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

Re:it holds true for myspace

[WhyDoYouWantToKnow]

No.

True, the white pages are an opt-out system. All you have to do when you sign up for new phone service is ask for an unlisted number; some operators will give you the option during the call. If you choose to have your number listed, while it will be available through directory assistance, your number will not be listed in the local white pages until the new book is published. Even then, with the local white pages your number is only seen locally.

With MySpace, your information is instantaneously available to not just your local weirdos but weirdos nation and world-wide.

Another problem with MySpace, people can create accounts for you and post information about you and you may be completely unawares. While you can get these accounts closed (though I hear it's not easy to do, I have no experience with this), how do you know to have this account closed unless you or someone who knows you stumbles upon this MySpace page that has your home address, maybe your phone number, perhaps the ages of your children, you're wife or husbands daily routine, etc. Information ad nauseum, far more than can be found in your local white pages.