Social networking can land you a nasty virus.

That’s if identity theft, sexual predators, fraud, or a murder-for-hire plot don’t get you first (see MySpace Murder Plot Alleged).

As in the real world, the online world of social networking presents a Wild West of dangers, according to a National Cyber Security Alliance and CA study.

And people are careless. About 83 percent of adults using social networking sites download unknown files from other people’s profiles, potentially opening up their PCs to harm, the NCSA-CA study released Wednesday said. Another 31 percent of adults who use the sites have responded to phishy unsolicited email or instant messages.

User habits of sites such as MySpace and Facebook were examined in the study that focused on online behaviors that could be exploited for fraud, identity theft, computer spyware, and viruses.

“Not only is it important to install and frequently update firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software, users must be aware of the specific unsafe behaviors which make them vulnerable to online predators, hackers, and thieves,” David Luft, senior vice president of product development at software company CA, said in a statement.

The study warned users of social networking sites against downloading unfamiliar files and responding to unsolicited emails and instant messages, saying they left people open to attacks from identity theft, computer spyware, viruses, and other risks.

The problem is people. They are trusting. While 57 percent of people who use social networking sites express concern about becoming a victim of cybercrime, they are still divulging personal information.

That data released could put them at risk, The NCSA-CA study said. For instance, 74 percent reported they have given personal information of some sort, such as birth date, name, or email addresses.

“Giving out a Social Security number, paired with a birthday and name, could provide enough ammunition for criminals to hack into financial records and compromise users’ personal information,” Ron Teixeira, executive director of NCSA, said in a statement.

Businesses are at risk, too. Among adult users with work access to a computer, 46 percent indulged in social networking at the office, the study said, opening companies up to potential online security threats.

Parental Precautions

Parents aren’t taking proper precautions for their children, either. The study said that 51 percent of parents who know of their child’s networking don’t restrict the way they set up their profiles so that only friends can view them.

Potential predators are left with an open door to prey on such profiles.

Among that parent group, 36 percent surveyed said they don’t monitor their kid’s use of social networking sites at all.

And contrary to perceptions that social networking sites are overrun with teens, the NCSA-CA study said that more adults use the sites than people think. It said 48 percent of adults over 18 use social networks and that 53 percent of adults who use social networking sites are over the age of 35.

“Although the general community thinks most social networking users are teens, the CA/NCSA survey showed the popularity of these sites is extending beyond young early adopters to other segments of the population,” Mr. Teixeira said in the statement.

They study interviewed 2,163 adults 18 and over. NCSA is a nonprofit organization that provides information on Internet security.

Contact the writer: SMartin@RedHerring.com

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