Bach Seat

In case you have lived under a rock, social networking sites are very popular. LinkedIn (LNKD) has over 100 million users; 1 billion tweets are posted on Twitter each week and Facebook is approaching 1 billion users. Despite these numbers, they also open users up to more computer viruses and online threats according to a report from Webroot. A Help Net Security article details a few of the threats social network users face. They include:

Bogus e-mails from “friends”: The blog warns that hackers lure users into taking actions they shouldn’t. They do this by making it seem as if a friend within their social network has sent them an in-network e-mail. Only the e-mail is from a hacker who’s hijacked the friend’s account.

Malicious links or bait: This type of scam involves personal messages to users. The messages encourage victims to click on a link. Doing so can do a number of things including sending users to a fake website. There they are prompted to download and install an executable file that turns out to be a virus that infects the user’s PC explains the author.

Identity theft: Social network users who share personal information with their entire network of friends leave themselves vulnerable to hackers. Oversharing details like birth dates, addresses, pets’ names, and other details make it easier for attackers to guess your password and access Yout profile based on the personal information shared reports Help Net Security.

To help increase your PC protection, Webroot advises users to install updatable Internet security software and keep a few simple rules in mind, such as:

Be skeptical – E-mails, friend requests, Web site links, and other items from sources you do not know could be malware.

Use privacy settings – Social Networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, offer privacy settings that let you control who sees your posts and personal information. Use them to control who access to your page, contact information, etc.

Protect your password – Choose your passwords wisely, incorporate numbers, letters, and special characters, and never use the same password at more than one site.

For those who may need new internet security software, you should select a program that has a multi-level security program to:

• Block viruses, spyware, spam, Trojans, worms, rootkits, and keyloggers;
• Make your PC invisible to hackers;
• Encrypt passwords and remember them for you;
• Offer multi-layer identity protection;
• Provide firewall security.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.