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RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & TRENDS

Intel Security reveals its

‘Most Dangerous Celebrities’ study results

and what to look out for not to catch viruses and malware while surfing the web

Since Intel Security’s mission is giving everyone the interest around popular culture - including celebrity
confidence to live and work safely and securely in the news, TV shows, movie premieres, album launches
digital world, Asian eMarketing isn’t much surprised and more. They capitalize on this interest by enticing
about the company’s commitment and the revelation of unsuspecting consumers to sites laden with malware,
its recent study. For the fifth year in a row, the security enabling them to steal passwords and personal infor-
expert researched in Singapore, which famous celebrity mation.
generates the most dangerous search results.
“The pervasiveness of electronic goods and gadgets,
Conducted by using McAfee SiteAdvisor, the company as well as a desire for real time information, has result-
can not only determine the number of risky sites, but ed in consumers often clicking on sites that will quickly
calculate the overall risk percentage, to protect users provide them with news and entertainment. Often, safe-
from malicious websites and browser exploits, by test- ty and security implications are not considered,” said
ing and rating nearly every Internet website it finds, and David Freer, Vice President Consumer APAC, at Intel
using red, yellow and green icons to indicate the web- Security. “Cybercriminals leverage this need for imme-
site’s risk level. Ratings are created by using patented diacy by encouraging people to visit unsafe sites that
advanced technology to conduct automated website can steal private data.”
tests and works with Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari
and Firefox. People in Singapore, looking to download free music or
free movies, may be especially at risk. “Celebrity
Intel Security’s latest ‘Most Dangerous Celebrities’ names combined with the terms ‘free MP4, ‘HD down-
study revealed that searches from Singapore for certain loads,’ or ‘torrent’ are some of the most searched terms
martial art legends, established female actresses and on the Web,” continues David. “When consumers
musicians tend to expose Internet searchers to more search for music that is not made available through
possible viruses and malware. This year, Hong Kong legitimate channels, they put both their digital lives and
actor and martial arts expert Donnie Yen has been re- devices at risk.”
vealed as Intel Security’s most dangerous celebrity to
search for online, emphasizing that cybercriminals are Further key findings of Intel Security Most Dangerous
always looking for ways to take advantage of consumer Celebrities™ study include:
14 Asian eMarketing September 2015: Marketing Analytics & Search
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