Social Networking and Security Risks

Considering the fast and continually growing popularity of social networking sites, this paper outlines the ways in which these sites can be valuable while also being serious security risks. Their usefulness—including professional networking (i.e. LinkedIn), a means to increase sales revenue, a tool to keep individuals around the world informed, or simply as fun distractions—are ultimately outweighed at times by the inherent risks that they put both individuals and companies in everyday. This paper outlines best practices to exist in not using these sites, end-user education, and documented policies and procedures. The paper suggests that creating well-informed users is crucial to maintaining security because they will be capable of educating others and establishing new best practices that should be standardized and updated as these sites grow. The paper then discussing Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter by specifically offering places of common risk and ways to possible protect oneself.