Jeremy Clarkson, Martin Lewis, Taylor Swift ranked as 'most dangerous' celebrities online, experts warn

The annual list provides a vital insight into how online criminals leverage famous faces and trustworthiness to lure unsuspecting victims. This time around, the top 10 names include a mix of British and international stars, from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay to beloved broadcaster David Attenborough.

But top of the UK Hacker Celebrity Hotlist is Rolling In The Deep singer Adele.

The 36-year-old singer has clinched the top spot due to the enduring popularity of her songs, her loveable and trustworthy persona, which has been repeatedly highlighted in videos from her Las Vegas and Munich residencies in recent months.

Cybercriminals have tried to capitalise on her name in a variety of scams across social media, online forums, emails, and much more — driving the Skyfall singer to the top spot in 2024.

Her sought-after gigs have made her a prime target for scammers creating fraudulent content and websites. These deceptive practices often include malware-laden downloads and too-good-to-be-true ticket offers.

Elsewhere, Gordon Ramsay's significant media profile in the UK has helped him to secure the silver medal position, while Britain's beloved broadcaster David Attenborough came in third. US superstar Taylor Swift, who performed several sold-out concerts in the UK this summer, and ex-Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, boosted by the popularity of Clarkson's Farm and The Grand Tour on Prime Video, rounded out the top five.

According to McAfee's UK Hacker Celebrity Hotlist for 2024, the complete list of the most 'dangerous' celebrities most likely to be exploited by cybercriminals is as follows:

1. Adele
2. Gordon Ramsay
3. David Attenborough
4. Taylor Swift
5. Jeremy Clarkson
6. Dua Lipa
7. Alison Hammond
8. Maya Jama
9. Martin Lewis
10. David Beckham

According to security researchers who worked on the project for McAfee, this new list serves as a stark reminder of the evolving cybersecurity landscape, particularly with the rise of AI-powered deepfakes. As online threats become increasingly sophisticated, McAfee says it hopes its findings can arm Britons with the digital street smarts and AI-powered protection needed to safeguard their data, privacy, and identity.

McAfee Head of EMEA, Vonny Gamot has warned about the increasing difficulty in detecting online threats. She notes that AI-powered scams can be particularly costly — with 40% of victims losing over £1,000 and 6% being duped out of between £5,000 and £15,000. Ouch.

The research conducted by McAfee underscores the need for heightened vigilance among everyday users when it comes to engaging with celebrity-related content online.

McAfee's Ms Gamot warned: "Imagine a world where your favourite celebrity stars in an advert they've never filmed, or a politician delivers a speech they've never given. That's the reality we’re living in.

"Created by AI, deepfakes use existing media to manipulate faces, voices, and even actions. While some are harmless fun, others can spread misinformation, influence elections, damage reputations or even scam consumers.

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"It’s easy for individuals to fall into the trap of clicking on malicious links, misled by clickbait content, such as free tickets or free downloads, especially if a celebrity's likeness is used. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. To protect their online privacy and identity, consumers must remain vigilant."

"Consider investing in AI-powered tools, such as McAfee Deepfake Detector, which sends you alerts when a video you are watching includes AI-generated audio to give you information that helps distinguish between what’s real and what’s fake when you watch videos online," she adds.

Alongside the research, McAfee has highlighted its new AI-powered tools, like Deepfake Detector, which is designed to distinguish between real and fake content online.

McAfee offers several tips for consumers to protect themselves online:

• Be careful what you click: Whether you’re looking for concert tickets, gossip on who your favorite celebrity is dating, or movie reviews, it’s important to exercise caution and only click on links to reliable sources.
• Refrain from illegal streaming and downloading suspicious files: No matter how much you want to hear the latest Taylor Swift song or get an early peek at the newest Marvel movie, it is important to only use legitimate streaming platforms, even if they come at a cost. Many illegal downloads are riddled with malware or adware disguised as legitimate files.
• 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 your favorite celebrity wants to send you, take a step back and make sure it’s a reputable site.
• 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. Such requests are a common tactic for phishing that could lead to identity theft.
• Scrutinize Social Media: Social media can be a fun place to engage with content your friends, family, and followers share – and it is also an easy place to fall victim to a scam. With 79% of social media users globally saying it’s difficult to spot AI-generated content such as fake news and scams, it’s critical to validate shocking or dubious claims and to avoid sharing or engaging with social content that hasn’t been verified. Even commenting on a post or clicking on a link makes you more susceptible to scams and misinformation.
• Be careful of Deepfakes: AI has made it easier to create fake videos or images. These videos can be used for bad things. look for small inconsistencies in the content. Is there unnatural blinking, odd eye movements, or unusual-looking hands or teeth? Does the audio not quite match the speaker's lips or have a distorted quality?