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If you’ve worried that AI might take your job, deprive you of your livelihood, or maybe even replace your role in society, it probably feels good to see the latest AI tools fail spectacularly. If AI recommends glue as a pizza topping, then you’re safe for another day.

But the fact remains that AI already has definite advantages over even the most skilled humans, and knowing where these advantages arise—and where they don’t—will be key to adapting to the AI-infused workforce.

AI will often not be as effective as a human doing the same job. It won’t always know more or be more accurate. And it definitely won’t always be fairer or more reliable. But it may still be used whenever it has an advantage over humans in one of four dimensions: speed, scale, scope and sophistication. Understanding these dimensions is the key to understanding AI-human replacement.

Speed

First, speed. There are tasks that humans are perfectly good at but are not nearly as fast as AI. One example is restoring or upscaling images: taking pixelated, noisy or blurry images and making a crisper and higher-resolution version. Humans are good at this; given the right digital tools and enough time, they can fill in fine details. But they are too slow to efficiently process large images or videos.

AI models can do the job blazingly fast, a capability with important industrial applications. AI-based software is used to enhance satellite and remote sensing data, to compress video files, to make video games run better with cheaper hardware and less energy, to help robots make the right movements, and to model turbulence to help build better internal combustion engines.

Real-time performance matters in these cases, and the speed of AI is necessary to enable them.

Scale

The second dimension of AI’s advantage over humans is scale. AI will increasingly be used in tasks that humans can do well in one place at a time, but that AI can do in millions of places simultaneously. A familiar example is ad targeting and personalization. Human marketers can collect data and predict what types of people will respond to certain advertisements. This capability is important commercially; advertising is a trillion-dollar market globally.

AI models can do this for every single product, TV show, website and internet user. This is how the modern ad-tech industry works. Real-time bidding markets price the display ads that appear alongside the websites you visit, and advertisers use AI models to decide when they want to pay that price—thousands of times per second.

Scope

Next, scope. AI can be advantageous when it does more things than any one person could, even when a human might do better at any one of those tasks. Generative AI systems such as ChatGPT can engage in conversation on any topic, write an essay espousing any position, create poetry in any style and language, write computer code in any programming language, and more. These models may not be superior to skilled humans at any one of these things, but no single human could outperform top-tier generative models across them all.

It’s the combination of these competencies that generates value. Employers often struggle to find people with talents in disciplines such as software development and data science who also have strong prior knowledge of the employer’s domain. Organizations are likely to continue to rely on human specialists to write the best code and the best persuasive text, but they will increasingly be satisfied with AI when they just need a passable version of either.

Sophistication

Finally, sophistication. AIs can consider more factors in their decisions than humans can, and this can endow them with superhuman performance on specialized tasks. Computers have long been used to keep track of a multiplicity of factors that compound and interact in ways more complex than a human could trace. The 1990s chess-playing computer systems such as Deep Blue succeeded by thinking a dozen or more moves ahead.

Modern AI systems use a radically different approach: Deep learning systems built from many-layered neural networks take account of complex interactions—often many billions—among many factors. Neural networks now power the best chess-playing models and most other AI systems.

Chess is not the only domain where eschewing conventional rules and formal logic in favor of highly sophisticated and inscrutable systems has generated progress. The stunning advance of AlphaFold2, the AI model of structural biology whose creators Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were recognized with the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2024, is another example.

This breakthrough replaced traditional physics-based systems for predicting how sequences of amino acids would fold into three-dimensional shapes with a 93 million-parameter model, even though it doesn’t account for physical laws. That lack of real-world grounding is not desirable: No one likes the enigmatic nature of these AI systems, and scientists are eager to understand better how they work.

But the sophistication of AI is providing value to scientists, and its use across scientific fields has grown exponentially in recent years.

Context matters

Those are the four dimensions where AI can excel over humans. Accuracy still matters. You wouldn’t want to use an AI that makes graphics look glitchy or targets ads randomly—yet accuracy isn’t the differentiator. The AI doesn’t need superhuman accuracy. It’s enough for AI to be merely good and fast, or adequate and scalable. Increasing scope often comes with an accuracy penalty, because AI can generalize poorly to truly novel tasks. The 4 S’s are sometimes at odds. With a given amount of computing power, you generally have to trade off scale for sophistication.

Even more interestingly, when an AI takes over a human task, the task can change. Sometimes the AI is just doing things differently. Other times, AI starts doing different things. These changes bring new opportunities and new risks.

For example, high-frequency trading isn’t just computers trading stocks faster; it’s a fundamentally different kind of trading that enables entirely new strategies, tactics and associated risks. Likewise, AI has developed more sophisticated strategies for the games of chess and Go. And the scale of AI chatbots has changed the nature of propaganda by allowing artificial voices to overwhelm human speech.

It is this “phase shift,” when changes in degree may transform into changes in kind, where AI’s impacts to society are likely to be most keenly felt. All of this points to the places that AI can have a positive impact. When a system has a bottleneck related to speed, scale, scope or sophistication, or when one of these factors poses a real barrier to being able to accomplish a goal, it makes sense to think about how AI could help.

Equally, when speed, scale, scope and sophistication are not primary barriers, it makes less sense to use AI. This is why AI auto-suggest features for short communications such as text messages can feel so annoying. They offer little speed advantage and no benefit from sophistication, while sacrificing the sincerity of human communication.

Many deployments of customer service chatbots also fail this test, which may explain their unpopularity. Companies invest in them because of their scalability, and yet the bots often become a barrier to support rather than a speedy or sophisticated problem solver.

Where the advantage lies

Keep this in mind when you encounter a new application for AI or consider AI as a replacement for or an augmentation to a human process. Looking for bottlenecks in speed, scale, scope and sophistication provides a framework for understanding where AI provides value, and equally where the unique capabilities of the human species give us an enduring advantage.

This essay was written with Nathan E. Sanders, and originally appeared in The Conversation.

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The modern family juggling act has never been more complex—or more dangerous. If you’re caring for aging parents while raising children, you’re part of what researchers call the “Sandwich Generation.” According to Pew Research, nearly half (47%) of adults in their 40s and 50s find themselves wedged between these dual responsibilities. But in today’s digital landscape, this demographic faces a uniquely modern threat: becoming the primary target of an unprecedented scam epidemic. 

As a cybersecurity professional who has witnessed the evolution of online threats over two decades, I can tell you that today’s scam landscape is unlike anything we’ve seen before. The stakes are higher, the tactics more sophisticated, and the Sandwich Generation is squarely in the crosshairs. 

The Stark Reality: Britain Under Digital Siege

McAfee’s recent State of the Scamiverse report paints a troubling picture of digital life in the UK. The statistics are staggering: 60% of Brits report either falling victim to an online scam or knowing someone who has. When these attacks succeed, the financial impact is severe—victims lose an average of £936, with some reporting devastating losses exceeding £7,980. 

Perhaps most alarming is the speed at which these crimes unfold. A shocking 68% of victims said it took less than an hour to be defrauded, with 48% reporting that fraud occurred within just 30 minutes of engaging with a scammer. This isn’t the slow-burn con artistry of yesteryear—this is lightning-fast digital predation. 

Beyond Money: The Hidden Emotional Toll

The financial losses, while significant, represent only part of the damage. The psychological impact cuts deeper than many realize. Our research shows that 32% of Brits who fell for online scams experienced moderate to significant distress, including anxiety, depression, and damaged self-esteem. For the Sandwich Generation, already stretched thin emotionally and financially, this psychological burden can be overwhelming. 

Consider the compounding effects: 80% of scam victims reported that the experience impacted their self-esteem and ability to trust others. When you’re responsible for protecting not just yourself but also tech-savvy teenagers and digitally-vulnerable parents, this erosion of confidence can have far-reaching consequences for your entire family’s digital safety. 

Why Cybercriminals Target the Sandwich Generation 

From a cybercriminal’s perspective, the Sandwich Generation represents the perfect storm of vulnerability. Here’s why you’re in their crosshairs: 

Overwhelm and Distraction: Scam tactics are most effective when targets are tired, rushed, or mentally overloaded. The constant juggling act of work, children’s needs, and aging parents’ care creates exactly these conditions. 

Multiple Attack Vectors: You’re not just protecting yourself—you’re managing the digital lives of three generations. Children who overshare on social media and parents who may trust too readily both create entry points for scammers. 

The “Family Tech Lead” Burden: In most households, one person becomes the de facto IT support for everyone. If that’s you, you’re essentially protecting three generations of users with the cybersecurity knowledge and tools designed for one. 

Time Poverty: When you’re constantly switching between helping with homework, managing medical appointments, and handling your own responsibilities, the careful scrutiny required to spot sophisticated scams becomes nearly impossible. 

What British Scam Victims Are Experiencing:

• 85% of victims lost money

• 29% lost over £400

• 22% of victims were scammed again within a year

• The average Brit encounters 2 scam messages and 2 deepfakes daily on social platforms alone 

The repeat victimization rate is particularly concerning. Once scammers identify a successful target, they often share that information within criminal networks, leading to sustained harassment and repeated attempts. 

Generation-Specific Threats: A Two-Front War

Protecting Your Children (The Digital Natives) 

Despite their technological fluency, young people face unique vulnerabilities: 

Social Media Saturation: 28% of 18-24-year-olds receive scam messages via social media platforms. The integration of these platforms into daily life makes detection more challenging. 

Gaming Community Exploitation: Scammers infiltrate gaming communities with fake giveaways, cryptocurrency cons, and phishing attempts disguised as game-related communications. 

Celebrity Deepfake Scams: AI-generated celebrity endorsements for cryptocurrency schemes or investment opportunities are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. 

Overconfidence Bias: Young people often believe their digital nativity makes them immune to scams, leading to less cautious behavior online. 

Protecting Your Parents (The Trusting Generation) 

Older adults face different but equally serious threats: 

Email-Based Attacks: 67% of over-55s encounter scams primarily through email, a medium they often trust more than social media. 

Authority Impersonation: Tech support scams, fake government communications, and bank impersonation attempts exploit older adults’ respect for authority and institutions. 

Voice Cloning Threats: 21% of Brits have encountered AI voice scams impersonating loved ones—a particularly dangerous development for older users who may be more trusting of familiar voices. 

Isolation Exploitation: Scammers often target older adults during periods of loneliness or health concerns, when they’re more likely to engage with unexpected communications. 

Platform-Specific Protection Strategies

Mobile Device Security 

Mobile scams have reached epidemic proportions in the UK, with 35% of Brits falling victim to SMS or call-based scams in the past year. The most common mobile threats include: 

Package Delivery Scams (33%): “Your parcel couldn’t be delivered” texts that lead to fake websites designed to steal personal information or payment details. 

Subscription Renewal Cons (23%): Messages claiming services like Netflix require payment information updates, leading to credential theft or unauthorized charges. 

Social Engineering Openers (16%): Simple “Hey, how are you?” messages that gradually build trust before introducing investment or romance scams. 

Essential Mobile Protections:

• Enable carrier-provided spam filtering services 

• Install reputable scam-detection apps like McAfee’s Scam Detector  

• Set up real-time banking alerts for all family accounts 

• Educate family members about the “pause and verify” rule for unexpected messages 

Computer and Email Security 

Email remains the primary attack vector, with 32% of Brits falling victim to phishing attempts last year. The sophistication of these attacks has increased dramatically—while 78% of people believe they can spot scams, today’s emails often perfectly mimic legitimate communications. 

UK-Specific Email Threats:

• Fake HMRC tax refund emails (21% of email scams) 

• Fraudulent subscription notices from legitimate services (18%) 

• Tech support emails containing malware downloads (17%) 

Essential Email Protections:

• Enable advanced anti-phishing protection in your email client 

• Report suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk 

• Use secure DNS services or browser extensions like McAfee WebAdvisor 

• Implement email filtering rules for common scam keywords 

The Deepfake Threat: When Seeing Isn’t Believing

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized scamming, with 21% of Brits encountering AI-generated scams. The challenge is significant: 53% of people admit that deepfakes are difficult to spot, and the technology improves daily. 

Where Deepfakes Appear:

• Facebook (57% of deepfake encounters) 

• Instagram and TikTok (significant secondary sources) 

• WhatsApp and other messaging platforms (voice cloning) 

Common Deepfake Scams:

• Celebrity cryptocurrency endorsements 

• Voice cloning for “emergency” family situations 

• Fake investment guru testimonials 

Detection Strategies:

• Question claims that seem too good to be true  

• Watch for video quality issues or sync problems  

• Verify suspicious links against official domains  

• Use reverse image search tools like Google Lens  

• Enable VPNs to reduce targeted advertising based on browsing history 

Building Your Family’s Cyber Defense Plan

Just as you have a fire escape plan, your family needs a comprehensive fraud response strategy. This should include: 

Immediate Response Protocols:

• Contact information for all banks and financial institutions 

• Your mobile provider’s fraud reporting number 

• Action Fraud contact details (0300 123 2040 or https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

• Steps for freezing cards and reporting identity theft 

Regular Maintenance Schedule:

• Quarterly “Digital Clean-Up Days” to remove unused apps, update passwords, and install security patches 

• Monthly family discussions about new scam trends 

• Annual review of privacy settings across all platforms and devices 

Educational Components:

• Age-appropriate scam awareness training for children 

• Simplified threat recognition guides for older family members 

• Practice scenarios for suspicious communications 

Essential Security Tools for UK Families

Identity Protection:

• Dark web monitoring services that alert you when personal information appears in criminal databases 

• Comprehensive security suites like McAfee+ that include real-time scam blocking 

• Credit monitoring through Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion 

The Human Element: Communication and Education

Technology alone cannot solve this crisis. The most effective defense combines good security tools with open family communication and ongoing education. Regular conversations about online safety should be as normal as discussions about physical safety. 

For Children: Focus on critical thinking skills rather than fear-based messaging. Teach them to question unexpected opportunities and verify information through multiple sources. 

For Parents: Emphasize that asking for help with suspicious communications is a sign of wisdom, not weakness. Create an environment where they feel comfortable seeking guidance. 

For Everyone: Establish family rules about financial communications—for example, agreeing that no family member will ever ask for money or personal information via text or email without prior verbal confirmation. 

Looking Forward: Staying Ahead of Evolving Threats

The scam landscape evolves constantly, driven by technological advancement and criminal innovation. As someone who has tracked these trends for two decades, I can tell you that the only constant is change. What worked last year may be ineffective today, and tomorrow will bring new challenges. 

The key is building adaptable defenses: security awareness that can evolve with threats, technology solutions that update automatically, and family communication patterns that encourage ongoing vigilance without creating paranoia. 

Your Family’s Digital Resilience

The Sandwich Generation faces unique challenges in today’s digital world, but you’re not powerless. By understanding the threat landscape, implementing appropriate security measures, and fostering open communication about online safety, you can protect your family’s financial security and emotional well-being. 

Remember that in the UK today, encountering scam attempts isn’t rare—it’s daily. The goal isn’t to avoid all contact with potential threats but to recognize them quickly and respond appropriately. With the right preparation and tools, you can maintain your family’s digital confidence while staying one step ahead of the scammers. 

Your role as the family’s digital guardian is challenging, but it’s also crucial. You’re not just protecting money—you’re protecting your family’s trust, confidence, and peace of mind in an increasingly connected world. 

Stay vigilant, stay informed, and remember: when in doubt, pause, check, and verify. Your family’s digital safety depends on it.

The post How the Sandwich Generation Can Fight Back Against Scams appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Ah, summer. The season of sun-soaked beaches, bucket list adventures, and Instagram-worthy Aperol Spritzes. For many, it’s also a time of new connections—whether it’s a whirlwind vacation romance, a flirtatious chat over sangria, or that handsome stranger who slides into your DMs while you’re posting travel pics. 

But while your heart may be on holiday, romance scammers are very much on the job. 

Every summer, there’s a spike in cybercrime that preys on people’s heightened emotions, loneliness, and lowered guard while traveling. Romance scams aren’t just the stuff of Netflix documentaries or embarrassing Reddit threads—they’re a multi-billion dollar business. In fact, in the U.S. alone, consumers reported losing $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2023, according to the FTC. And those are just the ones who reported it. 

Whether you’re vacationing in Ibiza or just swiping Tinder in Tuscany, here’s what you need to know to keep your love life and your bank account scam-free this summer. 

Why Summer Travel Is Peak Romance Scam Season

Let’s break down the perfect storm: 

1. You’re relaxed, open, and more trusting. 
2. You’re sharing your location and travel plans publicly. 
3. You’re looking for connection—romantic or otherwise. 
4. And you may be unfamiliar with local customs or risks. 

Scammers love this combo. It gives them everything they need to make you feel special, disarmed, and emotionally invested—before making their move. 

And don’t think these scams are limited to dating apps. They happen on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Airbnb experiences, and yes, even LinkedIn. Love (and deception) finds a way. 

Classic Romance Scam Red Flags (Even While Abroad)

No matter where you are in the world, these red flags are global. If your new summer fling is showing any of these signs, take a step back before you step deeper in: 

They move too fast.
They say they love you after two days. They want to video call all the time. They talk about marriage before you’ve even exchanged last names. Classic sign of love bombing. 

They avoid meeting in person or always have a reason to cancel.
Even if you’re in the same city, they’ll say they’re stuck at customs, quarantining, or detained by border patrol (yes, really). This isn’t just shady—it’s scripted. 

They need money—urgently.
Hospital bill. Stolen passport. Emergency flight. Sick relative. Whatever it is, it’s always an emergency and always comes with a request for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. 

They ask you to keep the relationship private.
“Let’s keep this just between us.” Translation? “Please don’t tell your smarter friends who would spot me a mile away.” 

They want to take the chat off-platform.
If someone you met on a dating app pushes you onto WhatsApp, Telegram, or a private email chain quickly, it’s a red flag. 

How to Spot Travel Triggered Romance Scams

Summer brings out some unique variations on the classic romance scam, here are a number of the common types of travel romance scams. 

The “Travel Buddy” Scam
You meet someone on a travel app or forum who wants to join your trip. They seem cool—until they ghost you after you book everything in their name. Or worse, they show up and mooch off you the entire time. 

The “Local Lover” Scam
A charming local sweeps you off your feet. They say they want to visit you in your home country, but need help with a visa fee, plane ticket, or travel insurance. 

The “Digital Dater” Abroad
You’re on vacation and your dating app blows up with matches. Coincidence? Hardly. Scammers geo-fence popular tourist zones because they know travelers are emotionally available and often disconnected from their usual guardrails. 

The “Crypto Casanova”
You match with someone on a dating app who subtly mentions they’ve made loads of money on crypto. Soon, they offer to help you invest. Spoiler alert: the platform they send you to is fake. Your money is gone, and so are they. 

McAfee’s Top Ten Tips to Protect Your Heart and Wallet While Traveling

You don’t have to be a digital hermit on your holiday. But you do need a bit of cyber street smarts. Here’s how to travel (and flirt) safely: 

1. Keep Your Personal Info Private

No sharing your hotel, flight info, or travel itinerary with someone you just met online. And definitely don’t post your boarding pass or hotel room number on socials. 

2. Don’t Send Money—Ever.

Not for flights, food, phone credit, visas, crypto, or “emergencies.” If someone asks for money, it’s a scam. Every. Single. Time. 

3. Reverse Image Search Their Photos

If someone seems too good to be true, screenshot their profile pics and run a reverse image search. If they’re stolen from a model or influencer, you’ll know quickly. 

4. Use Dating Apps with Built-In Safety Features

Stick with apps that offer verified profiles, video chat, and in-app messaging. The more friction between you and scammers, the better. 

5. Trust Your Gut but Also Your Brain

If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t let the vacation buzz cloud your common sense. 

6. Watch for Time Zone Gaps

If someone claims to be in Paris but always replies at 3 a.m. Paris time? Red flag. 

7. Stay Sober, Stay Sharp

A few too many cocktails and you’re more likely to miss signs of manipulation or send info you shouldn’t. Scammers love an intoxicated target. 

8. Tell a Friend

Let someone back home know who you’re talking to. Share screenshots if necessary. Having a second pair of eyes can save you. 

9. Be Cautious About Wi-Fi

Don’t send sensitive messages, share banking info, or access dating apps over public Wi-Fi. Use a VPN like McAfee Secure VPN if you must connect while on the go. 

10. Know When to Walk Away

Romantic attention can feel flattering—especially if you’re traveling solo. But don’t confuse flattery with trust. If someone’s pushing boundaries, bail. 

What to Do If You Think You’re Being Scammed

If your gut’s screaming “scam,” don’t ignore it. Cut contact immediately. Don’t argue, don’t explain. Just block and move on. 

Report them to the platform.
Whether it’s a dating app or social media site, reporting helps stop them from targeting others. 

Tell your bank if you sent money.
They may be able to freeze a transaction or help with fraud recovery. 

Talk to someone.
Shame is what scammers count on. Speak up. You are not alone, and you are not stupid. 

Final Thoughts: Love Doesn’t Ask for Your Bank Details

Look, summer romance can be amazing. I’m not here to kill the vibe. But don’t confuse intensity for intimacy, especially when someone is operating behind a screen. If you’re lucky, your summer fling ends with a postcard and a good story. If you’re not careful, it could end with an empty bank account, a broken heart, and a bruised ego. 

Be bold. Be open. But above all be smart. McAfee’s Scam Detector, can help in the fight against scammers. Our scam detector catches suspicious text messages so you can reply with confidence.  We’ll filter out risky emails and phishing attempts so your inbox stays secure. With our leading, cutting-edge protection, we’ll spots deepfake videos so you can stay ahead of misinformation. Love doesn’t need to be transactional. And real connections don’t pressure, isolate, or guilt-trip. This summer, protect your heart like your passport: with care, vigilance, and just the right amount of suspicion. 

 

The post Love, Lies, and Long Flights: How to Avoid Romance Scams While Traveling This Summer  appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Jen Easterly and Ciaran Martin called for a universal, vendor-neutral cyber threat actor naming system