Accessing celebrity content online poses significant cybersecurity risks due to the tactics employed by cybercriminals. These attackers exploit the popularity and widespread appeal of famous personalities to lure users into scams and malicious schemes. Here’s why accessing celebrity content can be risky:
# Clickbait and Phishing Schemes
Celebrities often generate massive online interest, making their names prime targets for phishing attacks. Cybercriminals create clickbait headlines or fake offers — such as free tickets, exclusive content, or downloads — to trick users into clicking on malicious links. Once clicked, these links can lead to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information, install malware, or conduct phishing schemes.
# Fake Websites and Malicious Downloads
Cybercriminals often build fake websites that mimic legitimate pages or fan sites to deceive users. These sites can trick fans into downloading malicious software, believing it to be music, videos, or photos of their favorite celebrities. This malicious software can infect devices, enabling hackers to access sensitive data or hold systems ransom.
# Exploitation of Deepfakes
With the rise of AI-generated content, such as deepfakes, celebrities are increasingly used in fake videos, images, and endorsements. These deepfakes make it difficult for fans and users to differentiate between real and fake content. Scammers can leverage this technology to create fake interviews, product endorsements, or political messages that trick people into trusting and interacting with malicious content, often leading to financial fraud or identity theft.
# Event-Related Scams
Large-scale events, such as movie premieres, concerts, and celebrity endorsements, attract massive online searches, giving cybercriminals ample opportunities to create fraudulent ticketing websites, reselling scams, or fake promotional deals. For example, Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Dil-Luminati’ tour has seen a rise in ticketing scams, where scammers set up fraudulent ticketing sites to steal money from fans.
# Social Engineering
Celebrities generate strong emotional connections with their fans. Cybercriminals exploit these feelings through social engineering, using a celebrity’s image or likeness to gain trust and convince users to hand over personal information. A common method is through fake charity appeals or messages claiming to be from the celebrity asking for donations or personal details.
# Reputation Damage and Fraud
Fans often trust celebrity endorsements, which can make it easy for cybercriminals to create fake promotions or false partnerships. For instance, deepfake videos or images of actors like Ranveer Singh or Alia Bhatt promoting products or endorsing political figures can lead to reputational damage for the celebrity and financial losses for users who mistakenly trust the content.
# Widespread Appeal and High Search Volumes
Celebrities’ global appeal, particularly around new releases or viral moments, drives massive online search volumes. This high visibility provides cybercriminals with a broad audience for spreading their malicious content. Whether through fake contests, deceptive ads, or viral fake news, scammers capitalize on the excitement and curiosity of fans to target vulnerable users.
Some of the celebrities mentioned in McAfee’s ‘Celebrity Hacker Hot List 2024’ include:
# Orhan Awatramani
Orhan Awatramani (Orry) – Topping the list, Orry’s rapid rise in social media visibility and association with Bollywood celebrities has made him a key target for cybercriminals looking to exploit searches related to his name.
# Diljit Dosanjh
Diljit Dosanjh – The popular singer and actor, currently preparing for his ‘Dil-Luminati’ concert tour, has been targeted with fraudulent ticketing scams, with cybercriminals exploiting fan excitement around the event.
# Alia Bhatt
Alia Bhatt – A victim of multiple deepfake incidents, where cybercriminals have used AI-generated content to impersonate her, Alia’s name has been a magnet for scams tied to misinformation and fake endorsements.
# Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh – The actor has appeared in deepfake videos endorsing political parties or products that he never supported, exposing fans to misinformation.
# Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli – The famous cricketer has been targeted in deepfake scams, including content related to betting apps, where cybercriminals use his likeness to lure users into fraudulent activities.
# Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar has faced cyber incidents involving phishing attempts where scammers used his name to promote fraudulent investment schemes and fake charity drives. These scams often circulate on social media platforms, misleading fans into thinking that Tendulkar is endorsing certain financial products or philanthropic initiatives, ultimately aiming to steal personal information or money from unsuspecting victims.
# Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan has been targeted by cybercriminals through impersonation scams on social media. Scammers created fake accounts that mimic Khan’s profile, trying to engage with his fans and solicit money under the pretext of charity or giveaways. Additionally, deepfake technology has been used to create misleading videos where Khan appears to endorse products or services he hasn’t associated with, potentially damaging his reputation.
# Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone has also been a victim of deepfake technology, where her likeness has been used in manipulated videos that spread misinformation or endorse products without her consent. Such incidents can mislead fans and erode trust in the celebrity’s brand. Furthermore, Padukone has faced phishing scams where fraudulent emails or messages claim to be from her official representatives, asking for sensitive information.
# Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan has been targeted by deepfake scams that depict him endorsing political parties or controversial products. These false endorsements can mislead the public and manipulate opinions during election seasons. Moreover, Khan’s name has been used in scams promoting fake investment schemes or online contests, attempting to exploit his celebrity status to gain trust and extract money from his fans.
# Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been involved in cyber incidents where his name has been associated with fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes and investment scams. Scammers have used social media and messaging platforms to promote these schemes, falsely claiming Dhoni’s endorsement. Additionally, Dhoni has faced phishing attacks, with fake accounts attempting to solicit donations for non-existent charities under his name.
A recent McAfee survey revealed that 80 percent of Indians are more concerned about deepfakes than they were a year ago, with 64 percent reporting increased difficulty in spotting scams fueled by AI. The report also disclosed that 38 percent of Indians had encountered a deepfake scam, with a significant portion experiencing financial losses.
As the lines between real and fake content blur with advances in AI, accessing celebrity content online has become a growing cybersecurity risk. Users need to remain vigilant when searching for celebrity news, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and use security tools like antivirus software to protect themselves from falling victim to these scams.
