Social Networking Users to Cross 1 Billion, Means More Cyber Attacks

While the increasing use of online social networks by consumers has resulted into a large number of lifestyle benefits, the threats from cyber criminals have also risen, said a virus analyst.

Stefan Tanase, malware Analyst at EEMEA Research Center, Kaspersky Lab Global Research and Analysis Team, said on Kuwait's ICT Security Forum that 80% of Internet users (over one billion people) would use social networking websites this year (2009), as reported by zawya on May 6, 2009. This implies that over one billion online users are susceptible to become victims of cyber threats, particularly where users of social networking are the main target.

Tanase further added that the rising use of social networking websites received attention of cyber criminal in 2008. These sites became excellent places for spreading malware and relying spam. They form an important source of illegitimate earning online. In 2008, Kaspersky Lab collection included detection of over 43,000 malevolent codes associated with social networking websites.

Security researchers at Kaspersky stated that malicious codes transmitted through social networking websites are 10 times more dangerous and effective than malware distributed through e-mail. malware spread through social networks are approximately 10% successful in infecting a system, while malicious codes via e-mail have success rate of below 1%.

Furthermore, security experts said that the stolen details such as passwords and names of social networking users could be used to connect with malicious sites, sending spam or fake messages requesting to innocent users for urgent money transfers.

Tanase further states that social networking websites users generally trust others very easily. They accept the messages of anyone who pretends to be their friend without thinking ones. This makes it quite easy for cyber criminals to circulate links of infected websites. In addition, cyber criminals use several ways to entice the recipient to visit the malicious link given in the e-mail and download malicious program.

According to Tanase, many Web 2.0 platforms like Twitter and Facebook are more prone to fall victim to malware assaults. End users should know the dangers and take necessary measures to guard themselves against such threats. They should use the updated spam filter programs and antivirus.

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» SPAMfighter News - 5/13/2009