Don't laugh: Jimmy Kimmel Most Dangerous Cyber Celebrity of 2014

McAfee issues its annual list of the most dangerous people to search for online -- as in, you might get a virus if you do.

Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel doesn't fit the profile of McAfee's usual Most Dangerous Cyber Celebrity, most often in recent years a female celebrity whose online images can frequently lure Web surfers to sites rife with spyware, viruses and other malware.

But indeed, the everyman comedian with a quick grin has somehow become the most dangerous celebrity to search for online, with one in five searches on Kimmel's name potentially landing you on an infected site, according to McAfee's latest research. In recent years, the likes of Emma Watson, Heidi Klum and Cameron Diaz have topped the list.

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Kimmel is only the second male to rank No. 1 -- Brad Pitt in 2008 was the other.

The new list's announcement comes on the heels of a series of celebrity nude photo leaks that have put Apple iCloud on the hot seat and resulted in movie stars and others calling for criminal investigations. One of the concerns about those photos getting on to the Web -- beyond the major privacy violations -- was that cybercrooks were using the promise of those photos to lure people to infected sites where private data could be swiped.

"Most consumers are completely unaware of the security risks that exist when searching for celebrity and entertainment news, images and videos online, sacrificing safety for immediacy," said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at McAfee, in a statement.

In addition to Kimmel, others on the list include DJ Armin van Burren (also a male), singer-songwriter Ciara, Bruce Springsteen and Britney Spears (so no, it's not always the most current celebs). The top 10 list was split evenly this time around between males and females.

You might be relieved to learn that there is no sign of the Kardashians on the list anymore. But don't be fooled: They're still dangerous.

 

Tags malwareApplemcafeeentertainment

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