Beware Security Threats on Five Popular Social Networking Sites

Are social networking sites inherently more vulnerable to security risks, malware and malicious attacks? Social media is all about, well, being social, and because most interactions occur within a network of confirmed “friends,” users often let their guard down when using these sites. When you factor in the vast amount of personally identifiable information (PII) housed on these channels, social networks are a prime target for cyber criminals.

Understanding what types of attacks are most common on different social media platforms, and why, can help users identify and defend against malware lurking on them. With this in mind, GFI Software analyzed the most common threats on five popular social networking sites to better understand what makes them such easy targets.