Social Networking Site Safety Questioned

An anonymous reader writes to mention a TechNewsWorld article about social networking sites. Researchers are finding these places are goldmines for social engineering exercises. Between worm attacks and simple human observation, sites like MySpace are the perfect place to obtain saleable personal information. From the article: "The danger is real, according to a study conducted by CA and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). In October, the alliance issued its first social networking study examining the link between specific online behaviors and the potential for becoming a victim of cybercrime. Despite all the publicity about sexual predators on sites like MySpace and FaceBook, the alliance took a different approach by measuring the potential for threats such as fraud, identity theft, computer spyware and viruses. Although 57 percent of people who use social networking sites admit to worrying about becoming a victim of cybercrime, they are still divulging information that may put them at risk, as Boyd suggested. Social networkers are also downloading unknown files from other people's profiles, and responding to unsolicited instant messages that could contain worms, the NCSA reported."

Comments

In other news

[timeOday]

Never leave home and you'll never catch a cold or get run over by a car. Join the fight against leaving home now!

Newsflash: People are STILL stupid.

[R2.0]

In shocking news today, it was revealed that human stupidity is not relieved by the internet, but is actually exascerbated by it. News at 11:00!

Re:Fix the ohter end?

[eln]

I think the problem is with MySpace's default layout. I mean seriously, doesn't this sidebar information just invite abuse?

General:
Music:
Mother's Maiden Name:
Movies:
Television:
Social Security Number:
Books:
Heroes:

This...just in!

[PingSpike]

Another recent study said that walking down dark alleys while jiggling your car keys and waving a wad of cash around may increase the likelyhood of muggings.

Easy Sum:

[Penguinisto]

Yes, Virginia, there is a such thing as "Ignorant People Who Will Click On Anything Others Send Them"

/P

Without these sites, Chris Hanson is unemployed

[fatnicky]

How many social researchers salivate when they hear "Hi, I'm Chris Hanson with Dateline NBC".

The industry alone should be salivating, for all the pedo-rific jaw dropping action that goes on in a pedo bust.

Without myspace or any of these, what kind of pedos would we watch get busted on Friday night.

There's only so much Michael Jackson to go around.

If you'll excuse me, I just met a 19 (12) year old kid and am going to drive 300 miles away to meet them. (And yes, I always have protection, erotica, booze, and her favorite perfume with me, you know, just in case...)

.

[disclaimer: this is a joke, no cop calling please.]

Brilliant!

[evil_Tak]

So...places where lots of social networking occurs are good places for social engineering?!

Next you'll be telling me that places with lots of water, fish food, and fish habitat are good places to go fishing!

Re:Another place to fix it - backup identities?

[WhyDoYouWantToKnow]

I wonder if people should have backup identities

Hi, my identity was recently stolen so for today I'm going to be... Bob. I'm a middle aged career... actuary? Actuary, is that right? Okay. I have... three kids and a mortgage that's 2 months overdue. But I didn't buy that house, this is just my backup identity. Wait, what do you mean there's a warrant out for my arrest. I've never even been to Georgia.