Social media Web sites like Facebook and Twitter began with less than 3 million users in their first years. Today, Facebook has more than 300 million users, and Twitter has more than 44.5 million users worldwide.
Due to this growth, malware and virus generators are targeting users of these Web sites more and more often.
Kevin Gingerich, enterprise security services group leader at Ball State University, said the most common scams students encounter are phishing attempts, which usually ask for the person's account password or user name. At Ball State, some students and faculty have found e-mails saying their accounts will be closed if they don't give their password.
"What ends up happening is, if you show your password, then they have access to whatever accounts you have," Gingerich said.
Another scam technique that has been seen lately is through Facebook links and advertisements.
Gingerich said not knowing where a link could lead could be dangerous.
"You don't know where they got it," he said. "It could easily be malware, a trojan or virus that gets downloaded to the PC. By clicking, you actually said ‘download that information."
The Ball State Web site has been blacklisted before, Gingerich said. Phishing victims' accounts will send out scams that effect search engines, such as Google. These search engines block, or blacklist, Web sites from which spam is generated.
Virus infections are common on campus. According to a TechTime report, about 150 students use the TechTime service at the Robert Bell Building every week; 30 to 40 percent go because of the detection of some type of malware.
Social media scams have reached a political level. Jay Gillette, professor of information and communication sciences, said the Senate Commerce Committee is doing research on post-transaction marketing, which is similar to social media scams.
Gingerich said that for phishing attempts and scams, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
"The only time you should ever share your password is never," Gingerich said.
Links are also dangerous if the generator in unknown. Gingerich said trying to figure out where the link came from is important.
"If you just take the mouse and hover over the link, it will usually tell you what URL or address it will go to," he said.
Students can also Google the address or go to other Web sites that display types of viruses.
Gingerich said if an account password has already been given away, the password must be changed immediately.
"If you passed your log-in ID for your bank, it becomes very important because your money can disappear in minutes," he said. "Change your password and notify your institution."
If a link or an advertisement leads to the download of a virus or malware, unplugging the Ethernet cable or shutting off the wireless connection could prevent the virus from downloading.
Gillette said he advises students that use a PC to use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. He said students should also download antivirus software.
"It's like everyday locking the door of your house," he said. "Use software like when you are looking through a peep hole. You should not click on anything unless you know where it's coming from."
Common scams on Social Media pages:
- The Update trojan: A legitimate looking Facebook notice found in e-mail in boxes that asks people to write their password to update their account. The "update tool" is a trojan that steals personal and financial information.
- The Password Reset E-mail: In the form of an e-mail, it will indicate to click on a link to download new contact information. Instead, it will download a type of malware.
- "Tweet for cash!": An e-mail offering people the opportunity to work from home, and gain up to $10,000 just by tweeting. The e-mail asks for the person's credit card number.
Tech Time:
- Ball State students with infected computers can take them to get a virus scan at Tech Time.
- Location: First floor of Robert Bell Building
- Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Ball State security services Web site offers free antivirus for laptops and home computers.
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