Graham Norton has been named as the ‘most dangerous’ celebrity to search for online.
Who would have known?
The TV presenter even beat Ricky Gervais and Tom Hardy, according to cybersecurity firm McAfee.
The research reportedly found that the chat show host’s name was the riskiest in relation to search results – potentially leading people to unknowingly installing malware on their devices.
Apparently, cybercriminals will use a famous person’s name to draw in web users, in a bid to get them to click on a suspicious link which can then lead to viruses being installed – which could then harvest personal data or lock access to it.
McAfee’s annual report on the issue found that well-known cybercriminals appeared to be favouring British personalities for scams this year, including the likes of Ruth Jones and Sir Mick Jagger.
Other names in the mix are Idris Elba, Kate Moss, and Mary Berry.
The two names that were in the top 10, but not a British personality were Margot Robbie and Bella Hadid.
‘We know that online criminals use consumers’ fascination with celebrity culture to drive unsuspecting fans to malicious websites that install malware on their devices,’ chief scientist Raj Samani explained.
‘Potentially putting personal information and log-in details in the wrong hands, so it’s no surprise that we’ve seen one of the UK’s most-loved national treasures topping the list, with hackers exploiting his popularity.’
He added: ‘Consumers are searching the web for free online entertainment now more than ever, and as cybercriminals continue to implement deceptive practices such as fake sites claiming to offer free content, it is crucial that fans stay vigilant about protecting their digital lives and think twice before clicking.’
McAfee carried out its research by looking for the celebrity names which most commonly appeared alongside certain search terms such as ‘torrent’, ‘free mp3’, ‘nudes’ or ‘pirated download’.
The cybersecurity firm encouraged web users to be careful with any link they click on, and to refrain from using illegal streaming sites.
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