McAfee’s Scam Detector Earns Third Major Award Within Months of Launch

McAfee’s Scam Detector has been named a Winner of the 2026 BIG Innovation Awards, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, marking the third major industry award the product has earned since launching just months ago. 

The recognition underscores a growing consensus across independent judges: as scams become more sophisticated and AI-driven, consumers need protection that works automatically, explains risks clearly, and helps stop harm before it happens. 

Big Innovation Award 2026

What Is the BIG Innovation Award? 

The BIG Innovation Awards recognize products and organizations that deliver measurable innovation with real-world impact. The program focuses not only on technical advancement, but on how solutions improve everyday life for individuals and households. 

For consumer cybersecurity products like Scam Detector, that means being evaluated on: 

  • Real-world relevance 
  • Ease of use for non-experts 
  • Societal impact 
  • Demonstrated adoption and need 

The award highlights Scam Detector’s role in helping people stay safer online as scams grow more sophisticated, more personal, and increasingly powered by AI.  

Why Scam Detector Stands Out 

According to feedback from the BIG Innovation Awards judging panel, Scam Detector was recognized for: 

Strong real-world relevance: Scams are now an everyday risk, not a niche technical issue 

Clear consumer value: Protection that runs automatically in the background without requiring expert knowledge

AI used responsibly: Applying advanced models to reduce harm, not increase it

Early impact: Rapid adoption, with more than one million users in its first months 

Judges also noted the importance of Scam Detector’s educational alerts, which don’t just block threats, but explain why something is risky, helping people build confidence over time. 

Using AI to Fight AI-Driven Scams 

Scam Detector is McAfee’s AI-powered protection designed to detect scams across text, email, and video, block dangerous links, and identify deepfakes, before harm occurs. 

As scammers increasingly use generative AI to impersonate people, brands, and institutions, protection needs to operate at the same speed and scale. Scam Detector is built to do exactly that, quietly working in the background while users go about their day. 

Scam Detector is included with all core McAfee plans and is available across mobile, PC, and web. 

In Good Company: Consumer Innovation Across Industries 

McAfee was recognized alongside other consumer-facing innovators whose products directly serve individuals and households. Fellow 2026 BIG Innovation Award winners include: 

Capital One Auto – Chat Concierge: A consumer-facing service designed to help car buyers and owners navigate financing and ownership decisions. 

Starkey – Omega AI Hearing Aid: A wearable hearing aid that integrates AI assistance, health monitoring, and real-time translation. 

Phonak – Virto R Infinio: Custom-fit hearing aids designed to deliver personalized hearing solutions for individual users. 

EZVIZ – 9c Dual 4G Series Camera: A smart home security camera built for personal and household use. 

Sinomax USA: Consumer mattresses and comfort products focused on everyday home use. 

beyoutica 1905: A wellness product designed for health- and lifestyle-focused consumers. 

Wheels – Pool CheckOut: A consumer-oriented solution designed to simplify vehicle service and checkout experiences. 

Together, these winners reflect how innovation increasingly shows up in tools people rely on at home, in their cars, and on their phones. 

Scam Detector Awards and Industry Recognition 

Since launch, McAfee’s Scam Detector has earned recognition across multiple independent award programs, each highlighting a different dimension of its impact: 

2026 BIG Innovation Awards

Winner and Top 10 Innovator – Large Business, recognizing real-world consumer impact and responsible AI use. 

2026 Big Innovation Award

2025 A.I. Awards

Winner, Best Use of AI in Cybersecurityhonoring Scam Detector’s automated scam detection and deepfake identification. 
The AI Awards - Winner 2025

2025 Tech Ascension Awards 

Winner, Best AI/ML Powered Cybersecurity Solution, recognizing real-time protection across text, email, and video. 
Tech Ascension Awards

Together, these awards reinforce a consistent message from independent judges: consumer cybersecurity works best when advanced technology is paired with clarity, usability, and trust. 

What Is McAfee’s Scam Detector? 

McAfee’s Scam Detector is an AI-powered scam protection feature designed to spot and stop scams across text messages, emails, and videos. Built in response to the rapid rise of AI-generated fraud, Scam Detector automatically analyzes suspicious content, blocks dangerous links, and identifies deepfakes, while explaining why something was flagged so users can make more confident decisions online. 

What Scam Detector Does 

Detects text message scams across popular apps and messaging platforms 

Flags phishing and suspicious emails with clear explanations, helping users learn what to watch for

Identifies AI-generated or manipulated audio in videos, including potential deepfakes

Offers on-demand scam checks, allowing users to upload a message, link, or screenshot for analysis

Runs primarily on-device, helping protect user privacy without sending personal content to the cloud 

Scam Detector is designed to work quietly in the background, providing protection without requiring constant decisions or technical expertise. Scam Detector is included at no extra cost with all core McAfee consumer plans. Learn more here. 

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