26th June 2020, Kathmandu
The world is experiencing a surge in internet and data traffic with stay-at-home orders in most countries. Specifically, there has been a rise in the consumption of online video. A recent report from security solutions provider McAfee reveals the potential risks of browsing online video stream content, especially the ones available for free.
Obviously, more users tend to look for free and accessible content online. Be it online TV series or books, and even games.
Hackers or threat actors are not unknown from what users prefer and don’t prefer. In fact, they tend to observe the consumer trend and behavior to execute their scam strategies.
Findings of the Report
McAfee analyzed over one hundred most popular entertainment titles across the leading streaming service providers today. As a result of the analysis, it identified a list of top 10 television and movie content with most web risk.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine grabs the top spot in the list of television web risk titles while the top spot in the movie goes to Warrior.
Top 10 Web Risk TV List
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Elite
- Harlots
- Letterkenny
- Poldark
- Lost
- You
- Gentefied
- PEN15
- Skins
Top 10 Web Risk Movies List
- Warrior
- Zombieland
- The Incredibles
- Step Brothers
- Bad Boys
- Aladdin (2019)
- The Lion King (1994)
- Swingers
- Frozen 2
- The Invitation
Based on the list, it is clear that almost half of the top movie titles are of the children’s category.
“With cybercriminals regularly tracking changes in social trends like school closures, parents need to be extra vigilant when it comes to searching online for content for their children to watch,” McAfee said.
According to Baker Nanduru, VP of Consumer Endpoint Segment at McAfee, the increasing trend of going online during lockdowns has created the perfect storm for web crime. History is proof that cybercriminals follow consumer trends and behaviors in order to come with scam strategies.
“It’s important that consumers stay alert while online and avoid malicious websites that may install malware or steal personal information and passwords,” says Nanduru.
Similarly, most targeted TV shows are the original TV series of the leading streaming platforms. McAfee found that the streaming platforms were investing more in their original TV series to attract and retain new customers.
Moreover, the popularity of these original content drove unsubscribed users to search for free access to specific content online.
Also Read: Cyber-attacks Related to Video Games on the Rise
How do I Secure Myself While Streaming?
Regardless of how risky the cyberspace is, there are ways for users to enjoy online streams while staying safe. McAfee has also advised certain mitigating measures to secure yourself online.
These include:
- Look out for what you click – The users looking up to watch trending TV or movie content should be cautious of what they click. Therefore, make sure to watch entertainment content directly from a reliable source.
- Refrain from streaming from illegal or untrusted sites – Many illegal sites attract users based on the trend and popularity of entertainment content. That’s exactly how they bait you into downloading malware or adware on your device. So, you would be doing yourself a favor by subscribing to a streaming site and avoiding free content.
- Securing your online privacy with a security solution – While McAfee recommends their security solution tools, it is totally up to you. In fact, there are many cybersecurity solution tools and applications that can secure your online realm.
- Use parental control software – The kids these days don’t need your help to search for their favorite TV shows or movies. But, what you can do to ensure their safety is set up parental lock or control software. This will keep you updated on their online activities and minimize exposure to potentially harmful websites.
Final Say
With cyber threats on the rise, it comes down to us for securing ourselves. Every day threat actors come up with new strategies to scam us, and why? It’s because there’s no anticipating what goes trending these days.
Staying updated and spreading awareness is our first line of defense against such threats. So, start early and educate your kids about the potential harm of online activities.
Similarly, if you are an employee working from home, you might want to check out how to work from home responsibly.