John Oliver tops McAfee list of most dangerous celebs to search for online

Our rampant desire to avoid paying for celeb content or to see them naked is being exploited by cyber-criminals to lead Aussies to malicious websites.

Comedian John Oliver, teen music sensation Billie Eilish and Australia’s own Liam Hemsworth have made it onto a list of the “most dangerous celebrities” to search for released by cybersecurity company McAfee.

The list is determined by the number of risky results returned by searching for the celebrity’s name, showing how popular they are and the danger of trying to avoid paying for content.

McAfee compiles the list by using celebrity names and terms that return results for pirated content or explicit images, and see who returns the most results with links to dangerous sites.

The illegal nature of the pirated content means it can often route users to dodgy websites being run by cybercriminals aiming to collect information and data they can exploit for profit.

John Oliver’s viral popularity is being exploited by cybercriminals.

John Oliver topped the list this year as people search for a way to avoid paying to watch his viral take-downs of world news and politics from his HBO show “Last Week Tonight”.

While much of his show deals with US politics, Oliver has previously weighed in on Australian issues too, taking aim at the likes of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and politicians Clive Palmer, Bob Katter, and Fraser Anning.

RELATED: John Oliver’s savage Clive Palmer takedown

Oliver is one of four “talk show” hosts to make the Top 10 list, along with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon.

English singer Dua Lipa narrowly missed out on the top spot.

Recently “retired” rap star Nicki Minaj came in at number three.

Musicians also dominated the list, with Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Calvin Harris and Billie Eilish all making it into the top 10, joined by actors Morgan Freeman and Emilia Clarke.

TOP 10 “MOST DANGEROUS” CELEBRITIES TO SEARCH

• John Oliver

• Dua Lipa

• Nicki Minaj

• James Corden

• Calvin Harris

• Jimmy Kimmel

• Billie Eilish

• Morgan Freeman

• Emilia Clarke

• Jimmy Fallon

Actor and former husband of Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth was the most dangerous Australian on the list, claiming the 19th spot.

He’s the only Aussie bloke on the list, with Rose Byrne (37th), Cate Blanchett (41st) and Kylie Minogue (52nd) the other homegrown stars.

Liam Hemsworth was the “most dangerous” Aussie celeb.

McAfee consumer online safety expert Alex Merton-McCann said the study showed how unaware some people may be that their online searches can get them in trouble.

RELATED: Liam Hemsworth finally surfaces after Miley Cyrus split

“Many consumers will drop their guard in favour of speed or convenience, and quickly enter their personal details to gain access to a site without thinking about the consequences,” she said.

“Criminals use deceptive websites to trick unsuspecting consumers into handing over their personal details or control of their devices.

“In a world where everything is connected, everywhere, it’s important that consumers protect their digital lives and always think twice before they click to ensure they are surfing safe digital content.”

HOW TO STAY SAFE ONLINE

• Be careful what you click: Users should be cautious and only stream and download directly from a reliable source. The safest thing to do is to wait for the official release instead of visiting a third-party website that could contain malware.

• Don’t use illegal streaming sites: Many illegal streaming sites are riddled with malware or adware disguised as pirated video files. Stream the show from a reputable source.

• Protect yourself: Many companies (including McAfee obviously) make both paid and free antivirus and antimalware programs that can help you avoid malicious content.

• Use a Web Reputation tool: WebRep tools like McAfee WebAdvisor and Trend Micro Site Safety Center can tell you whether you’re about to go to a malicious website. Some browsers also have similar tools built in.

• Use parental control software: Parental control software can help you minimise exposure to potentially malicious or inappropriate websites when your kids are browsing the web.

Who else do you think should be on the most dangerous celebrity list? Let us know in the comments below.