Slashdot Mirror
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."
Just make your damn profile private! If you are naive enough to think that everyone in the world wants to read your profile, you are probably too naive to understand that everyone's intentions sometimes aren't friendly.
One of our HR people just to prove a point attempted to look at my profile, and then sent me a friend request which I denied for that reason. Making a definitive wall between work and whatever it is that I do at home is very important.
Never leave home and you'll never catch a cold or get run over by a car. Join the fight against leaving home now!
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!
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
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:
Socializing at a bar puts you at greater risk of physical harm. Socializing at a church puts you at greater risk of personal judgment. Socializing at a coffee shop puts you at greater risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Socializing at a restaurant puts you at greater risk of clogged arteries. Not socializing puts you at greater risk of dying alone.
Step into a huge movement. Don't Tread In Me.