Social networking risks our safety

Though nearly half of the UK's population has been a victim of spyware many continue to take risks with online safety when using social networking sites. According to a report from Webroot Software, many of us are familiar with the concepts of viruses, worms and phishing but our online behaviour makes us vulnerable to spyware programs such as keyloggers that record data that we input using our keyboards. Webroot claims that it is the use of social networking sites which puts us most at risk. More than half of us visit these sites occasionally and around 82 per cent of 18-24 year olds do so on a regular basis. “Just as the internet’s social explosion has revolutionised communication and interaction, so too has it revolutionised criminal activity,” said Webroot's chief executive, Peter Watkins. Many in the 18-24 age category said they were willing to open attachments and embedded links found on social networking sites even if they didn't know who had created them. Combined with a lack of understanding for how spyware programs work, this puts them at an increased risk of falling victim to cybercrime. “Online socialising has rapidly become the new way to network and make friends, yet this research reveals that the people most likely to engage in this behaviour are the least informed when it comes to security threats such as spyware,” Watkins added. http://www.webroot.com/

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