Social media users wary of security risks
People using social media platforms still have difficulties spotting potential security risks, it has been claimed.
While internet users have wisened up regarding threats such as malware-infected emails, computer security firm Norton’s Con Mallon said, attacks via social media are still diffifult to identify and prevent.
He said: “I think some of the education we’ve done over the last number of years is helping people and I think when they’ve been reading e-mails they’re kind of aware of looking out for dodgy looking attachments or spelling or grammar mistakes that kind of give the game away.
‘But I think with a lot of the attacks living on social networks, it’s very, very difficult to determine if that really is [an attack] – because it’s coming through from a friend or acquaintance [and] it gives it that level of authenticity, that level of trust.”
Written by Matthias Scherer
Matthias is a journalist and writer covering the latest news in technology as well as reviewing new computer products for PC Site. After studying journalism and economics in London, Matthias worked in radio and as a music writer for various publications in the UK and Germany, covering everything from politics and music to online publishing and social media. He is a self-diagnosed internet addict, but wrestles himself away from the computer to read books by angry young men, put on punk or rap records and watch Seinfeld.
Mon, Jun 20, 2011