| The internet is rife with security risks. If you and your | | | | widgets created by the community, and the level of |
| family have used your residential online access to | | | | trust given to these applications. |
| enjoy popular social networking sites, ecommerce | | | | For example, a member might download a widget that |
| sites, and other high-traffic properties, you may have | | | | hijacks their account and sends a private note to each |
| been exposed. From MySpace to Twitter, and | | | | person in that member's network. The private note will |
| Facebook to an assortment of seemingly harmless | | | | often contain links to spyware, Trojans, and |
| businesses, a lack of wariness can lead to the wrong | | | | keyloggers. Because the people within the personal |
| people gaining access to your personal information. | | | | network trust the member, they are more likely to click |
| Below, we'll take a closer look at three online security | | | | the links. As a result, they unwittingly provide these |
| risks that have become increasingly dangerous over | | | | malicious programs with access to their hard drives. |
| the last twelve months. In doing so, we'll help you enjoy | | | | #3 - Poor Ecommerce Security |
| using your home broadband connection while avoiding | | | | When you use your home internet connection to shop |
| the traps that have ensnared others. | | | | and purchase items online, you assume that the |
| #1 - MySpace Problems | | | | ecommerce site will safeguard your credit card |
| MySpace enjoyed explosive growth among young | | | | information. In most cases, they do an effective job. |
| people when it debuted several years ago. Today, it | | | | However, few ecommerce backends are infallible. |
| boasts millions of members. The problem is that many | | | | Many suffer from vulnerabilities that are not always |
| of the teenagers who have gravitated to the site are | | | | evident to consumers who are ordering products. |
| unconcerned about security issues. This has motivated | | | | Savvy criminals can exploit these vulnerabilities and |
| unscrupulous charlatans to use MySpace as a | | | | steal your credit card information. If you're going to |
| platform for gaining entry into members' computers. | | | | purchase items online, make sure the business behind |
| They have successfully hijacked browsers, and | | | | the ecommerce site deserves your trust. |
| downloaded Trojans and spyware applications to | | | | There will always be security risks online. As |
| visitors' machines. However, if you have a robust | | | | companies design solutions to help eliminate them, new |
| firewall installed, there is little need for alarm. | | | | risks will surface. The key to avoiding them is to |
| #2 - The Rise Of Facebook | | | | remain wary. If you and your family use the popular |
| Facebook's rapid growth has transformed the site into | | | | social networking sites (i.e. MySpace, Facebook, etc.), |
| a media darling. The more news coverage it receives, | | | | install a potent firewall. If you intend to purchase |
| the larger it grows. That growth has placed Facebook | | | | something online, trust the business from which you |
| into the sights of the same charlatans and | | | | are buying the item. That is the safest route for |
| troublemakers that targeted MySpace. Members are | | | | enjoying your broadband connection without providing |
| exposed due to the plethora of applications and | | | | unauthorized access to your hard drive. |