Security tips in social networking sites

Social networking sites are integral part of any online activity. Interestingly social networking sites are responsible for spam, email phishing, virus spread in recent times. Due to their core function of URL sharing social networking sites are the base for many threats. Following are the safe ways to use social networking sites,

1. Virus spreading through Blogs

A research report reveals in a month an average blog generates 8000 to 10,000 link in WWW. Most of the blog titles and contents are used to attract traffic and redirect to unwanted web sites. Short urls creates like bit.ly, tiny url makes situation even worst. More number of bloggers without even knowing the actuals behind the post copy and paste content from other sites in their post. Malfunction url present in the post, content in the post affects not only your regular visitors and also your site reputation. Be careful when you create BUZZ in your Blog post, read the content once or twice and decide your post. Interestingly more number of blogs are used by internet marketers, and eavesdropper to redirect user to unwanted sites.

2. Link posts in Facebook/orkut/friendster etc

Social networking sites are the main traffic source for most blogs and websites. We love to share what we find useful, but every available links in your wall, pet, scrap book, friends links don’t have to be genuine. Be careful even if the links are from your own friends. Having a tool bar from reputed antivirus providers helps a lot. Links in Social networking sites are another know way of spreading virus, web scripts. Be careful when you add people to your buddy list.

3. Email Phishing

phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public.  Some of the phishing techniques are, Social engineering, link manipulation, website forgery etc. Do not follow links in email unless until the sender is known to you, content is relevant to you.

4. IM – Instant Messenger

A very upcoming and easily deceivable medium is IM, people use more of IM than email system. It is fast user friendly, instantaneous, leads to conversation people like conversation. But an attachment coming through IM may not be secured. Scan for known infection and use it. A compromised email account can be the spreading source. Virus spreading through IM is a known technique, Do not ever leak passwords, bank details in IM.

5. TinyURL, Bit.ly and Snurl

TinyURL, Bit.ly and Snurl are the popular ways to shorten lengthy url and use it in micro blogging platforms like twitter, plurk etc.  They poses another level of threat cos you don’t even know where are our redirected to. Some sites are available to convert them to original URL. Use on of them and understand where are you heading to. http://www.untiny.com/ is one such service

Original Article is from http://hexablogs.com