22 Dec 2011
How to avoid viruses and malware in social media
After Lady Gaga's many Facebook fans and Twitter followers were hit by a message stating they could get a free iPad 2 but instead were led to a link trying to phish information from them, Hemu Nigam writes on ABC's website that people should be aware of their surroundings on social media. Users should have antivirus software to help protect against malware and viruses.
In order to protect social media accounts, Nigam said users should change their passwords often, be sure to update antivirus software often, always update security settings in the social media acount and suspect everyone of perhaps being hacked themselves.
"If a friend, relative or acquaintance tweets something that is out of character, assume that it isn't from them," he writes. "If your friend Suzy sends a link to an offer that sounds too good to be true, go with your gut and don't click on it. Then, do your friend Suzy a favor and let her know her account might have been hacked and that she should change her password."
Reputation.com said to protect an account from "status jacking," or having a password stolen, people should not confirm friends they don't know, always log out after done and get comprehensive antivirus software to help defend against it.