Bach Seat

It is time once again for McAfee’s annual search for the most dangerous celebrity online. The 2019 version of the cyber-security firm’s research found which celebrities’ internet searches expose users to the most risk from malicious websites, malware, and ransomware, and other risky outcomes. McAfee says that criminals use deceptive websites to dupe unsuspecting consumers into accessing malicious files or content.

McAfee crowned actress Alexis Bledel the riskiest celeb online for 2019. Searches for the actress, known for her role as Rory Gilmore. in the TV show Gilmore Girls landed the most users on risky websites that carry viruses or malware in 2019.

McAfee speculates that the Texas-born Bledel’s role as Ofglen in the fan-favorite Hulu series “The Handmaid’s Tale” and big-screen role in the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” movies led to her top ranking.

The actress takes over the number one spot from Ruby Rose, who topped last year’s list mainly because of fans’ interest in her playing Batwoman.

The second most dangerous celebrity online was British comedian and actor and host of the Late Late Night show, James Corden. The popularity of viral videos from the Late Late Show gives attackers more options to spread their malware.

Sophie Turner made the list at number 3. She has been trending lately due to her role on “Game of Thrones,” as well as her relationship with singer Joe Jonas.

Pitch Perfect series’ actress Anna Kendrick reached 4th place.  She was followed by Lupita Nyong’o as the 5th riskiest position on the risky celebrity list. McAfee speculates that interest in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” put Ms. Nyong’o on the list.

Comedian, former SNL star, and current Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon is ranked number 6. Viral videos from Tonight Show are popular with threat actors.

Martial arts master Jackie Chan, who came in at 7. McAfee  explained that rumors circulated about his return to the big screen in “Rush Hour 4” and “The Karate Kid 2.” His team denied the gossip, but cyber-criminals took advantage of fans’ nostalgia to spread their malware.

Rappers take the #8 and 9 positions on McAfee’s list. Lil Wayne was named the eighth most dangerous driven by his summer tour with Blink-182  and fans search for illegal downloads. Nicki Minaj came in at 9. She caused many of her fans to panic in September after she tweeted she was retiring from music and attackers took advantage of her fans’ quest for more information by poisoning her searches.

Tessa Thompson, known for her role as Valkyrie, Marvel’s first LGBTQ superhero, was listed as the number 10 riskiest popular search term this year thanks to her leading roles in “Men in Black: International” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

Cyber-criminals also use the same celebrity-baiting tactics internationally. According to McAfee, the most dangerous online celebs around the world are:

• Australia – Comedian, actor, and TV host John Oliver.
• France – Actor/producer Jamel Debbouze.
• Germany – Heidi Klum and actress Emilia Clarke tied as Germany’s riskiest celebs.
• India – Cricketer M.S. Dhoni.
• Singapore – Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh
• .Spain –  Singer Camila Cabello.
• U.K. – TV host of the reality show “Love Island,” Caroline Flack.

Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at McAfee explained the risks involved with searches for these celebrities.

Consumers may not be fully aware that the searches they conduct pose risk, nor may they understand the detrimental effects that can occur when personal information is compromised in exchange for access to their favorite celebrities, movies, TV shows, or music

He warns celebrity seekers to be cautious.

It is essential that consumers learn to protect their digital lives from lurking cyber-criminals by thinking twice before they click on suspicious links or download content.

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Cord-cutting could be driving some of this risky behavior. McAfee found that the names of the risky celebs like Bledel, Fallon, and Chan are strongly associated with searches including the term “torrent.”

These users are bypassing the subscription services like Hulu and Amazon to save a few bucks put their digital lives at risk in exchange for pirated content.

Related article

• 11 Malware Attacks That Nearly Wrecked the Internet (Popular Mechanics)

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.