Americans increasingly fear AI-powered scams over traditional viruses

A survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by CNET Group indicates that 62% of respondents believe AI-powered scams pose a greater threat than traditional malware or viruses. The data suggests that personal experiences with fraud are driving this concern, with over 80% of participants reporting receiving scam calls or emails at least once a week, and more than 76% receiving scam texts on a weekly basis or more frequently.

When asked to identify their primary online fears, respondents ranked scam-related risks as their top four concerns, while traditional malware barely appeared in the top five. Security industry experts from companies including Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, McAfee, and Norton noted that the proliferation of AI-boosted scams is a primary concern for customers, making fraud increasingly difficult to detect.