Web searches including terms like lyrics, free music downloads are most likely to put your computer at risk of virus or even malicious software, for security firm McAfee, Inc. has listed these words as some of the most dangerous search terms on the internet.
In a recent report, McAfee has revealed Web search terms that put users most at risk for accidentally downloading unwanted or malicious software.
The report, titled ”The Web”s Most Dangerous Search Terms”, reveals that the researchers analysed over 2,600 of the most popular search terms of 2009 from a range of sources, including the Google Zeitgeist and the Yahoo! 2009 Year in Review.
“Search engines are our on-ramp, our highway and our off-ramp — they”re everything for Web travel. The hacking community is very smart — they can spot a trend as well as any trendspotter,” the Telegraph quoted Shane Keats, the research analyst with McAfee who led the study, as saying.
“Search engines are our on-ramp, our highway and our off-ramp — they”re everything for Web travel. The hacking community is very smart — they can spot a trend as well as any trendspotter,” the Telegraph quoted Shane Keats, the research analyst with McAfee who led the study, as saying.After analysing the search terms, the researchers found that hackers looking for crowds.
They are also attacking Internet surfers who are ready to take an online action, like downloading a ringtone or logging in to a site with a name, address and social security number.
For example, people searching for free music downloads are easy targets for hackers because they are expecting to download an mp3.
In order to evaluate the risk associated with each keyword, the researchers looked at the search results generated by each keyword, and then calculated the percentage of links that would take users to Web sites with unwanted adware, spyware or other malicious software.
For example, the term “lyric,” had an average risk of 14.8 percent, meaning that nearly 15 out of 100 search results would take users to risky sites.
The most dangerous categories of search terms include online games, free downloads, song lyrics, and screensavers.
Search terms involving online games were among the riskiest because online games often prompt users to install plug-ins or register with a name or e-mail address.
Keywords that include lyrics were risky because Web sites featuring the words to songs sometimes host links that take users to sites with unwanted pop-up ads or spyware.
The 10 Most Dangerous Web Searches in the United States are:
1. Word Unscrambler
2. Lyrics
3. MySpace
4. Free Music Downloads
5. Phelps, Weber-Gale, Jones and Lezak Wins 4x 100m Relay
6. Free Music
7. Game Cheats
8. Printable Fill in Puzzles
9. Free Ringtones
10. Solitaire
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Meh. My Mac has been pretty virus-free on the internet, and I download a lot of porn.
And free music.
Too bad Mac is extremely limited, and attempts to take control of your computer.
It's good for kids and idiots who don't know how to use a computer and want to stay safe. Like a nanny, or a tricycle.
Seriously, how is "porn", or variations, not the first 7 things on this list?
I simply don't get what so dangerous about getting some pop ups or ads, okay it's annoying, but dangerous?
Some ads will hijack your broswer and attempt to install malware. That's the problem with some sites.
I don't understand why that statement as number 5 is there lol
… whereas AnonTalk is probably the safest search word.
Just be sure to use a great anti-virus, and other products (some free ones are good!) like MalwareBytes Anti Malware (paid version has a few extras like automatic scanning, but free one is great), a good anti-spyware and a good firewall.
Using the internet without them is like having sex unprotected with strangers. You MIGHT not get AIDS….
[...] After cleaning up the mess, I directed the guilty party to this list of dangerous search terms from McAfee. [...]
Really these keywords are common and everyone wants to download music and its related things from the internet, this downloading brings viruses to a computer. Thanks for letting us know about it in details.
This is an AMAZING site! Yahoo Web Search…
[...]10 most dangerous web search terms[...]…