Did you Google
Miley Cyrus’s name in the wake of the twerking scandal? If so, you might
have compromised your Internet security, says security experts.
The experts just released a list of the most dangerous celebrity name
searches. Cyrus isn’t at the top of the list — she ranks 20th — but
she’s on there.
The danger lies in where the search leads
you. Searching for Collins posed the biggest risk of landing on a
malicious site, according to internet security experts. The unknowing consumers are led to
sites laden with malware that quickly steals passwords and personal
information.
The risk of landing on an insecure site is as high as 14.5 percent when searching for Collins. The Santa Clara-based company started
compiling the list of actors, musicians, comedians and personalities
2007. Nine of the top 10 most dangerous celebrities to search for are
women. Jon Hamm, star of “Mad Men,” is the lone male. Musicians make of 9
of the top 20 names, including Justin Timberlake at No. 12. The most dangerous times to search are around award shows and TV and movie premieres, the company said.
“Today’s consumers often are completely
unaware of security risks when searching for celebrity and entertainment
news, images and videos online, sacrificing safety for immediacy. Cybercriminals prey on consumers’ addiction to breaking
news and leverage this behavior to lead them to unsafe sites that can
severely infect their computers and devices and steal personal data.
Avril Lavigne and Sandra Bullock ranked
second and third, followed by Kathy Griffin, Zoe Saldana, Katy Perry,
Britney Spears, Adriana Lima, and Emma Roberts.
A person could be led to malware after
doing a general search and clicking on dubious links, but risks
increased when searchers added phrases like “free apps” or “nude
photos.”
