He’s one of the most famous faces in Hollywood, known for his blockbuster hits including Barbie, The Notebook, and Blade Runner 2049.
Now, Ryan Gosling has a new claim to fame, having been named the most dangerous name to search online.
A new report by McAfee Labs shows that Gosling’s name is most use by scammers to create malware or risky sites.
But it isn’t just his name that could land you in hot water.
The findings suggest that searching for Emily Blunt, Jennifer Lopez, or Zendaya could also lead you to risky sites when searching online.
He’s one of the most famous faces in Hollywood, known for his blockbuster hits including Barbie, The Notebook, and Blade Runner 2049. Now, Ryan Gosling has a new claim to fame, having been named the most dangerous name to search online
In the study, McAfee Labs set out to identify the big-name celebrities whose names most frequently generate unsafe search results.
The researchers suggest Gosling finds himself in the top spot thanks to his role in the Barbie movie.
‘His popularity skyrocketed after the movie’s release, as did the amount of Barbie and Ryan Gosling-related scams,’ McAfee said.
Actress Emily Blunt came in second place, having starred in this summer’s other top hit film, Oppenheimer.
Like Gosling, her role increased her popularity with consumers – as well as cybercriminals, according to McAfee Labs.
Other celebrities rounding out the top five were Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and Kevin Costner.
Meanwhile, several sports stars and athletes were found to have risky names, with Lionel Messi coming in at No.18, followed by Tom Brady at No.19, and Travis Kelce at No.22.
‘In today’s culture, where celebrity news and entertainment are part of many people’s daily lives, people are putting speed and convenience over their own online protection by clicking on pop ups and other suspicious links that promise celebrity-filled content,’ said Steve Grobma, McAfee’s Chief Technology Officer.
In the study, McAfee Labs set out to identify the big-name celebrities whose names most frequently generate unsafe search results (stock image)
‘We also know people are seeking out free content, such as movie downloads, which puts them at risk.
‘If it sounds too good to be true, it deserves a closer look.’
‘Consumers also need greater awareness of the world we’re living in, thanks to the advancements in artificial intelligence,’ he added.
‘AI has changed the game, and cybercriminals can now create very sophisticated scams at scale using the latest AI tools, and what better hook for them than celebrity news and information.
‘To keep people safe online and help protect their privacy and identity, consumers need to stay vigilant and think twice before clicking.’
McAfee recommends five key tips to stay safe online:
1. Be careful what you click
‘The safest thing to do is to wait for official releases and leverage legitimate movie streaming platforms, instead of visiting third-party websites that could contain malware,’ McAfee advises.
2. Refrain from illegal streaming and downloading suspicious mp3s
‘It is important to only use legitimate music streaming platforms, even if they come at a cost,’ McAfee said.
‘Many illegal downloads are riddled with malware or adware disguised as mp3 files.’
3. Only download videos from well-known, legitimate sites
‘Don’t download anything from a website you don’t trust — especially video – even if it looks like a personal message that Ryan Gosling wants to send you, take a step back and make sure it’s a reputable site,’ McAfee said.
4. Don’t ‘log in’ or provide other information.
‘If you receive a message, text or email, or visit a third-party website that asks for your information — including your credit card, email, home address, or social media login — to grant access to an exclusive story, don’t give it out,’ McAfee advised.
‘Such requests are a common tactic for phishing that could lead to identity theft.’
5. Invest in holistic online protection
Finally, McAfee recommends using products like McAfee+ that provide maximum identity, privacy, and device protection.
