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Avril Lavigne rated 2017’s ‘most dangerous’ celebrity to search for online

Be safe out there, pop-punk fans.

Photo of Christine Friar

Christine Friar

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Avril Lavigne is officially the most dangerous celebrity to search for online, according to cybersecurity company McAfee.

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The pop-punk princess somehow topped this year’s Most Dangerous Celebrities study, which “reveals which celebrities generate the riskiest search results that could potentially expose their fans to malicious websites.”

“Cybercriminals continue to use the fascination of consumers with celebrity culture to drive unsuspecting users to potentially malicious websites that can be used to install malware, steal personal information and even passwords,” the company wrote in a statement. In other words: If you Google Avril Lavigne’s name in 2017, you’re more likely to be targeted for crimes like identity theft.

Lavigne hasn’t released an album since 2013 and has retreated a bit from the public eye while recovering from Lyme disease, so it makes sense that her SEO could have started to get out of whack. But fans who might not be up-to-date on the celeb’s health might click a link like “Avril Lavigne new album 2017” without missing a beat. That’s where McAfee’s chief consumer security evangelist Gary Davis says people run into trouble.

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“In today’s digital world, we want the latest hit albums, videos, movies and more, immediately available on our devices,” he said. “Consumers often prioritize their convenience over security by engaging in risky behavior like clicking on suspicious links that promise the latest content from celebrities. It’s imperative that they slow down and consider the risks associated with searching for downloadable content. Thinking before clicking goes a long way to stay safe online.”

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 Taking the number two spot on the “risky” search list is Bruno Mars, followed by Carly Rae Jepsen, Zayn Malik, and Celine Dion.
 
The Daily Dot