McAfee adds QR scans & smarter tools to fight scams

McAfee has upgraded its Scam Detector product with instant QR code checks and expanded protection for scam messages across social platforms and direct messaging.

The cybersecurity company said the changes address a rise in scams that use QR codes and messages that do not include links. McAfee said Australians spend 60 hours a year trying to judge whether online content is real or fake.

QR Code Risk

McAfee said its updated tool scans QR codes that appear in everyday settings such as parking metres, restaurant menus and promotional deals. The company said the feature provides a safety assessment of the destination link before a user opens it.

Survey findings cited by McAfee indicate that QR code use has become routine. It said 67% of people scanned a QR code in the past three months. McAfee said 11% landed on a suspicious or unsafe page after scanning.

The company's figures also point to risky behaviour after scanning. McAfee said nearly half of Australians who land on a suspicious page after scanning a QR code take actions such as entering personal information, installing an app or connecting their wallet.

McAfee referenced warnings from the Australian Signals Directorate about QR code scams. It said regulators have flagged challenges for detection and blocking. It also said QR codes can hide the underlying link in an image, which limits a person's ability to check it before visiting a site.

Message Scams

The upgraded Scam Detector also adds what McAfee describes as smarter protection for messages received through texts, email and direct messages. The company said it now provides clearer warnings for suspicious messages, including those that do not contain links.

McAfee said scammers have adapted to platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and Telegram. It said phishing attempts increasingly arrive through informal chat and direct message threads rather than email.

McAfee said some scam messages aim to start a conversation first and introduce fraud later. It said 14% of suspicious social messages contain no link at all. It also said 32% of Australians have replied to a suspicious direct message with no link.

McAfee described the shift as part of a wider pattern of more personal approaches in scam campaigns. It said scammers use urgency and emotion. It also said some use AI-generated text that appears convincing.

McAfee framed the release as part of a wider effort to reduce the effort required to screen messages. It said Australians receive an average of seven scam messages per day across text, email and social media.

"Scams aren't just getting smarter; they're getting more personal. Powered by AI, they're evolving more quickly and getting more targeted every day," said Tyler McGee, Head of APJ, McAfee.

"With these upgrades, we're making scam protection stronger, faster, and easier for everyone. It's our job to stay ahead of the threats, something we've done for over 25 years," said McGee.

Consumer Losses

McAfee also cited research on scam losses in Australia. It said one in four Australians has lost money to a scam, with an average loss of $2,149. It said nearly one in ten victims fall for another scam within a year.

Those figures underline the scale of the problem facing consumer security providers and public agencies. Financial institutions, telcos and digital platforms have faced increased scrutiny over scam prevention in recent years. QR codes add another entry point because they can appear on physical objects as well as in digital channels.

McAfee said the QR code checks and the expanded messaging warnings will be included at no extra cost in all McAfee plans. It said the changes will roll out in Autumn.

The company also said the enhanced Scam Detector will be available across all core McAfee plans in 11 geographies in Spring.