McAfee has released its annual ‘Celebrity Hacker Hot List 2024’. The list identifies Indian celebrities whose names generate the “riskiest” online results. This year's data reveals a concerning trend: Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the popularity of celebrities to lure unsuspecting victims into malicious schemes. Famous names are used to create fraudulent websites and scams, often resulting in significant data breaches, financial loss, and identity theft.
Leading the list for India is Orhan Awatramani, commonly known as Orry. His rapid rise to fame, connections with other celebrities, and increased online presence have made him a prime target for cybercriminals. This case underscores how cybercriminals capitalize on the abundance of unverified information surrounding emerging public figures to dupe consumers seeking updates.
Following closely behind is singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, whose upcoming 'Dil-Luminati' concert tour has been marred by ticketing scams. Large-scale events like these, fueled by intense fan interest and increased search activity, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Fraudulent ticketing sites, discount scams, and phishing attempts often emerge in such scenarios.
Top Ten on India’s McAfee Hacker Celebrity Hot List
The top ten list, which includes a combination of longtime talent and more recently well-known names, is as follows:
1. Orry (Orhan Awatramani)
2. Diljit Dosanjh
3. Alia Bhatt
4. Ranveer Singh
5. Virat Kohli
6. Sachin Tendulkar
7. Shahrukh Khan
8. Deepika Padukone
9. Aamir Khan
10. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
McAfee has also laid down some tips which will help users to stay protected from online scams:
- Be careful what you click. Whether you’re looking for concert tickets, gossip on who your favourite celebrity is dating, or movie reviews, it’s important to exercise caution and only click on links to reliable sources.
- Refrain from illegal streaming and downloading suspicious files. No matter how much you want to hear the latest trending song or get a peek at the newest blockbuster movie, it is important to only use legitimate streaming platforms, even if they come at a cost. Many illegal downloads are riddled with malware or adware disguised as legitimate files.
- Only download videos from well-known, legitimate sites. Don’t download anything from a website you don’t trust — especially video – even if it looks like a personal message that your favourite celebrity wants to send you, take a step back and make sure it’s a reputable site.
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