15 most dangerous celebrity searches

December 23, 2009

While searching the Web for the latest celebrity news and photos may be your favorite Internet pastime, it can also potentially lead to some unintended pain.

That’s because some people use the popularity of celebrity searches on the Web to lure unsuspecting surfers to their sites, where they then unleash their viruses, spyware, spam, and other threats.

Computer security company McAfee released its third annual list of the celebrities whose searches lead to the highest percentage of risk-laden websites. Here are the 16 celebrities (with two tied for a single spot) that comprise McAfee’s riskiest celebrity searches.

15. Kim Kardashian

Kardashian is best known for appearances on reality TV and the red carpet, but keeping up with this 28-year-old star can be dangerous for your computer.

“A search for Kim Kardashian wallpaper and screen savers generated numerous downloads veiled with malware,” according to McAfee’s report.

 

14. Lindsay Lohan

An actress, model, and singer, Lohan is a woman of many talents. Protecting your computer screen is not among them.

According to the study, McAfee “flagged Lindsay Lohan screen saver sites as offering a combined 50-plus free screen savers infected with Trojans, viruses and spyware.”

 

13. Rihanna

Want the latest free ringtone by Barbadian singer Rihanna? Proceed with caution. McAfee reports the potential dangers of downloading these ringtones.

“Some shady vendors mislead those who subscribe by gathering and selling their personal information,” according to the report.

 

12. Britney Spears

Pop performer, actress, and tabloid staple Spears holds the No. 12 spot.

McAfee technology reported finding “a single site promoting free Britney Spears wallpaper that was embedded with more than 50 potentially infected downloads.”

 

11. Reese Witherspoon

Academy Award winner Witherspoon is known to play a sweetheart on the big screen, but the 33-year-old actress may not be so kind to your computer.

Searches of “Reese Witherspoon” and “Reese Witherspoon photos” frequently led to websites with hidden malware.

 

10. Brad Pitt

Actor and producer Pitt previously held the top spot on McAfee’s most dangerous celebrities online list. Now at No. 10, Pitt still presents risk.

“Brad Pitt fell towards the bottom of this year’s list, resulting in a few less, but just as dangerous, red- and yellow-ranked websites,” according to the report.

 

9. Ashley Tisdale

Your computer won’t be singing after searches for 24-year-old “High School Musical” star Tisdale.

McAfee reports: “A host of screensaver websites contained numerous malware-laden downloads.”

 

8. Angelina Jolie (Tie)

Online searches of the 34-year-old Academy Award winner often lead to dangerous download websites.

Jolie’s presence proves that, “cybercriminals are in the business of capitalizing on the world’s most famous faces,” according McAfee’s report.

 

8. Megan Fox (Tie)

“Transformers” star Fox tied Jolie as the eighth most dangerous celebrity to search online.

McAfee credits their high ranking to both actress’s looks and prominence within tabloids.

 

7. Miley Cyrus

Singer and actress Cyrus, 16, ranks highest among young Hollywood’s most dangerous stars online.

“Cybercriminals are using websites related to Miley Cyrus’ image to link to other harmful sites containing spyware,” according to McAfee’s report.

6. Gisele Bundchen

The sole supermodel on McAfee’s list, Bundchen’s image is a popular target for cybercriminals.

McAfee reports: “A search for ‘Gisele Bundchen photos’ can direct users to red-ranked sites that breached browser security in McAfee’s tests.”

 

5. Jessica Simpson

Beware: searches for pop and country musician Simpson’s music videos may put your computer at risk.

“Searching for ‘Jessica Simpson videos’ can mislead unsuspecting surfers to sites with potentially damaging downloads,” according to the report.

 

4. Tom Brady

Newlyweds Brady and Gisele Bundchen both placed high on McAfee’s list. The Patriots quarterback ranked in at No. 4.

According to McAfee: “The New England Patriot seems to attract many fans who want a free download of the athlete in action, but not the Trojan that comes with it, as identified by McAfee SiteAdvisor technology.”

 

3. Jennifer Aniston

Famous for her role in “Friends,” 40-year-old actress Aniston is not computer-friendly.

“More than 40 percent of the Google search results for ‘Jennifer Aniston screensavers’ contained nasty viruses, including one called the ‘FunLove virus,’” according to the report.

 

2. Beyonce

Holding the No. 2 spot for two consecutive years, Beyonce is McAfee’s overall most-frequent highly ranked celebrity.

According to the report: “Inputting ‘Beyonce ringtones’ into a search engine yielded a dangerous website linking to a distributor of adware and spyware.”

 

1. Jessica Biel

The 27-year-old actress topped the list. McAfee reports that searchers for downloads, videos, photographs, and screensavers of Biel have a one-in-five chance of leading to a site containing a virus.

“When ‘Jessica Biel screensavers’ was searched, almost half of the sites were identified as containing malicious downloads with spyware, adware, and potential viruses,” McAfee reports.