Social Networking sites: A significant threat to online security ...
Webroot has announced the results of a survey conducted by Webroot of 3,000 UK home computer users reviewing their understanding of external threats and attacks to their PCs.
The survey reveals that young people are putting their parents at risk of online fraud and identity theft through their social networking activities, including signing up for new accounts, engaging in IM chat, downloading files, and other activities where personal data can be exposed through spyware. Up to 82 percent of teens and young adults surveyed said that they visit social networking sites on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and 99 percent browse the Internet. More than any other age demographic, 92 percent of this age group will put themselves at risk of spyware infection by opening attachments and embedded links in instant messages, clicking on pop-up advertisements, and downloading games, music and screensavers.
