Creditnet News Story
New social media threat could lead to identity theft
Monday, June 21, 2010
By Danielle Robson
When a friend posts a funny picture or website on their Facebook or Twitter account, it's important to know just where clicking that link could lead.
Some links that get posted on people's social media accounts could be hackers trying to "clickjack" users, according to a new report from KTAR radio in Phoenix. The practice prays on people's desire to see a funny animal or attractive woman, and, when the link is clicked, it often says the user does not have the proper software to view the content. Installing that software is a big mistake.
Instead of downloading a LOLcat, that link is downloading a program that could contain malware that can harvest all the information on the infected computer, including financial and personal records. The report said that there are a number of similar scams that hackers currently employ, all with the same goal of compromising other computers.
A recent report from the Los Angeles Times said that while Facebook has come under fire for its privacy policies, there is simply no way to ensure that an internet user is ever secure.
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