

One application captured this strategy particularly well: Published as “AppStore: App Downloader,” the application used a legacy Appstore icon and presented itself as an Android version of Apple’s official software marketplace.

Figure 3: Fake AppStore on Google Play with over 1K Downloads

A legitimate Apple App Store cannot exist on Android because Apple operates the App Store exclusively for its own platforms, and the iOS applications it distributes are not compatible with Android’s operating system or application format. Any Android app claiming to be Apple’s App Store is therefore impersonating the service rather than providing the official marketplace.

“AppStore: App Downloader” was not an alternative marketplace but an advertising funnel disguised with Apple’s branding, rated for all users, and distributed through Google Play.

There is no App Store, Siri, iMessage, FaceTime nor Apple Pay app for Android. Zelle has no standalone consumer app, it lives inside your bank app. Every one of those is a search people perform on Google Play every day, and every one of them is a search with no legitimate result.

Figure 4: Multiple fake apps that does not officially exist on Android

The user’s own intent is the vulnerability: they want the thing, they cannot have the thing, and something appears that looks exactly like the thing. No security control mediates that moment. It is not a technical failure at all: it is a person trusting a logo, which is precisely what logos are for.

How Are the Ads Displayed?

Each app is a shell. It wears the branding of something people search for — CapCut, Roblox, Zelle, PayPal, Netflix, Huawei Health, Xbox Game Pass, Siri, iMessage — and behind that branding it contains no real product. What it contains is a redirector.

On launch, the app contacts a server controlled by the operator:

`hxxps://rewadevelopments[.]online/data/.json`

The server replies with a small configuration block. One field in that block, `qureka_url`, holds a web address. The app takes that address and opens it in an in-app browser window, a Chrome Custom Tab, configured with the URL bar hidden.

In every case we observed, the address served was a gambling-style quiz site promising daily coin rewards. Users did not get a CapCut tutorial or a Zelle guide. They got an endless funnel of ad and quiz pages, monetized by the operator.

The mechanism matters more than today’s payload. Because the destination is fetched from the server at every launch, the operator can change where these apps send users at any moment, for any single app, without shipping an update and without passing store review again. An app wearing a bank’s logo, opening a browser window with the address bar hidden, pointed wherever the operator chooses, is a capability that can be used for phishing and credential exfiltration.

Figure 5: Ads severed from the website loaded in full screen that funnel to subscription fraud.

The full-screen ads users encounter are not served by the app. Its own ad slots are configured with Google’s public test IDs, which generate no revenue — so the app earns nothing from advertising itself. The ads come from the website the app opens: the destination supplied in the remote JSON configuration. That page’s ad inventory is filled with deceptive offers which, when tapped, lead to credit-card forms tied to subscription-fraud billing.

What Makes These Apps Interesting Is What They Do Not Do

There is no exploit, privilege escalation, rooting attempt, dynamic code loading, obfuscation, encrypted payload, or dropper chain. The applications request no dangerous Android permissions. From the perspective of conventional static analysis, their code presents few of the indicators typically associated with Android malware.

This campaign avoids many of those controls because its primary deception occurs outside the application code. Rather than exploiting a software vulnerability, the operators exploit the user’s trust in an official app store and in recognizable brands.

The post-installation behavior can remain technically simple, as it does here with advertising redirection, because persuading the user to install the application is the most critical stage of the operation.

The affected users did not need to follow a malicious link or sideload an APK from an unofficial forum. They searched an official application store for a product they recognized, and the search results presented an application with the expected name, logo, and visual identity.

How to protect yourself

• Install financial apps only from your bank’s own website or a verified link. If you are searching for an app store for a payment brand, you are in the exact position this campaign targets.
• Be suspicious of “guide,” “tutorial,” “helper” and “tips” apps for products you already use.
• Legitimate services do not need a third party to explain them.
• Check the developer’s name, not just the app name and icon. A real brand’s app is published by that brand.
• If a product doesn’t exist on your platform, no app can provide it. There is no Apple Pay, Siri, or iMessage for Android.
• Ignore install counts as a trust signal. Several of these apps had tens of thousands of downloads.
• Run mobile security software. McAfee Mobile Security detects this family.

Conclusion

Mobile security has genuinely improved. Permissions are narrower, sandboxing is stronger, exploit mitigations are routine, store review catches more than it used to, and AI now finds obfuscated payloads at a scale no human team could match. Every one of those defenses works but none of them was tested here.

Attackers move to one part of the system that cannot be patched: the judgment of the person holding the phone. And they apply pressure exactly where that judgment is weakest — a familiar logo, an official store, a name that matches what you searched for.

These apps are adware or a medium risk threat rather than malware because the fraudulent content is not theirs. The app opens a web page chosen by its operator; that page’s advertising slots are filled by open programmatic ad exchanges, which sell to whichever advertiser bids. The subscription-fraud pages belong to those advertisers.

As threat actors continue to exploit trust rather than software vulnerabilities, McAfee remains committed to protecting users, raising awareness, and collaborating across the industry to ensure that seemingly harmless applications do not evolve into large-scale fraud operations.

 IOC

Prevalent Apps

App title	Package	Play downloads	SHA-256 (primary build)
Roblox	com.sitaram.robloxgame1	50,000+	4f7b36963518e701276c77c1cad88d16fe64e8025c5223141c9af0eeb954ea63
Roblox	com.sitaram.robloxgame3	10,000+	c56d49a2f323ca0333778964fd58a7399aa60c8136a6a178adc1f222747b353f
Netflix Game Controller	netflixgamecontroller.uzair1	10,000+	2bdbd5c78a9d08b69983b965ae466210329b09eb26e5b491acdae9b822c729ab
Netflix Game Controller: Play	netflixgamecontroller.uzair2	10,000+	8cf714e0dab975c12cb5ac16837d7d2748a7f1672a3210a0e8e247dc405f8c68
Xbox Game Pass: Play Games	xboxgame.abdul2	5,000+	37539a20f07bd29e9285e7266ab29015c5467241bea43eee48f77769c42bbc7e
Fall Guys for Mobile	com.react.fallguysgame1	1,000+	d9ae6d844bf9269bee7d1f67f2f3d9e1d932974733068639c7204c2c92c391b1
Capkut – Video Editor	com.flintos.capcut2	50,000+	ba7a00fd597c04b7aa2efb59da853b1fcf34ba3bb63e7fbef2b9d9ef1a497641
Capcut Video Editor 2026	com.capcut.capvideoeditorapp58	10,000+	9b9e08b176d12c5e388b33c3e1fcdf2ba52b94cc6b310b56e3596eb783c26569
Siri Voice Assistant Android	com.shahdi.siri2	10,000+	b015de54db5073758909e5f3eaa90e73d7ff6f923195569d22395808b99a5557
Siri for Android	com.shahdi.siri1	5,000+	9a0881a67a7c35592216e0896e184d1ed960ef5c2280a6dafcfcbc0dcb29c099
Siri for Android	com.keli.siriapp1	1,000+	30a9f7461a0c11061b9349004f3dcd39ec763ec8bf1520ce655653fca67e183e
iMessage for Android	com.keli.imessage3	100+	ac46add9b7bb09779ab0a51924601e649431153c40d95c2ecc995e614ff2b89d
iMessage Android App	com.shahdi.imessage2	100+	83a95ceb22e24d5486f997d3ab7a8fa336cbf52c6489bfd20b285ccb16237f8e
Apple Health for Android	com.godwin.applehealth2	1+	5d2c823acf6e719553688626a113e79842d186de7d3203c011b032eb2f87adca
Huawei Health	huwaei.health1	10,000+	695eca22217b60b6218fbef51bcf660e569f7ce36c1d73a4646494d5489ae352
Casino Plus PH	casinoplus.pindo3	10,000+	3a50fa0ee7be36cbb1052254fbfdc0602abd7f52d69d7dc32d5c9ea6148ed16c
Aviator Game	com.aviator.aviatorgamejamantech2	1,000+	18af2b9a1e9db5f85c789252dbb0048a244e0a181f88b31c0969e6789b9657b8
GTA VI	com.react.gta6game1	N/A	78a098470a7926dc0bd36c625032fd421587aea88200fdbb877dbc655110c5f5

 

Financial Impersonators

App title	Package	Play downloads	SHA-256 (primary build)
PayPal – Fast Payments	com.paypal.wallawalled11	10,000+	601639168ac739e08fd267e86ba7eae440116e5b295fe01c00098bc2d9845405
Zelle® Easy Secure Payments	com.premkumar.zelleapp5	100,000+	8a943f50417c53fd9d8f522fdb69d76c96ca386c2416a43d20f9181350282bd1
Zelle® Faster Payments	com.premkumar.zelleapp2	50,000+	84fac9f350cd9d627392125cd3b06bac62321a2a36954605bd4680383ee86ae2
Zelle® – Faster Payments	com.zelleapp.devnexus2	10,000+	99122b355ba17d6fa55625414f9a48f8755f4a438374ce85c73c751e9f4fe6b6
Zelle® – Online Payments	com.mhd.zelleapp2	N/A	0022360894f15199c5f2fda5b5d8be3d26045d12ad50d80d02a23741601345af
Apple Pay	com.godwin.applepay3	N/A	aa6883d64438a4374a5f44b5180d8ff12ca3d0c9423946df092420291007fdaf

The post Android/RewaFake: Uncovering a Large-Scale Fake Apps Adware Campaign on Google Play appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Every time a big Amazon sales event takes place, shoppers flock to the deals. And scammers know it.

This year, Amazon has added a new Prime Day event Oct 6-7 called Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event. And in preparation, we’re breaking down the ways scammers use AI-driven manipulation to create fake Amazon websites, send delivery scam texts, impersonate customer support agents, and make scams look more convincing than ever. 

Recent McAfee research suggests shoppers may be especially vulnerable in 2026. Forty percent of consumers say they would trust a lower-priced deal without verifying it first, while 29% admit they would skip researching a seller if the price looked good enough.

That combination of urgency, discounts, and increasingly sophisticated scams creates the perfect environment for fraud. 

“Anyone who has ever fallen for a scam thought they would recognize one first,” McAfee’s Head of Threat Research Abhishek Karnik reminds shoppers.  

“That confidence is part of what scammers count on,” he says. “Tools like McAfee exist precisely for those moments, flagging suspicious links, messages, and offers in real time, before a split-second decision becomes a costly one.”  

Here are the most common Amazon Prime Day scams to watch for in 2026 and the warning signs that can help you avoid them. 

Scam Type	How It Works	Red Flags
Fake shopping websites	Fraudulent websites mimic real retailers and disappear after collecting payments	Prices far below competitors, little company information, newly created websites
Fake social media ads	Ads promote products that never arrive or are counterfeit	Too-good-to-be-true discounts, limited reviews, unfamiliar brands
Delivery notification scams	Fake package alerts claim there is an issue with your shipment	Unexpected texts, suspicious links, requests for payment
Retailer impersonation scams	Messages claim there is a problem with your account or order	Urgent language, login requests, unfamiliar sender addresses
QR code scams	QR codes redirect shoppers to fraudulent websites	Codes placed on flyers, posters, packages, or public locations
Brushing scams	Unsolicited packages arrive at your home	Items you never ordered, requests to scan codes or leave reviews
Fake recall scams	Messages claim a recent purchase has been recalled	Requests for payment, account credentials, or personal information

Here are examples of Amazon-related scam texts our team came across near Prime day last year, McAfee’s Scam Detector helped detect and stop these messages:

 

 

Figure 1. Examples of Amazon tariff and job scams

 

Figure 2. An example of a fake Amazon sign-in page.

 

 

Figure 3. Examples of Amazon phishing scams

 

Why Prime Day Scams Work 

Major shopping events create the exact conditions scammers rely on: urgency, distraction, and the promise of savings. 

McAfee research found: 

• 82% of consumers prioritize finding the cheapest deal when shopping online  
• 55% spend more time hunting for discounts  
• 40% would trust a lower-priced deal without verifying it  
• 29% would skip researching a seller if the deal looked especially good  
• 23% feel pressure to act quickly before a deal disappears  

“What the data reflects is that economic pressure has effectively done some of the scammer’s work for them,” says Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research at McAfee. “When consumers are already primed to move quickly and prioritize price over authenticity, it takes far less effort to push them toward a bad click or a fraudulent purchase.”  

How to Protect Yourself This Prime Day 

The good news? These scams are preventable if you know what to watch for and take the right precautions. Here’s your defense playbook: 

Verify Before You Trust 

• Amazon will never call you about suspicious account activity or unauthorized purchases 
• Always log into your Amazon account directly through amazon.com to check for real issues 
• Use Amazon’s Message Center – all legitimate communications from Amazon appear there 
• Never give personal information, passwords, or payment details over the phone 

Watch for Red Flags 

• Urgent language demanding immediate action (“Your account will be closed in 24 hours!”) 
• Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cash 
• Claims that you need to “verify” or “legalize” your money 
• Transfers to “government agencies” during the same call 
• Pressure to keep the call secret or not hang up 

How to Protect Your Shopping Experience 

• Enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account 
• Only shop on secure websites (look for “https://” and the padlock icon) 
• Monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly 
• Never click links in suspicious emails – go directly to the retailer’s website instead. 
• Use reputable online protection like McAfee to keep you safer from online shopping scams 
• Trust your gut – if it feels too urgent or too good to be true, it probably is 

Together, these protections are designed to address the broader range of online risks people face every day. 

Check out the McAfee our latest offer this Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Event here.

The post How to Shop Safely During Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days Shopping Event appeared first on McAfee Blog.

On October 2, 2026, BleepingComputer reported that ed-tech software provider Frontline Education suffered a data breach exposing personal information of K-12 school district employees, including Social Security numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.

Frontline internally identified unauthorized access on August 14, 2026, stemming from a security flaw in a third-party application, and began notifying impacted school administrators via Cyberscout on October 1, 2026. Because Frontline provides administrative and workforce management tools to over 80,000 schools across the country, the exposure directly impacts teachers, administrators, and educational staff whose employee records were managed through the platform.

How the Frontline Education Data Breach Occurred

According to reporting by BleepingComputer and discussions among IT administrators from multiple school districts in the r/k12sysadmin Reddit community, attackers exploited a vulnerability in a third-party software application integrated with Frontline Education’s systems. This vulnerability enabled unauthorized access to internal databases containing administrative and workforce management records.

Frontline discovered the intrusion on August 14, 2026. Rather than issuing an immediate public statement on its corporate website, Frontline partnered with Cyberscout to dispatch private notification emails directly to superintendents, business managers, and IT personnel starting October 1, 2026. The exposed data includes critical personally identifiable information:

• Full names and physical street addresses
• Direct email addresses associated with district employment
• Social Security numbers (SSNs)

Warning Signs That Your Personal Information was Compromised in a Data Breach

Because compromised Social Security numbers and contact details enable identity theft and targeted phishing, school district employees should watch for these specific warning indicators:

• Unsolicited verification requests: Emails or calls claiming to represent Frontline Education, Cyberscout, or district HR asking you to confirm personal details or login credentials.
• Targeted phishing (spear phishing): Messages addressing you by name and referencing your specific school district, job title, or administrative role.
• Unfamiliar credit inquiries: Alerts from credit monitoring services showing credit checks or new account applications that you did not initiate.
• Tax filing irregularities: Communications from the IRS or state tax authorities indicating that a tax return has already been filed using your Social Security number.

How School Employees can Stay Safe

If you are a K-12 school employee whose district utilizes Frontline Education software, take these immediate actions to secure your personal information:

• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with all three bureaus. Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to lock your credit files. A credit freeze prevents lenders from accessing your credit report, stopping bad actors from opening unauthorized accounts in your name.
• Verify notification communications. Confirm with your district’s IT or HR department whether your district was impacted before clicking links in breach notification emails. You can also visit Frontline’s dedicated identity protection portal directly.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Turn on MFA across all personal email accounts, financial portals, and school district access systems to prevent unauthorized sign-ins.
• Monitor credit reports at the source. Request free annual credit reports through the official annual credit report website to review active accounts and financial inquiries.

What to Do If You Have Already Been Targeted

If your Social Security number or personal financial details have already been misused, complete the following recovery steps immediately:

• Stop contact with suspicious senders. Do not reply to unverified emails, texts, or phone calls requesting additional personal information.
• Notify your financial institutions. Contact your bank, credit card issuers, and payment providers to alert them of potential identity theft and place fraud holds on compromised accounts.
• Report identity theft to the federal government. File an official identity theft report at the FTC identity theft portal to receive a recovery plan and official documentation for disputing fraudulent accounts.
• Freeze your credit. If you have not yet frozen your credit, do so immediately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Change affected account credentials. Update passwords for primary email accounts and school portal logins. Use complex, unique passwords for every service.
• File a report with local law enforcement. If you incur financial losses or discover fraudulent accounts opened in your name, submit a police report and request a copy for your dispute records.
• Maintain detailed documentation. Retain copies of notification letters, email headers, police reports, and fraudulent transaction statements.

How to Report the Threat and Next Steps

To report suspicious activity or document fraudulent use of your information resulting from this incident, use official reporting channels:

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: File cybercrime reports at the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Federal Communications Commission: Submit complaints regarding phone scams or caller ID spoofing at the FCC complaint center.
• Frontline Identity Portal: Access identity restoration resources directly via Frontline’s dedicated identity protection portal.

Data breaches often have a long tail, as compromised details can resurface months or years after the initial breach. Long-term protection relies on strong password hygiene, routine credit checks, and ongoing caution with unexpected communications. Automated monitoring tools can alert you if exposed credentials surface online, while consistent security habits and swift action remain your primary defense.

The post Frontline Education Data Breach: What Happened and How K–12 Staff can Stay Safe appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Cybersecurity used to be easier to picture. It was antivirus software protecting the family computer. A suspicious email you knew not to open. A password you were reminded to make a little harder to guess.

Today, our digital lives don’t fit neatly inside a computer. And neither do the risks.

A scam text can follow you into a purchase. Personal information scattered online can fuel unwanted calls and messages. An account you haven’t thought about in 10 years can still hold information about you. And every ordinary interaction, from following a delivery link to shopping at a new store, can require a moment of calculation: Is this real? Is this safe?

McAfee’s latest research shows how much work that’s becoming. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) say they feel the need to double-check most things online before trusting them, while 62% say figuring out what’s real takes more mental energy than it did a year ago.

That’s why this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re thinking about cybersecurity a little differently.

What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?

Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month encourages people and organizations to build better habits for staying safe online.

For 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is marking the month with the theme “Securing the Next 250.“ CISA points to technologies such as artificial intelligence that are accelerating how quickly attackers can identify and take advantage of weaknesses in computer systems.

For individuals and families, CISA recommends four basic actions:

• Avoid and report phishing scams.
• Use strong passwords.
• Use multifactor authentication and a password manager.
• Keep software updated.

They’re good fundamentals. Use unique passwords and multifactor authentication when they’re available. Install security updates instead of putting them off indefinitely. And treat unexpected requests for money or information with caution.

But good cybersecurity today also means looking beyond the traditional security checklist.

McAfee’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month Tips: 4 Quick Fixes

1. Make yourself harder for scammers to find

If your phone constantly rings with unknown callers or your inbox is overflowing with unwanted messages, consider looking at how much information about you is available online.

Your name, phone number, email address, home address, and other personal details can appear on data broker and people-search sites. That information can contribute to the pool of data available to marketers, and potentially provide useful ingredients for scammers trying to make a message more convincing.

You can’t make yourself invisible online. But you can reduce unnecessary exposure.

Personal Data Cleanup scans data broker sites for your personal information and can help with its removal, depending on your plan. Think of it as reducing some of the information about you that’s unnecessarily floating around online.

It’s a useful shift in mindset: don’t just get better at dealing with unwanted contact. Look for opportunities to reduce your exposure in the first place.

 2. Close the accounts you forgot you had

Remember Myspace?

What about that Tumblr you haven’t touched in a decade? The shopping site you ordered from once? An old forum account? Or one of the dozens of apps and services you tried, abandoned, and promptly forgot existed?

Our digital footprints are full of these little leftovers.

And your digital footprint isn’t only what you post publicly. It’s also the accounts you’ve created and the companies you’ve entrusted with pieces of your information over the years.

An abandoned account may still contain an email address, old login information, purchase history, personal details, or other data. If a service you no longer use experiences a breach someday, that’s one more place where information associated with you could potentially be exposed.

A good, simple rule: If you don’t use it and don’t need it, consider deleting it.

McAfee’s Online Account Cleanup can help find accounts associated with your email and help you identify ones you may want to remove. We’ve also updated the experience to help prioritize higher-risk accounts, so you can focus your attention where it matters.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, see how many pieces of your old internet life you can finally retire.

 3. Keep your public browsing safe

Airport Wi-Fi. Hotel Wi-Fi. Coffee-shop Wi-Fi.

Using a network you don’t control doesn’t need to become a cybersecurity event every time you leave the house.

A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts the internet traffic traveling between your device and the VPN service. That adds privacy to your connection, particularly when you’re using unfamiliar or unsecured networks.

The important part isn’t remembering to become extra vigilant every time you sit down at a coffee shop. It’s making protection easier to use consistently.

With Secure VPN, you can add protection to your internet connection when you’re away from networks you know and trust.

That’s the kind of cybersecurity we like: something working quietly in the background while you get on with whatever you actually opened your laptop to do.

McAfee will let let you know if you have weak internet security.

4. Check the destination before you trust the invitation

Think about how many times a day something online asks you to go somewhere else.

A text sends you to track a package. An email asks you to sign in. A search result takes you to a new website. An ad introduces you to a store you’ve never heard of.

Scammers rely on those transitions.

McAfee Labs’ 2026 analysis of text scams found schemes impersonating or referencing everything from deliveries and bank accounts to jobs, tolls, shopping, subscriptions, investments, and utilities. Many are designed to get the recipient to click, respond, or move the conversation somewhere else.

You can inspect every URL yourself. But that puts the work right back on you.

McAfee’s Scam Detector can help warn you about risky websites and links before an everyday click becomes a bigger problem.

It’s a small example of a larger principle at McAfee: You shouldn’t have to be the cybersecurity expert. That’s our job.

While You’re At It: Give Your Browser a 5-Minute Cleanup

If you have another five minutes this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, open your browser settings.

Start with your extensions.

Browser extensions can be genuinely useful, but some require significant permissions to function. If you have extensions you don’t recognize or haven’t used in years, remove them. The fewer unnecessary tools you give access to your browsing, the fewer things you’re relying on to behave responsibly.

Next, check which websites have permission to send you notifications. Remove ones you don’t recognize or no longer want. Unwanted browser notifications can sometimes imitate security alerts or use other alarming messages to get your attention.

Finally, check for browser updates, or simply turn on automatic updates if your browser supports them.

You don’t have to become an expert on browser security. You’re just cleaning out things you no longer need.

A New McAfee Experience To Do More of The Work For You

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month also comes just as we’re rolling out an updated McAfee experience.

The idea behind it connects directly to what our research is telling us.

Seventy-four percent of Americans feel the need to double-check most things online before trusting them. Sixty-two percent say deciding what’s real takes more mental energy than it did a year ago.

Good protection shouldn’t add another set of things to check.

The new McAfee experience brings protection for personal information, connections, and devices into one connected experience across PC, Mac, mobile, and tablet. It’s designed to make it easier to understand what’s protected, what needs your attention, and what McAfee can help handle. That can mean alerting you to suspicious messages and links, helping identify risky websites, monitoring for exposed personal information, protecting your connection, finding forgotten accounts, or helping remove personal information from data broker sites.

We’ve also updated tools including Online Account Cleanup to help people prioritize higher-risk accounts and Personal Data Cleanup to make it easier to understand what personal information is being found and removed on their behalf.

The philosophy behind those changes is simple: Good protection shouldn’t create another job for you.

One Key Takeaway

Our digital lives are simply our lives now.

We shop, date, bank, work, travel, talk to family, look for jobs, manage our health, and discover new things online. And the risks can move just as easily between those digital and physical worlds.

So this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, don’t worry about becoming a cybersecurity expert.

Reduce what you expose. Close what you don’t use. Protect the connections you rely on. And let technology help you decide what’s safe.

The post Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: 4 Simple Ways to Stay Safer Online appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Customer names, email addresses, phone numbers, and shipping addresses were exposed across multiple e-commerce storefronts when attackers breached two third-party shopping applications. The cyberattack was confirmed when UK online spirits retailer Master of Malt notified its customers on September 18, 2026 of the risk to their personally identifiable information (PII). The following day, they informed customers that Master of Malt was not the target of the attack and that “The attack was against Ribon, which was installed on hundreds of BigCommerce stores.”

In a September 2026 statement reported by BleepingComputer, e-commerce platform BigCommerce alerted merchants that unauthorized actors accessed shopper records between September 13 and September 17, 2026. BigCommerce confirmed its core platform remained uncompromised and uninstalled the affected software on September 17, 2026, to block cybercriminals from further access.

How the BigCommerce Ribon App Breach Worked

According to BigCommerce’s comments to BleepingComputer, the data breach originated from a system compromise at Fastr, the parent company of third-party app developer “Be A Part Of.” Attackers obtained API application keys for the Ribon and Ribon 1.5 e-commerce apps, which merchants integrate into BigCommerce storefronts to manage customer features.

Because e-commerce integrations grant application keys permission to read store data, holding valid credentials allowed attackers to generate legitimate platform API requests. From September 13 to September 17, 2026, the unauthorized actor extracted customer records across affected stores and injected malicious scripts into a small number of storefronts. BigCommerce uninstalled the applications on September 17, 2026, and notified impacted merchants directly.

Warning Signs That Your Personal Data May Have Been Exposed

Exposed contact details often serve as the foundation for follow-up phishing attempts and impersonation scams. Watch for these specific indicators:

• Unsolicited credential or payment requests: Watch for unexpected emails, texts, or phone calls claiming to be from affected retailers that ask for account passwords, PINs, or financial details.
• Urgent payment or store verification messages: Be skeptical of communications demanding payment confirmation or immediate money transfers due to an alleged processing error or security update.
• Suspicious login and verification links: Avoid clicking links in text messages or emails that direct you to non-official login portals or request personal information.
• Requests for non-standard payment methods: Treat any demand for wire transfers, prepaid gift cards, or cryptocurrency as a major scam indicator.

 How to Protect Yourself After a Data Breach

Protecting your personal accounts after news of a data breach requires proactive credential management and exercising caution with calls and emails. Take these actions to help protect yourself:

• Verify sender identity before responding. Legitimate retailers will not contact you unexpectedly to ask for sensitive credentials or payment information over phone or email.
• Inspect email header details and website URLs. Ensure links lead directly to official domain names rather than lookalike URLs.
• Use unique passwords across online accounts. Ensure passwords used on e-commerce sites are not reused on email or banking portals.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Turn on MFA across primary email and shopping accounts to add a verification layer beyond passwords.

What to Do If You Have Already Been Targeted

If your data was exposed or you received a breach notification from an affected BigCommerce merchant, take these immediate steps to secure your identity and finances:

• Stop contact and do not send money. Discontinue communication with any sender requesting credentials or payments related to recent purchases.
• Contact your bank, card issuer, or payment app immediately. Report potential fraud or stop suspicious transactions if payment details were compromised.
• Update exposed passwords. Change login credentials and turn on multi-factor authentication for affected merchant accounts and any accounts where you reused passwords.
• Freeze your credit reports. Consider a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion if you suspect broader personal identity data exposure.
• Document all suspicious interactions. Keep records of suspicious activity, including phone numbers, message transcripts, email headers, and receipts.

Next Steps After the BigCommerce Data Breach News

If you encounter phishing attempts or fraudulent activity linked to this breach, report the incident directly to official regulatory and law enforcement channels. You can submit details to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, report deceptive or suspicious messages through the Federal Trade Commission, or notify the impacted retailer directly through the customer support portal on its primary website.

The BigCommerce Ribon app incident demonstrates how compromised third-party application permissions can expose customer records even when core e-commerce platform infrastructure remains secure. Verifying sender credentials and maintaining separate passwords across online accounts helps mitigate personal risk when supply-chain breaches occur.

The post BigCommerce Ribon App Breach: What It Is and How to Protect Yourself appeared first on McAfee Blog.

For a long time, being safe online came with a relatively familiar set of rules.

“Don’t click suspicious links.”
“Keep your software updated.”
“Be careful about what you share.”

But today, AI is everywhere. And it’s rapidly evolving and drastically changing what it means to trust what we see and hear online. It can make scams more convincing and easier to create at scale, while personal information available online can make those scams feel remarkably specific to us.

As AI reshapes nearly everything we consume and do, our daily interactions all come with an added mental burden: the feeling that you have to question everything.

Our research found that nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) feel the need to double-check most things online before trusting them.

That finding stuck with me because it captures something bigger than concern about any one cyberthreat: Trust itself is becoming time-consuming work.

In a world where normal, everyday interactions put people at risk, consumers need protection that keeps them safe in every moment, feels simple, and works quickly and proactively.

Meet the new McAfee: a completely transformational safety solution that protects you when you know you need it, and when you don’t.

Always On. Simple and Easy. Personalized and Proactive.

This marks a shift from reactive security to proactive safety that helps you identify risks and take action before any damage is done.

I experienced a great example of it recently. I was getting on a plane and connected to the public Wi-Fi. McAfee let me know that my VPN had automatically turned on to help protect my connection.

I didn’t have to remember to take a security step. I didn’t have to search for a setting or wonder whether I had done the right thing. I didn’t have to know that I should be securing my connection on public Wi-Fi. And I didn’t have to know what a “VPN” is (virtual private network for those who are wondering!) The protection was simply there when I needed it. Always on. Simple and easy. Personalized and proactive.

That small moment captured something much bigger about the experience we want to create.

McAfee has been protecting people for decades, and for many, our name is still synonymous with antivirus. But in a world of accelerating AI, people’s digital lives no longer fit neatly inside a single device, and neither do the risks they encounter.

That’s why the new McAfee experience is designed to do much more than protect individual devices. It helps protect the things people rely on every day, including their personal information, connections, devices, and accounts, while making it clearer what’s safe, what needs attention, and what McAfee can handle for them.

McAfee’s new product experience seamlessly protects your personal info, finances, connections and devices so you can shop, text, bank and browse with confidence, delivering advanced and comprehensive protection at every moment.

This is merely an evolution of what McAfee has always been here to do: keep people safe- from today’s threats and tomorrow’s.

McAfee. Safer Than Safe.

Our new brand is an expression of that same evolution.

Safe is reacting. Safer is preventing.

Safe is worrying about tomorrow. Safer is enjoying today.

Those contrasts capture what Safer Than Safe means to us. It’s about giving consumers greater confidence instead of building on decades of fear associated with scams, malware, risks, alerts, and the protection industry broadly.

With the growing concern over AI and the speed at which it’s evolving, there has never been a more important moment to provide critical safety solutions proactively and simply. And that’s the moment we’re meeting.

That thinking shaped a McAfee brand that is brighter, simpler, and more human. The experience of being protected shouldn’t be defined by warnings and complexity, and neither should the brand behind it.

McAfee’s “Safer Than Safe” brand promise, the new experience simplifies security into one holistic safety solution:

• Simple & Easy – McAfee’s new experience does the hard work for you. Consumers no longer need to understand complex threats, technical language or how and where to find tools or settings to turn on the protections they need.
• Personalized, Proactive Assistance – Designed to help consumers stay a step ahead with proactive notifications, clear guidance and easy steps. McAfee surfaces timely and personalized alerts when your information or devices are at risk, with guided actions that explain what is happening and what to do next in plain, easy-to-understand language.
• Always-On, Unified Product – McAfee protects you everywhere you are and whatever you’re doing. The new experience brings data, identity and threat protection together into one connected experience across all your devices, so staying safe is seamless and easy.

AI will continue to change how we create, communicate, and connect. It will bring extraordinary possibilities and new risks. We cannot expect people to study every development closely enough to recognize every new way their trust might be tested.

Consumers shouldn’t be security experts. That’s our job.

McAfee. Safer Than Safe.

The post There’s Safe. And There’s Safer With McAfee: Transformational Protection appeared first on McAfee Blog.

No matter where you live in the U.S., AI-driven scams and deceptive content are increasingly filling our feeds, alerts, and inboxes with moments that make us stop and ask: “Is this real?”

But the scams and threats Americans encounter aren’t the same everywhere. Where you live can shape the types of scams reaching your devices, how often you encounter them, and even how those experiences affect the way you behave online.

This 50-state breakdown combines McAfee consumer research with McAfee Labs data to show how Americans are experiencing scams, how those experiences are affecting trust and behavior online, and which text-based scams are reaching devices across the country.

The consumer findings come from a nationally representative survey of 5,000 U.S. adults, with 100 respondents in each state. The survey explores people’s exposure to scams, financial losses, changing online behaviors, concerns about AI and the mental effort involved in deciding what to trust online.

Alongside those findings, McAfee Labs analyzed text-based scam activity across the U.S. from May through July 2026. That data provides a view into the volume, concentration and types of scam texts McAfee observed in each state during the three-month analysis period.

Together, the two datasets offer different views of the same problem: what people say they are experiencing and how it affects them, alongside the scam activity McAfee is seeing in the wild.

Alabama

Key takeaway: Alabama had the highest scam-text rate per device in McAfee’s analysis, while scam concerns are also changing how residents behave online.

• 66% say figuring out what’s real online takes more mental energy than it did a year ago.
• 60% check whether something online is legitimate at least weekly.
• 19% say they do that checking several times a day.
• 45% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 83% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 64% have avoided an unfamiliar retailer because of scam concerns.
• 42% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email because they feared a scam.
• 41% have avoided trying a new app, website or service.
• 39% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• Investment and cryptocurrency scams were the leading text-scam category detected in Alabama.

McAfee detected 5.14 scam texts per device, the highest rate in the country.

Alaska

Key takeaway: Alaska has one of the widest gaps between rising trust fatigue and active checking: 54% report more mental effort, but only 44% verify online content at least weekly.

• 54% say figuring out what’s real online takes more mental energy than a year ago.
• 44% check online legitimacy at least weekly.
• 13% say they check several times a day.
• 44% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 82% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 48% have avoided an unfamiliar retailer.
• 39% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 40% have avoided trying a new app, website or service.
• 34% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams were the leading text-scam category detected in Alaska.

Arizona

Key takeaway: Arizonans are feeling a pronounced trust burden, with 65% saying it now takes more mental energy to decide what’s real online.

• 65% report greater mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 60% check online legitimacy at least weekly.
• 17% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 44% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 31% have avoided trying a new app, website or service.
• 39% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Arizona’s text-scam volume.

Arkansas

Key takeaway: Arkansas residents are relatively active verifiers: 64% check online legitimacy at least weekly even though only about half report greater mental strain.

• 51% say figuring out what’s real online takes more mental energy.
• 64% verify online content at least weekly.
• 22% check several times a day.
• 38% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 77% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 46% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 42% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided trying a new app, website or service.
• 32% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Arkansas text-scam volume.

California

Key takeaway: California has one of the heaviest trust burdens in the survey: 72% say figuring out what’s real online now takes more mental energy.

• 72% report greater mental effort deciding what’s real online.
• 58% verify online content at least weekly.
• 20% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 83% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 49% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 43% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided trying a new app, website or service.
• 38% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• Among Californians surveyed who lost money to scams, 72% recovered none of it.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led California’s  text-scam volume. 

Colorado

Key takeaway: Colorado’s clearest signal is concern about AI-enabled scams, shared by 85% of residents surveyed.

• 59% report greater mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 56% verify online content at least weekly.
• 15% check several times a day.
• 38% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 42% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 45% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 35% have avoided trying a new app, website or service.
• 34% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Colorado’s text-scam volume.

Connecticut

Key takeaway: Connecticut residents report rising trust fatigue, yet fewer than half say they verify online content every week.

• 57% say figuring out what’s real takes more mental energy.
• 47% verify online content at least weekly.
• 18% check several times a day.
• 35% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 79% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 33% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 36% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 26% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 24% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Connecticut’s text-scam volume.

Delaware

Key takeaway: Delaware stands out for exposure to synthetic imagery, with 46% encountering an AI-generated image presented as real.

• 53% report greater mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 53% verify online content at least weekly.
• 8% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 80% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 47% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 34% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 30% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 33% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Delaware’s text-scam volume.

Florida

Key takeaway: Floridians are active online reality-checkers, with 63% verifying messages, offers, websites or people at least weekly.

• 56% report greater mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 63% verify online content at least weekly.
• 18% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 42% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 27% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Florida text-scam volume.

Georgia

Key takeaway: Georgia had the second-highest scam-text-per-device rate highlighted by McAfee, at 4.67.

• 59% report greater mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 60% verify online content at least weekly.
• 25% check several times a day.
• 33% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 80% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 40% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 27% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 35% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• McAfee detected an average of 4.67 scam texts per device.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Georgia’s text-scam volume. 

Hawaii

Key takeaway: Hawaii had the country’s highest scam intensity among affected devices: those receiving at least one scam text averaged 8.45 over three months.

• 56% report greater mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 54% verify online content at least weekly.
• 13% check several times a day.
• 38% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 47% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 38% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 37% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 37% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• Affected devices averaged 8.45 scam texts, the highest figure nationally.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Hawaii’s text-scam volume. 

Idaho

Key takeaway: Idaho shows a sizeable trust gap: 62% report greater mental effort deciding what’s real, while 49% verify online content weekly.

• 62% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 49% verify online content at least weekly.
• 13% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 82% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 48% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 35% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 40% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 38% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Idaho’s text-scam volume.

Illinois

Key takeaway: Two-thirds of Illinois residents say deciding what’s real online is taking more mental energy than a year ago.

• 66% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 59% verify online content at least weekly.
• 18% check several times a day.
• 39% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 75% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 40% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 26% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 24% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Illinois text-scam volume.

Indiana

Key takeaway: Indiana’s scam anxiety is translating into caution: 81% are concerned about AI making scams harder to recognize and 60% verify online content weekly.

• 62% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 60% verify online content at least weekly.
• 18% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 38% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 41% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 35% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 35% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Indiana text-scam volume.

Iowa

Key takeaway: Iowa residents report relatively restrained checking behavior: 47% verify online content at least weekly despite 55% reporting greater mental effort.

• 55% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 47% verify online content at least weekly.
• 17% check several times a day.
• 33% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 32% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 33% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 34% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Iowa text-scam volume.

Kansas

Key takeaway: Kansas has one of the bleakest recovery pictures in the survey: 75% of scam victims who lost money recovered none of it.

• 61% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 51% verify online content at least weekly.
• 10% check several times a day.
• 40% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 80% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 42% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 39% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 40% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 32% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 75% of victims who lost money said they recovered none of it.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Kansas text-scam volume.

Kentucky

Key takeaway: Kentucky is the standout verification state: 76% say they check whether online content is legitimate at least weekly.

• 62% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 76% verify online content at least weekly.
• 19% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 83% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 46% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 30% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 39% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 25% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Kentucky text-scam volume.

Louisiana

Key takeaway: Louisiana combines comparatively low trust fatigue with severe financial consequences: 73% of victims who lost money recovered none of it.

• 45% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 54% verify online content at least weekly.
• 13% check several times a day.
• 35% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 75% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 30% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 73% of victims who lost money said they recovered none of it.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Louisiana text-scam volume.

Maine

Key takeaway: Maine is one of only two states where toll and traffic scams, rather than investment and crypto scams, ranked first in McAfee’s text telemetry.

• 64% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 59% verify online content at least weekly.
• 13% check several times a day.
• 39% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 46% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 34% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 34% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 30% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Toll and traffic violation scams were Maine’s leading text-scam category.

Maryland

Key takeaway: Marylanders show particularly high concern about AI-enabled fraud, with 86% saying AI is making scams harder to recognize.

• 65% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 60% verify online content at least weekly.
• 25% check several times a day.
• 45% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 86% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 46% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 45% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 37% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 44% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Maryland text-scam volume.

Massachusetts

Key takeaway: Massachusetts has a striking trust gap: 65% report more mental effort deciding what’s real, but only 48% verify online content at least weekly.

• 65% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 48% verify online content at least weekly.
• 15% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 86% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 47% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 35% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 37% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 38% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Massachusetts text-scam volume.

Michigan

Key takeaway: Michigan joins Maine as the only state where toll and traffic scams outranked investment and cryptocurrency scams.

• 71% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 52% verify online content at least weekly.
• 21% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 71% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 40% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 35% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 34% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 32% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Toll and traffic violation scams were Michigan’s leading text-scam category.

Minnesota

Key takeaway: Minnesota records the highest AI-scam concern in the state crosstabs, at 91%.

• 60% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 59% verify online content at least weekly.
• 10% check several times a day.
• 47% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 91% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 44% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 44% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 38% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 34% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Minnesota text-scam volume.

Mississippi

Key takeaway: Mississippi had one of the heaviest scam-text loads in McAfee’s analysis, averaging roughly 4.64 scam texts per device.

• 55% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 54% verify online content at least weekly.
• 17% check several times a day.
• 32% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 82% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 34% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 34% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 35% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• McAfee detected roughly 4.64 scam texts per device.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Mississippi text-scam volume.

Missouri

Key takeaway: Missouri residents show a confidence problem around AI scams: 13% said they were not at all confident spotting AI-created or AI-enhanced fraud.

• 63% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 60% verify online content at least weekly.
• 16% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 40% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 39% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 35% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 13% said they’re not at all confident they could spot a scam enhanced by AI

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Missouri text-scam volume.

Montana

Key takeaway: Montana has the highest reported exposure to AI-generated images presented as real, at 51%.

• 63% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 49% verify online content at least weekly.
• 11% check several times a day.
• 51% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 84% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 47% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 44% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 43% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 37% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Montana text-scam volume.

Nebraska

Key takeaway: Nebraska’s strongest signal is AI concern: 87% say AI is making online scams harder to recognize.

• 56% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 50% verify online content at least weekly.
• 8% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 87% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 41% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 35% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 40% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 29% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Nebraska text-scam volume.

Nevada

Key takeaway: Nevada has the broadest reported scam exposure in the survey, with 95% encountering at least one type of scam in the past year.

• 60% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 66% verify online content at least weekly.
• 18% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 82% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 45% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 33% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 33% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 95% encountered at least one type of scam in the past year.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Nevada text-scam volume.

New Hampshire

Key takeaway: New Hampshire shows another trust gap: 59% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real, while 46% verify online content weekly.

• 59% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 46% verify online content at least weekly.
• 10% check several times a day.
• 48% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 50% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 34% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 37% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 33% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led New Hampshire text-scam volume.

New Jersey

Key takeaway: New Jersey residents report unusually frequent scam exposure, with 30% saying they encounter four or more scam attempts on a typical day.

• 61% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 61% verify online content at least weekly.
• 18% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 82% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 49% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 34% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 37% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 36% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 30% report encountering at least four scam attempts on a typical day.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led New Jersey text-scam volume.

New Mexico

Key takeaway: New Mexico has one of the toughest scam-recovery pictures: 72% of victims who lost money recovered none of it.

• 65% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 59% verify online content at least weekly.
• 16% check several times a day.
• 39% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 79% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 42% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 48% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 38% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 44% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 72% of victims who lost money said they recovered none of it.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led New Mexico text-scam volume.

New York

Key takeaway: New York’s most striking behavioral signal is comparatively low retailer avoidance: 33% have stayed away from unfamiliar sellers because of scam concerns.

• 59% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 58% verify online content at least weekly.
• 19% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 78% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 33% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 27% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 27% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led New York text-scam volume.

North Carolina

Key takeaway: North Carolina stands out on recovery: 42% of scam victims who lost money said they recovered all of it.

• 53% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 65% verify online content at least weekly.
• 17% check several times a day.
• 33% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 69% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 38% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 38% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 29% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 29% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 42% of victims who lost money reported recovering all of it.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led North Carolina text-scam volume.

North Dakota

Key takeaway: North Dakota had the country’s highest concentration of scams in analyzed text traffic, at 2.8%.

• 61% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 55% verify online content at least weekly.
• 13% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 83% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 48% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 40% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 40% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 37% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 2.8% of analyzed text traffic was classified as scams, the highest share nationally.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led North Dakota text-scam volume.

Ohio

Key takeaway: Ohio stands out for financial harm: 41% of respondents say they lost money to an online scam in the past year.

• 59% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 63% verify online content at least weekly.
• 20% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 73% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 44% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 33% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 33% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 30% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 41% report losing money to an online scam in the past year.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Ohio text-scam volume.

Oklahoma

Key takeaway: Oklahoma consumers are feeling the mental load of navigating AI-powered scams: 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize, while half say figuring out what’s real online requires more mental effort.

• 56% verify online content at least weekly.
• 19% check several times a day.
• 47% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 50% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 46% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 39% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 43% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 10% say they never spend time checking whether online content is legitimate.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Oklahoma text-scam volume.

Oregon

Key takeaway: Oregon scam concerns are spilling into ordinary digital life, with 45% avoiding new apps, websites or services.

• 57% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 49% verify online content at least weekly.
• 17% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 52% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 45% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 45% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 39% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Oregon text-scam volume.

Pennsylvania

Key takeaway: Pennsylvania has one of the heavier trust burdens in the survey, with 67% saying figuring out what’s real takes more mental energy.

• 67% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 54% verify online content at least weekly.
• 14% check several times a day.
• 39% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 48% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 38% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 37% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 31% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Pennsylvania text-scam volume.

Rhode Island

Key takeaway: Rhode Island scam concerns are affecting legitimate online behavior: 42% have avoided clicking a real message or link.

• 58% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 57% verify online content at least weekly.
• 11% check several times a day.
• 45% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 84% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 40% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 36% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 42% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Rhode Island text-scam volume.

South Carolina

Key takeaway: South Carolina has a confidence problem around AI scams: 13% say they are not at all confident identifying AI-created or AI-enhanced fraud.

• 57% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 47% verify online content at least weekly.
• 12% check several times a day.
• 44% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 79% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 42% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 38% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 39% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 13% say they are not at all confident identifying AI-created or AI-enhanced fraud.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led South Carolina text-scam volume.

South Dakota

Key takeaway: South Dakota’s scam response is relatively restrained compared with many states, with 35% avoiding unfamiliar retailers and 29% avoiding legitimate links.

• 55% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 52% verify online content at least weekly.
• 11% check several times a day.
• 41% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 78% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 35% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 38% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 29% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led South Dakota text-scam volume.

Tennessee

Key takeaway: Tennessee residents report rising trust fatigue without matching verification habits: 59% feel more mental strain, but 48% verify weekly.

• 59% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 48% verify online content at least weekly.
• 15% check several times a day.
• 40% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 80% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 48% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 33% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 35% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 37% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Tennessee text-scam volume.

Texas

Key takeaway: Texas is one of the more active verification states, with 62% checking online legitimacy at least weekly.

• 61% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 62% verify online content at least weekly.
• 22% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 41% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 30% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 30% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Texas text-scam volume.

Utah

Key takeaway: Utah has one of the highest levels of exposure to AI-generated imagery, with 49% seeing an AI image presented as real.

• 58% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 50% verify online content at least weekly.
• 8% check several times a day.
• 49% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 43% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 40% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 43% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 32% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Utah text-scam volume.

Vermont

Key takeaway: Vermont has a sizeable trust-versus-action gap: 58% report more mental effort online while 47% verify content weekly.

• 58% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 47% verify online content at least weekly.
• 12% check several times a day.
• 45% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 79% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 47% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 28% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 32% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 30% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Vermont text-scam volume.

Virginia

Key takeaway: Virginia reports comparatively low exposure to AI-generated images presented as real, at 34%, even as concern about AI scams remains high.

• 58% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 54% verify online content at least weekly.
• 15% check several times a day.
• 34% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 83% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 40% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 33% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 39% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 30% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Virginia text-scam volume.

Washington

Key takeaway: Washington has one of the highest levels of AI-scam concern in the survey, at 86%.

• 62% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 55% verify online content at least weekly.
• 15% check several times a day.
• 40% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 86% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 50% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 36% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 34% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 36% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Washington text-scam volume.

West Virginia

Key takeaway: West Virginia has one of the lower weekly verification rates in the survey, at 45%, despite a majority reporting greater trust fatigue.

• 55% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 45% verify online content at least weekly.
• 12% check several times a day.
• 43% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 81% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 41% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 25% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 29% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 31% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led West Virginia text-scam volume.

Wisconsin

Key takeaway: Wisconsin shows relatively high exposure to synthetic imagery: 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.

• 56% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 49% verify online content at least weekly.
• 15% check several times a day.
• 46% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 85% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 39% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 35% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 26% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 26% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Wisconsin text-scam volume.

Wyoming

Key takeaway: Wyoming has the most distressing scam-loss recovery story in the survey: 76% of victims who lost money recovered none of it.

• 64% report more mental effort figuring out what’s real online.
• 52% verify online content at least weekly.
• 11% check several times a day.
• 49% have encountered an AI-generated image presented as real.
• 78% are concerned AI is making scams harder to recognize.
• 44% have avoided unfamiliar retailers.
• 41% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email.
• 43% have avoided a new app, website or service.
• 31% have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.
• 76% of victims who lost money said they recovered none of it.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams led Wyoming text-scam volume.

The post What Scams Look Like in Your State: A 50-State Breakdown appeared first on McAfee Blog.

There is a small tax many of us pay in our everyday interactions without even realizing it.

A package notification arrives, and we stop to check whether we actually ordered something. A recruiter reaches out about a job, but before replying, we research the person and the company. A bank alert appears, and instead of tapping the link, we open the banking app ourselves.

These are sensible habits. But McAfee’s latest research suggests the effort behind them is increasing the average American’s every day mental load.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) say they feel the need to double-check most things online before trusting them. Sixty-two percent say figuring out what is real takes more mental energy than it did a year ago.

That growing burden is one reason McAfee is introducing a new brand and product experience built around a broader idea of what protection should do. Good security shouldn’t demand more of people’s attention. It should help give some of it back.

That’s why the new McAfee experience is designed to do more than protect individual devices. It helps protect the things people rely on every day, their personal information, connections, devices, and accounts, all while making it clearer what’s safe, what needs attention, and what McAfee can handle for them.

Get quick alerts and easily update protections in McAfee’s app

That matters at a moment when attention is already stretched thin. AI is everywhere, and it has made it easier to produce convincing content at an enormous scale, adding to an already crowded attention economy. Increasingly, ordinary moments come with an extra question: Is this real?

And those questions have consequences. Our research found that 82% of Americans have changed how they behave online because of scams. Some have stopped buying from unfamiliar retailers. Others have ignored communications that turned out to be legitimate. Eighteen percent say scam concerns have even caused them to avoid responding to a job opportunity.

“I’ve accused my doctor’s office of being an AI,” says McAfee Threat Researcher Charles McFarland, recounting a time when even he thought something legitimate was fraudulent. “I had to apologize.”

Financial losses remain a serious part of the picture. Nearly one-third of Americans (31%) reported losing money to a scam in the past year. But measuring scams only in dollars misses something important. Scams are also making trust more expensive.

This report examines that growing cost: the attention Americans are spending figuring out what to trust, how the scam experience differs across all 50 states, and what protection should look like when staying safe increasingly competes for the same limited time and attention as everything else we do online.

Key Findings

McAfee’s research combines a nationally representative survey of 5,000 U.S. adults, with 100 respondents in every state, and McAfee Labs analysis of text-based scam activity across the U.S.

Together, the findings show how scams are affecting not only Americans’ wallets, but also their attention, trust and behavior online.

Scams are placing a growing burden on Americans’ attention. Nearly three-quarters (74%) say they feel the need to double-check most things online before trusting them, while 62% say figuring out what is real takes more mental energy than it did a year ago. (Survey)

That uncertainty is changing legitimate online behavior. Eighty-two percent say scam concerns have changed something they do online. Forty-four percent have avoided buying from an unfamiliar retailer, 37% have ignored a legitimate call, text or email, 34% have avoided a new app, website or service, 33% have avoided a legitimate link and 25% have abandoned an online purchase. (Survey)

Scams can make real opportunities harder to trust. Twenty-seven percent encountered a fake recruiter or job opportunity in the past year. At the same time, 18% say scam concerns have caused them to avoid responding to a job opportunity. (Survey)

Financial losses are widespread, and getting money back can be difficult. Nearly one-third of Americans (31%) report losing money to a scam in the past year. Among those who lost money, 53% recovered none. In Wyoming, Kansas, Louisiana, California and New Mexico, more than 70% of victims who lost money recovered nothing. (Survey)

Investment and cryptocurrency scams dominate text-based scam activity. McAfee Labs found them to be the leading scam-text category by volume in 47 of 50 states from May through July 2026. Maine, North Dakota and Michigan were the exceptions. In Maine and North Dakota, toll and traffic scams ranked first. Meanwhile, in North Dakota, loan and investment scams ranked first. (McAfee Labs)

The volume and intensity of scam texts varies considerably by state. Alabama averaged 5.14 scam texts per device, the highest in McAfee’s analysis. In North Dakota, scams represented 2.8% of analyzed text traffic, the highest concentration nationally. In Hawaii, devices receiving at least one scam text averaged 8.45 scam messages during the three-month analysis period. (McAfee Labs)

Some states experience especially high exposure or financial consequences. Ninety-five percent of Nevada respondents encountered at least one type of scam in the past year. In Ohio, 41% reported losing money to a scam. Thirty percent of New Jersey respondents say they encounter four or more scam attempts on a typical day. North Carolina stood out in the other direction: 42% of victims who lost money said they recovered all of it. (Survey)

Many scam texts are designed to begin a conversation rather than complete the scam immediately. Joining or clicking through to a WhatsApp group was the most common requested action in the scam texts McAfee analyzed, driven largely by investment and cryptocurrency schemes. The initial message may be only the first step in a longer attempt to build trust before asking for money. (McAfee Labs)

Displays the number of scams seen per unique device

The New Scam Landscape

Scams no longer occupy some separate, obviously suspicious corner of the internet. Increasingly, they imitate the ordinary business of being online.

In its analysis of U.S. text-based scams from May through July 2026, McAfee Labs identified 49 leading scam topics across 23 broader categories. They touched nearly every part of daily life: package deliveries and bank accounts, job offers and investments, shopping and subscriptions, health and utilities, relationships and family emergencies.

Example of one of the many types of delivery text scams consumers face

The full list spans Cloud Storage & Payment; Package & Delivery; Banking & Financial; Toll & Traffic Violation; Tax & IRS; Legal Threat & Law Enforcement; Government Impersonation; Tech Support & Security; Prize & Lottery; Romance & Relationship; Employment & Job Offer; Subscription & Service; Account Verification & Account Alerts; Investment & Cryptocurrency; Charity & Donation; Utility & Bill Payment; Health & Pharmacy; Family & Friend Emergency; Retail & Shopping; Loan & Debt Relief; Buying Property & Real Estate; Context-Free Links & Phone Numbers; and Other.

That breadth matters. The more scams resemble the normal messages people receive every day, the more ordinary life requires verification.

One category nevertheless dominated. Investment and cryptocurrency scams were the largest text-scam category by volume in 47 of 50 states. Only Maine, North Dakota and Michigan broke the pattern, with toll and traffic violation scams as well as loan and investments ranking first.

The prevalence of investment scams is important because many are not trying to steal money with a single text. They are trying to start a relationship.

The most common action requested in the scam texts analyzed by McAfee was clicking or joining a WhatsApp group, driven heavily by investment and cryptocurrency schemes. A message might promote an investing community or offer access to financial advice.

Example of a scam text attempting to move users to WhatsApp

Moving the recipient into a group or private conversation gives the scammer more time to establish credibility before money enters the picture. Plus, for many of us, social apps feel more personal and we more easily let our guard down when we move a conversation to these messaging platforms.

That helps explain why an unsolicited text that looks relatively harmless can still be the beginning of a much longer scam.

Other prominent scams rely on a different tactic: urgency. Fake account alerts can suggest that something needs immediate attention. Toll and traffic scams warn of an unpaid charge or violation. McAfee Labs also saw scammers impersonating T-Mobile with fake reward offers among the largest individual scam topics.

Example of scammers exploiting trusted brands like T-Mobile to dupe customers

The stories change, but the underlying objective is often the same. Scammers want people to act before they have time to question what they are seeing. And there is a lot to question.

Across the United States

McAfee’s analysis found meaningful differences in the amount of scam traffic reaching consumers around the country during the three month analysis period. Alabama recorded an average of 5.14 scam texts per device, the highest in the analysis. Georgia followed at 4.67, with Mississippi close behind at 4.64.

North Dakota stood out in a different way. There, scams represented 2.8% of all text traffic McAfee analyzed, the highest concentration in the country. Hawaii showed another pattern: among devices that received at least one scam text, the average was 8.45 scam messages during the three-month period. That was about 15% higher than Alabama, which ranked second at 7.35 scam texts per exposed device.

Rank	State	Scams per device	State	Scams per device scammed
1	Alabama	5.14	Hawaii	8.45
2	Georgia	4.67	Alabama	7.35
3	Mississippi	4.64	Ohio	7.29
4	Nevada	4.54	Florida	7.29
5	Tennessee	4.50	North Dakota	7.28

A third measure shows how concentrated scam traffic was within people’s overall text messages. North Dakota had the highest concentration in the country, with scams accounting for 2.8% of all text traffic McAfee analyzed.

These measures capture different dimensions of the same problem. The all-device average shows how many scam texts reached devices across a state overall. The exposed-device average shows how persistent scam activity was for devices that received at least one scam. And the share of total text traffic shows how prominent scam messages were within the broader messaging environment.

This shows each states top scam category by volume if Investments & Cryptocurrency scams are ignored. Notice these colors don’t necessarily match the colors from the previous graph.

For consumers, those distinctions may be invisible. What they experience is repetition: another message asking for attention and another decision about whether it deserves it.

AI raises the stakes further. It can make convincing scam content cheaper and faster to produce, while people are simultaneously encountering more AI-generated material in everyday online life. The result is an environment where the old advice to simply “look for something suspicious” becomes harder to apply reliably. Sometimes the suspicious thing looks perfectly ordinary.

That is why the next phase of consumer protection cannot depend on people becoming infinitely better at scrutinizing everything themselves.

America’s Scam Reality

McAfee’s consumer research shows what happens when that scam environment meets everyday life.

Most Americans are encountering scams regularly. Eighty-eight percent say they experienced at least one type of scam in the past year, and one in five say they typically encounter four or more scam attempts in a single day.

Yet frequency tells only part of the story. The more consequential finding may be what people are doing in response.

Eighty-two percent say scam concerns have changed their online behavior. Forty-four percent have avoided an unfamiliar retailer. Thirty-seven percent have ignored a legitimate call, text or email because they suspected a scam. Thirty-three percent have avoided clicking a legitimate message or link.

These are not examples of people falling for scams. They are examples of people trying not to.

Job scams make that tradeoff particularly tangible. Twenty-seven percent of Americans say they encountered a fake recruiter or job opportunity in the past year. Eighteen percent say concerns about scams have caused them to avoid responding to a job opportunity.

The financial consequences remain substantial when a scam does succeed. Nearly one-third of Americans (31%) report losing money to a scam in the past year. Among those victims, 53% recovered none of what they lost.

From our McAfee Labs Research: This shows approximate location of all the scams received

But a national average can obscure how differently people experience the problem.

Our full 50-state scam breakdown examines the data state by state, combining McAfee’s consumer survey with Labs telemetry to show where scam exposure is highest, where financial recovery is hardest, how concerns affect behavior, and which types of text scams McAfee is seeing across the country.

Across those differences, one finding remains remarkably consistent: Americans are adapting. They are checking more carefully and approaching unfamiliar interactions with greater caution, or even avoiding them altogether.

Those behaviors can help keep people safe. But that puts the mental load on back onto the everyday user. There is a limit to how much vigilance we should expect people to supply on their own.

The better question is how technology can take on more of that work for them. And that is the thinking behind McAfee’s new brand and product experience, beginning its rollout in the U.S. today.

How McAfee is Changing to Meet the Moment

McAfee’s new consumer experience is designed to make protection simpler to understand and easier to act on, while helping people navigate the moments where scams and other threats increasingly create uncertainty.

We’ll let you know if something seems suspicious and could put you at risk.

The experience is built to spot risks earlier, guide people clearly, and act when protection can be handled automatically. That means flagging suspicious messages, links, sites, exposed data, or unsafe connections; explaining what matters in plain language; and helping people take the right next step without requiring them to become security experts.

McAfee can alert you when your information appears in a data breach, help identify suspicious messages and links, protect your connection on risky Wi-Fi, monitor for exposed personal information, and help keep your devices and accounts safer.

Just as importantly, we’ve worked to make those protections understandable.

Instead of expecting people to know cybersecurity terminology or hunt through settings, the experience is designed to surface what matters and help people understand what to do next.

Because good protection shouldn’t create another job for you.

The refreshed McAfee experience makes it easier to see what needs your attention and how you’re protected.

What We’re Unveiling

That idea, making protection do more of the work, is built into the new McAfee experience we’re unveiling today.

We’ve brought protection for personal information, connections, and devices into one connected experience across PC, Mac, mobile, and tablet. Instead of asking people to piece together what’s protected or search for what needs attention, McAfee makes it easier to see both in one place.

The experience is also more personal. McAfee can alert you when your information or devices may be at risk and provide guided actions, that explain what needs your attention in plain language. The goal is not to give people more security information. It’s to help them understand what matters to them and what they can do about it.

And over time, the experience is designed to become more personal and relevant to each person, proactively identifying risks, alerting in the moment, and guiding when action is needed for the protections that matter most based on their digital life.

We’ve also made improvements to privacy tools like Online Account Cleanup, which now helps people prioritize higher-risk accounts, and Personal Data Cleanup, which makes it easier to see the personal information being found and removed on their behalf.

Taken together, these changes reflect where we believe consumer safety needs to go: less hunting through settings, less deciphering security alerts, and less relying on people to spot every threat themselves.

More protection that understands what matters, explains what needs attention, and works proactively in the background.

Here to give you peace of mind and lighten the mental load of life online.

Conclusion

The findings in this report suggest that the impact of scams extends beyond exposure and financial loss.

Every scam adds another small decision to an already crowded digital day: Is this message real? Is this link safe? Is this person who they say they are? As those decisions multiply, staying safe online becomes not just a security challenge, but a growing mental burden.

As people encounter more attempts to imitate legitimate messages, businesses and opportunities, the effort required to establish trust becomes a consequence in its own right.

That makes reducing the burden of verification an increasingly important part of consumer protection. People should not have to devote more of their limited attention to staying safe simply because scams are becoming harder to distinguish from everyday life online. That’s where McAfee comes in.

The post Your State’s Scam Reality: What New Research Reveals Across All 50 States appeared first on McAfee Blog.