Social Networks and Internet Security
Computer Internet Security and Social Networks
Home computing technology is always evolving. In the early 1980s, a computer could be a word processor for a school project, help balance the home budget on a spreadsheet, or allow the user to play a text-based adventure game, but not much past that. Compared to then, computers can do things once thought of as science fiction, such as face-to-face video chat and sending important files around the world in the blink of an eye.
However, as the Internet has evolved, so have the methods that cybercriminals use to do their damage. Therefore, Internet Security these days involves a lot. The days of cybercriminals seeking out methods to fool the latest antivirus security (software and firewalls) to force their way on to a target computer are all but gone. Why would they have to, when the World Wide Web gives cybercriminals a home base of operations where their marks can come visit them.
In 2008, Symantec, the maker of the highly respected Norton line of products of antivirus software, reported that 90 percent of cyber attacks came from so-called “platform-agnostic” attacks, or attacks that work no matter what operating system a person is using. Most of these attacks involve the Web, and usually involves a person being tricked into downloading software, or a person freely giving up personal information on a faked Web site, also known as phishing.
Social Networks Attracting Cybercriminals
However, in April 2011, Symantec reported that the paradigm had shifted again, and cybercriminals now had a new favorite method: social networking sites. Again as with other platform-agnostic attacks, most of the threats on social networking sites can not be detected by most traditional antivirus software.
According to the report, the most common threat occurring involves a combination of phishing and abbreviated URLs. The use of abbreviated URLs, which are commonly used to shorten complicated Web addresses or when space is at a premium (such as Twitter), is the key, as they can be used to mask a Web address that someone may question if it were fully written out.
During 2010, cybercriminals flocked to social networking sites and were able to compromise the accounts of a diverse range of international businesses, both large and small, the report continued. Then, they would use these compromised accounts to post a message to the thousands (sometimes millions) of followers at once that included an abbreviated URL to a malicious site. From there, the cybercriminals can launch any number of attacks, including downloading spyware or adware, or tricking users into freely giving up personal information.
Social Networking Safety
But that isn't the only danger of social networking. For a generation of children who have grown up with the Internet, social networks are a part of everyday life. What makes matters worse is that oftentimes, their parents don't have the faintest clue about social networks, how they work, or what their children can have access to while they're there.
Social networks, such as Facebook, can act as a hub of online activity. Users can post messages, links to favorite video clips, and photos; play simple interactive games; chat with friends; send private messages; and become fans of their favorite bands, stores, or restaurants.
However, many people – children and adults alike – treat social networking sites as if they were diaries. Even if all security permissions are set to the strictest standards, information can still be passed around. For instance, a photo can be captured on a screen shot by someone on the user's friends list and the passed around for the world to see.
That's why it's important for everyone to become familiar with the threats that are out there. Aside from sharing personal information and being fooled by phishing attacks as explained previously, children can find themselves having inappropriate conversations with strangers, or allowing some of the games to collect information from their account.
Although social networking sites will never be 100 percent safe by their nature, there are some steps that families can take to help reduce the chance of being a victim of cyber crimes.
Something the whole family can do together to stay safe is learning together about the dangers on social networking sites. By having children learn right along side the adults, families can have discussions about their ideas of what is appropriate, what is dangerous, how cybercriminals use tricks to capture information, and what is perfectly safe.
Parents can also use parental control methods that include social networking features, such as Norton Online Family. Norton Online Family was a free upgraded program that replaced the Add-On Pack that included the parental controls for retired products Norton Internet Security and old Norton 360. Now the new Norton 360 subscribers – and anyone else – can use Norton Family features to make sure children are representing themselves correctly (in age, photos, etc.) and learn what they are doing while on these sites.
By using these techniques together, families can fight against cybercriminals and make sure all members of the family stay safe while they use social networking sits.