Read Before You Binge-Watch: Here are the TV Shows & Movies to Look Out For

If you’ve been following recent stay-at-home orders, it’s likely that you’ve been scavenging the internet for new content to help pass the time. In fact, according to Nielson, there was an 85% increase in American streaming rates in the first three weeks of March this year compared to March 2019 reports.   

But having multiple streaming subscriptions can quickly add up. Consequentially, users who are hesitant to pay more for online streaming subscriptions often look for free options to stream their favorite TV show or movie.  

Criminals are often behind these websites, luring unsuspecting users into schemes via “free” downloads of movies and TV shows.   Some of these movies and shows are risker than others, however.  McAfee WebAdvisor data has revealed certain titles are tied to potential malware and phishing threats. 

Let’s take a look at the TV shows and movies that could lead you to a dangerous download instead of your next film spree, as well as discuss what users can do to stay secure. 

Top 10 U.S. TV and Movie Titles That Could Lead You to a Dangerous Download:

Stay Protected While Streaming

While consumers search for new content from home, criminals are clearly searching for ways to trick eager TV and movie fans. However, there’s still a way users can stay both entertained and secure during this time. Follow these tips to help ensure that your online entertainment experience is safe:  

Watch what you click

Users looking to catch up on Season 2 of “You” or watch the “The Incredibles” on repeat should be cautious and only access entertainment content directly from a reliable source. The safest thing to do is to subscribe to a streaming site that offers the content or download the movie from credible websites, instead of downloading a “free” version from a website that could contain malware. 

Refrain from using illegal streaming sites

Many illegal streaming sites are riddled with malware or adware disguised as pirated video files. Do your device a favor and stream the show from a reputable source. 

Use a comprehensive security Solution

Use a solution like McAfee Total Protection. This can help protect your devices from malware, phishing attacks, and other threats. It also includes McAfee WebAdvisor, which helps alert users of malicious websites. Additionally, McAfee WebAdvisor can be accessed as a free download.  

Use parental control software

Kids are tech–savvy and may search for movies by themselves. Ensure that limits are set on your child’s device and use software that can help minimize exposure to potentially malicious or inappropriate websites. 

Stay Updated

To stay updated on all things McAfee and on top of the latest consumer and mobile security threats, follow @McAfee_Home on Twitter, listen to our podcast Hackable?, and ‘Like’ us on Facebook.  

*Methodology: McAfee pulled the most popular TV and movie titles available on U.S. streaming sites according to “best of” articles by a range of U.S. publications. The web results for the searches of the entertainment titles with modifying terms, such as “TV show” and “torrent,” were then analyzed. Other popular modifying search terms include “free download,” “free login,” “free,” and “pirated download.” From there, the resulting URLs and domains were measured using McAfee WebAdvisor data and assigned a score of high, medium, or unverified risk. The results identified the top 10 TV shows and movie titles with the highest risk of being used by criminals to spread malware and phishing threats.  

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