Cybercriminals are increasingly using the popularity of stars as bait for various scams. These German celebrities are the most frequently abused.
If you search for celebrities online, you may be putting yourself in danger. A current study by security provider McAfee shows which celebrities are most often used by cybercriminals for their schemes.
At the top of the “Hacker Celebrity Hotlist 2024” is pop singer Helene Fischer. According to the study, fraudsters often use their names to direct users to dangerous websites that contain malware. Ticket fraud and AI-generated deepfake porn featuring the singer’s image have also already been registered.
Vonny Gamot, Head of EMEA at McAfee, explains the background: “Germans spend an average of 69 hours per week online, and celebrity content has a strong appeal and is widespread.” Many users clicked on suspicious links to get the latest news out of curiosity or convenience. This makes them vulnerable to fraud and data theft.
Anyone looking for celebrity news on the Internet should only click on links from trustworthy sources and avoid illegal streaming and suspicious downloads. You should also be careful with personal messages that supposedly come from celebrities. Additionally, you should definitely not give out personal information for exclusive content.
According to the study, users should also pay particular attention to content on social media. According to this, 79 percent of social media users worldwide have problems recognizing AI-generated content. When it comes to suspicious videos, experts advise looking out for discrepancies such as unnatural blinking or distorted sound. Comprehensive online protection can provide additional security.