Online search for 'Kapil Sharma' comes with malware risk

Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma is the most sensational celebrity to search online in 2017. According to a survey from cyber security firm McAfee, online search for Sharma is riskiest in terms of exposing fans to malicious websites or malware among all Bollywood actors,

The study highlights the dangers of clicking on suspicious links when searching for celebrity-focused content. “With today’s digital explosion, the gap between celebrities and their fans has diminished. There’s a looming interest among Indians to know more about their favourite icons for which there’s a deluge of fresh and readily consumable content made available,” Venkat Krishnapur, Head of R&D Operations, McAfee, said in a statement.

The study says that searching for Kapil Sharma results in a 9.58 percent chance of landing on a malicious website. Next comes Salman Khan with 9.03 percent risk of landing on a malicious website, followed by Aamir Khan at third spot. Among the female celebrities, Priyanka Chopra stands 4th in the list, who was No. 7 in 2016, followed by Anushka Sharma, Sunny Leone and Kangana Ranaut. Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor and Tiger Shroff round out the rest of the top 10 list.

“It’s important for consumers to be vigilant and ensure they are searching safely. Thinking before clicking is as imperative as adopting the right security solutions to stay safe online,” Krishnapur said. “If you are you looking for the footage of Sharma’s comedy shows, it’s better to wait for the official airing and re-runs on television and the official websites than to visit a third-party website that could contain malware,” he suggested.