McAfee: Jessica Biel Most Dangerous Celeb On The Web
A new report from security company McAfee claims that Jessica Biel has overtaken Brad Pitt as the most dangerous celebrity on the Web. The security company is in its third year tracking the threat level of celebrities on the Web.
According to the report, Internet surfers searching for "Jessica Biel," or a variation of her name, have a one in five chance of landing on a Web site that has tested positive for online threats. For McAfee that means the dangerous sites could host spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.
"Cybercriminals are star watchers too -- they latch onto popular celebrities to encourage the download of malicious software in disguise," Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Avert Labs, said in a statement. "Consumers' obsession with celebrity news and culture is harmless in theory, but one bad download can cause a lot of damage to a computer."
While Biel is the No. 1 threat, the top five highest threats on McAfee's list reads like a who's who of the entertainment tabloids.
Beyonce ranked second, with Web searches for ringtones resulting in links to a Web site propagated with malicious software. Jennifer Aniston filled the third spot with nearly 40 percent of all Google search results for screensavers featuring the former "Friends" actress containing viruses. Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots (and husband of sixth ranked Gisele Bundchen) landed in the fourth spot. And Jessica Simpson rounded out the top five.