As discussed in the previous post, criminals can easily create fake profiles on social networking sites.
However, it is just as easy for them to hack existing ones too.
All that is required is the correct username and password.
Some hackers take over accounts in order to have their own brand of fun, such as messing up someone’s profile page.
However, others will take the opportunity to install invisible code that they can then use for their malicious purposes.
Megan Meier
In some instances the hacker’s motives are even more dire.
Recently there was a well publicised case in which false identities were used on MySpace in order to cyber bully a young girl.
Her profile was repeatedly defaced with malicious comments.
The victim, Megan Meier, subsequently committed suicide.
Avoid This Scam
The primary means of avoiding this type of social networking scam is to use strong passwords and also to change them often.
If you believe that someone else has gained access to your profile then inform the site’s operator as quickly as possible.
If threats are made against you by anyone then inform the police or, at the very least, a responsible adult.
This is just one of five posts in a series on social networking scams.
Read the rest here -
- Part 1 – The Fake Identity
- Part 2 – Malware
- Part 3 – Profile Hacking
- Part 4 – Identity Theft
- Part 5 – Spam
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