Markham, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- Singer-songwriter Jann Arden is named the most dangerous celebrity to search for online in Canada according to McAfee study
- Study reveals which celebrities generate the most dangerous results that could expose consumers to malicious websites and malware
- From Cobie Smulders to Avril Lavigne, celebrities in the top 10 include a variety of superheroes, actors and musicians
MARKHAM, Ont., Oct. 2, 2018 – Singer-songwriter Jann Arden has replaced Shawn Mendes as Canada’s most dangerous celebrity to search for online. For the twelfth year in a row, McAfee researched famous individuals to reveal the riskiest celebrity to search for online. The research reveals which celebrities generate the riskiest search results that could potentially expose their fans to malicious websites.
Calgary-born Jann Arden has received many accolades, from eight Juno Awards to being appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for her music and charitable work. Now she tops Canada’s list of Most Dangerous Celebrities for 2018. Actor Cobie Smulders took second place, followed by fellow thespians Carrie-Anne Moss (No. 3), Ellen Page (No. 4), Evangeline Lilly (No. 5), Rachel McAdams (No. 6), and Neve Campbell (No. 7). Singers Avril Lavigne and Celine Dion appeared at No. 8 and 9, and actor Pamela Anderson rounded out the top 10 (No. 10).
It’s no secret that cybercriminals attempt to use the allure of celebrity to trick unsuspecting consumers into visiting malicious websites that can be used to install malware or steal personal information and passwords. The study, conducted by McAfee, highlights the dangers of clicking on suspicious links when searching for celebrity-focused content.
“We live in a fast-paced world that’s heavily influenced by pop culture where it’s possible to pick and choose which entertainment options we prefer to enjoy from a variety of connected devices,” said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at McAfee. “Often consumers put speed and convenience over security by clicking on suspicious links that promise content featuring our favourite celebrities, such as our favourite movies, TV shows or pictures. In our hyper-connected world it’s important for consumers to think before they click to be sure they are surfing to safe digital content and protecting themselves from cybersecurity threats that may be used to infect their devices or steal their identity.”
The top 10 Canadian celebrities from this year’s study are:
| Position | Celebrity |
| 1 | Jann Arden |
| 2 | Cobie Smulders |
| 3 | Carrie-Anne Moss |
| 4 | Ellen Page |
| 5 | Evangeline Lilly |
| 6 | Rachel McAdams |
| 7 | Neve Campbell |
| 8 | Avril Lavigne |
| 9 | Celine Dion |
| 10 | Pamela Anderson |
Superheroes Fly High
Half of the celebrities in the top ten have appeared in superhero movies, including The Avengers’ Cobie Smulders (No. 2), Carrie-Anne Moss of Jessica Jones (No. 3), Ellen Page, who appeared in X-Men: The Last Stand (No. 4), and Evangeline Lilly of Ant-Man and the Wasp (No. 5). Superhero films dominate the box office, so it’s not surprising to see this reflected in online searches.
How to Search Safely
- Be careful what you click. Users for a sneak-peek of Jann Arden’s upcoming CTV mockumentary series Jann should be cautious and only download directly from a reliable source. The safest thing to do is to wait for the official release instead of visiting a third-party website that could contain malware.
- Apply system and application updates as soon as they are available. Very often operating system and application updates include security fixes. Applying updates is an important step to help ensure devices stay protected.
- Browse with security protection. McAfee Total Protection is a comprehensive security solution that can help keep devices protected against malware, phishing attacks, and other threats. It includes McAfee WebAdvisor which can help protect against going to malicious websites.
- Use parental control software. Kids are fans of celebrities too, so ensure that limits are set on children’s devices and use software that can help minimize exposure to potentially malicious or inappropriate websites.
For More Information:
- To learn more about the study, check out:
- Twitter: Follow @McAfee_Home for online safety tips, and use the hashtag #RiskyCeleb to discuss the Most Dangerous Celebrities of 2018
Survey Methodology
McAfee utilized the Google API Console to search for popular mobile, PC and platform games coupled with search modifying terms (e.g. celebrity + torrent). “Most dangerous” really means that these celebrities are likely popular search subjects.
Search terms used this year:
- Torrent
- Free torrent
- Sex tape
- Free pics
Using McAfee WebAdvisor data, resulting domains and URLs were measured and assigned a risk of “high,” “medium” and “unverified.” URLs were then given a score between negative 127 and positive 127 with higher scores indicating a riskier website. The score was calculated using the following formula:
Danger = 1*(high count) + 0.5*(medium count) + 0.1*(unverified count)
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About McAfee
McAfee is the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company. Inspired by the power of working together, McAfee creates business and consumer solutions that make our world a safer place. By building solutions that work with other companies’ products, McAfee helps businesses orchestrate cyber environments that are truly integrated, where protection, detection and correction of threats happen simultaneously and collaboratively. By protecting consumers across all their devices, McAfee secures their digital lifestyle at home and away. By working with other security players, McAfee is leading the effort to unite against cybercriminals for the benefit of all. www.mcafee.com
McAfee Canada maintains a website called "The State of Consumer and Enterprise Security in Canada" in order to provide a one-stop shop for writers looking for information on a variety of trends and issues affecting and shaping the Canadian security landscape. Feel free to check out the resource site for security information, statistics, story ideas, and access to published McAfee surveys and studies.
http://bit.ly/mcafeestatscanada
McAfee and the McAfee logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of McAfee LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others
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Media Contacts
Steve Gold / Mike Martin
StrategicAmpersand (For McAfee Canada)
416-961-5595
McAfeePR@stratamp.com
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