'Celebrities' luring victims to scams

If you’re searching the internet for the latest news about your favorite celebrity, be careful before you click. Security firm McAfee says there’s an increase in scammers using celebrity names and likenesses to lure victims to sites that install destructive malware or steal money.

Increasingly sophisticated AI-generated deepfakes that also mimic voices can make it seem that a celebrity is endorsing products such as “miracle drugs and cures,” offering bogus product giveaways or issuing false political endorsements.

McAfee says actor Scarlett Johansson is the celebrity most exploited for online scams. Rounding out the top five of McAfee’s “Celebrity Hacker Hotlist” are reality TV star and entrepreneur Kylie Jenner, pop star Taylor Swift and actors Anya Taylor-Joy and Tom Hanks.

News and views

TikTok, known for its short-form entertainment videos, is growing as a source of news, especially for young adults. A new Pew Research Center analysis found that 39% of people ages 18-29 said they regularly get news from TikTok, up from 9% four years ago. Overall, 17% of U.S. adults said they get news from TikTok, up from 3% four years ago.

Kid power

Gen Z’s influence as influencers has some youthful competition. Retail industry news site ModernRetail says Gen Alpha — typically considered 14 and younger in 2024 — has caught the eye of brand owners who are targeting this young demographic with social media ad campaigns. While most Gen Alphas don’t have a source of income, ModernRetail says they “have tremendous sway” over what their families buy.

Water provider hit by cyberattack

New Jersey-based American Water — which provides drinking water services to more than 14 million people in 14 states — said it was the victim of a cyberattack causing it to shut down certain systems. The Environmental Protection Agency said cyberattacks against water utilities are becoming more frequent and more severe, and recently issued an enforcement alert urging water systems to take immediate actions to protect the nation’s drinking water. — AP