Social media users 'at risk from e-crime'

18:10 2nd September 2009

Those hoping to learn about computing through IT training may benefit from warnings suggesting members of sites such as Facebook and Twitter may be vulnerable to hackers.

According to Dan Raywood, online news editor at SC magazine, people feel the online environment is safe as they "assume that their friends will not be sending them spam".

Mr Raywood warned against complacency as "reality is different", stating that falling victim to phishing, spam and malware attacks or identity theft "can be devastating" to the user financially, as well as damaging to their computer.

Recent research by software firm AVG Technologies and the Chief Marketing Officer Council found many social network users are not taking even basic steps to protect themselves from e-crime as they underestimate its threat.

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed fail to change their passwords while more than half infrequently or never adjust their privacy settings.

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