The study, published by Intel Security, highlights the various ways hackers can take advantage of consumer interest around several facets of Bollywood cinema news and entice unsuspecting fans to visit sites loaded with malware that can steal passwords and personal information.

The study said a search for “Sonakshi Sinha + Torrent” resulted in a 21 per cent chance of connecting to a malicious website.

“Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting consumers who access information on the go, without considering the potential security risks online around celebrity interest,” Venkat Krishnapur, head of R&D operations for Intel Security’s India Development Centre said.

The study said with the increasing penetration of broadband, consumers rely on the internet to find more information such as award and TV shows as well as movie premieres, album releases, celebrity breakups and more.