Which celebrities generate the most dangerous search results?
Female comedian Amy Schumer knocked DJ Armin van Buuren off of the list to become the most dangerous celebrity to search for online, according to Intel Security.
Now in its 10th year, the McAfee Most Dangerous Celebrities study researched a broad list of well-known figures including actors, comedians, musicians, TV hosts, athletes and more. This research uncovers which celebrities generate the most dangerous search results that could expose fans to malware.
“Consumers today remain fascinated with celebrity culture and go online to find the latest pop culture news,” said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at Intel Security. “With this craving for real-time information, many search and click without considering potential security risks. Cybercriminals know this and take advantage of this behavior by attempting to lead them to unsafe sites loaded with malware. As a result, consumers need to understand what precautions to take to enable safe online experiences.”
Top 10 celebrities generating dangerous search results
The top 10 celebrities from this year’s study with the highest risk percentages include:
1. Amy Schumer – 16.11%
2. Justin Bieber – 15.00%
3. Carson Daly – 13.44%
4. Will Smith – 13.44%
5. Rihanna – 13.33%
6. Miley Cyrus – 12.67%
7. Chris Hardwick – 12.56%
8. Daniel Tosh – 11.56%
9. Selena Gomez – 11.11%
10. Kesha – 11.11%
Crowded with comedians
Kicking off her world tour this fall, comedian Amy Schumer tops the list as the Most Dangerous Celebrity – coming in at No. 1. Chris Hardwick (No. 7) of “Funcomfortable” fame and Daniel Tosh (No. 8) were also among the top 10, while Nikki Glaser (No. 15) and Kevin Hart (No. 25) made the top 25. Other funny females to make the list include: Grace Helbig (No. 26), Mindy Kaling (No. 30), Kristen Wiig (No. 52), Chelsea Handler (No. 54) and Ellen DeGeneres (No. 57).
Musicians top the charts
This year’s riskiest celebrities included some of the most sensational, chart-topping pop artists such as Justin Bieber (No. 2), Rihanna (No. 5), Miley Cyrus (No. 6), Selena Gomez (No. 9) and Kesha (10). Pop, rap, hip-hop and a bit of country were represented by Drake (No. 13), Katy Perry (No. 14), Jason Aldean (No. 16), Justin Timberlake (No. 17), Jennifer Lopez (No. 18), Lady Gaga (No. 19), Nicki Minaj (No. 20), Iggy Azalea (No. 27), Beyoncé (No. 28) and Usher (No. 29) as they rounded out the top 30.
Late night TV shows
“Today” show anchor and “The Voice” host Carson Daly is the third Most Dangerous Celebrity, while late night hosts Seth Meyers (No. 11) and Conan O’Brien (No. 12) cracked the top 15. Host James Corden, widely known for his popular “Carpool Karaoke,” landed at No. 23, followed by John Oliver at No. 24 and Jimmy Kimmel at No. 32 – previously No. 1 in 2014 and No. 26 in 2015. Bill Maher rounds out the list at No. 34.
The Voice coaches make the cut
Three of the four celebrity coaches on “The Voice” this season, along with the host, are all in the top 50. Miley Cyrus leads the pack (No. 6), followed by Adam Levine (No. 41) and Blake Shelton (No. 66), as well as his girlfriend and rotating coach Gwen Stefani (No. 49). Blake Shelton’s fellow country superstars Jason Aldean (No. 16) and Luke Bryan (No. 39) are not far behind.
How to search safely
- Think before you click! Are you looking for the latest episode of Amy Schumer’s TV show, “Inside Amy Schumer”? Don’t click on that third-party link. Instead, get your content directly from the original source at comedycentral.com to ensure you aren’t clicking on anything that could be malicious.
- Use caution when searching for “torrent.” This term is by far the riskiest search term. Cybercriminals can use torrents to embed malware within authentic files making it difficult to determine if a file is safe. It’s best to avoid using torrents especially when there are so many legitimate streaming options available.
- Keep your personal information personal. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to steal your personal information. If you receive a request to enter information like your credit card, email, home address or social media login don’t give it out thoughtlessly. Do your research and ensure it’s not a phishing or scam attempt that could lead to identity theft.
- Use cross device protection. Consumers need to protect all facets of their digital lives regardless of where they are, what device they use or where they store their personal data. Use solutions that work across all your devices to deliver protection against threats, such as malware, hacking and phishing attacks.