Loving a superhero is a rite of passage. Whether it is Batman, Invisible Woman or The Hulk, every child wants to feel like they can do some good and ‘flex’ a little muscle power.
And with digitally connected devices available on tap and the recent rebirth of Superheroes thanks to movies such as X Men and Justice League, of course kids are going to continue their idolising online. Researching their favourite superhero toys, comics or games is a very popular (and very time-consuming!) past time for young fans.
This superhero resurgence hasn’t escaped the attention of hackers or cybercriminals. In fact, hackers are using the superhero revival to target consumers. McAfee has just revealed a list of the Most Toxic Superheroes that result in the greatest number of risky websites when you search for them online.
And it is all about Aquaman – FYI, he’s from Justice League. If you search for ‘Aquaman and free torrent download’, ‘Aquaman and watch’, ‘Aquaman and online’, ‘Aquaman and free trailer’ and ‘Aquaman pictures and downloads’, there is an 18.6% chance that you (or your young fan) will land on a website that has tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.
The study uses McAfee® SiteAdvisor® site ratings, which calculates which sites that contain the highest percentage of risk. Here is a list of the most dangerous Superheroes to search:
1. Aquaman 18.60%
2. Mr. Fantastic 18.22%
3. The Hulk 17.30%
4. Wonder Woman 16.77%
5. Daredevil 16.70%
6. Iron Man 15.63%
7. Superman 15.21%
8. Thor 15.10%
9. Green Lantern 15.00%
10. Cyclops 14.40%
11. Wolverine 14.27%
12. Invisible Woman 12.40%
13. Batman 12.30%
14. Captain America 11.77%
15. Spider-Man 11.15%
Now, don’t worry – this doesn’t have to mean the end of Superhero worship. You just need to ensure your little fans practice safe searching. Here are my top tips to stay safe online while searching:
- Be suspicious. If your search turns up a link to free content or a too-good-to-be-true offer, be VERY wary.
- Always double-check the web address. Look for spelling mistakes or other clues that the site you are going to may not be safe.
- Search safely. Use safe searching software such as McAfee’s Site Advisor which will warn you against potentially risky sites using a coloured rating system.
- Protect yourself. Use comprehensive security software on all your devices, like McAfee All Access to protect yourself against the latest threats
Until Next Time – Stay Safe Online.
Alex x