User-generated content 'poses security threat'
Web 2.0
13 January 2009
The popularity of user-generated content on Web 2.0 sites could open the way for more security threats to sweep the web.
This is the suggestion of a new study by Commtouch, which indicated that some of the most popular categories of social media websites are also on a list of sites likely to be vulnerable to hackers.
Commtouch's Internet Threats Trend Report, which covered the last three months of 2008, noted that downloads and streaming media are among these categories.
Such sites are likely to be infected with malware, as well as being used by phishers, it said.
"With user-generated content on blogs, file sharing platforms and social networks having experienced huge growth over the last few years, spammers and malicious script writers are finding new ways to engage users," stated Amir Lev, chief technology officer of Commtouch.
A recent whitepaper by Monica Chew, Dirk Balfanz and Ben Laurie of Google suggested that social media sites could be vulnerable to outside threats due to the lack of control users have over activity streams, as well as unwelcome links and the potential for de-anonymisation.
To make more money from your website
CALL US NOW ON 01483 740800.
