The Rise of Malware on Social Media
A report published by IT security and data protection firm, Sophos, revealed an alarming rise in malware attacks on users of social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. In 2011, 40% of social network users had experienced malicious attacks. Additionally, Microsoft conducted a study and found that 1 in 14 downloads from the internet now contain some type of malware; 32% of the time, malicious content was hidden within social media behind shortened web links.
Malware is an umbrella term used to describe software that is specifically designed to gain access to information or damage a computer without the knowledge of the owner. Malware comes in many forms of hostile and intrusive software such as viruses, adware, spyware, browser hijacking software, and fake security software. The majority of the time malware is hidden behind links and file attachments in social media posts, direct messages, etc.
Malware’s Impact on Business
Malware programs are known for gathering personal information and relaying it to advertisers and other third parties. The information most typically collected includes your browsing and shopping habits, your computer's IP address, or your personal identification information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, or dates of birth. Malware attacks can also cause a loss of valuable data, customer dissatisfaction, damaged company reputation, and access to other confidential information. Depending on the severity, the impact of a malware attack on a business can be catastrophic.
Malware Prevention
The common advice to be cautious of suspicious email attachments or websites and to install and maintain a quality antivirus program is outdated and simply not enough. Along with conducting training for their employees, any company using social media should also have a malware detection solution in place. Malware detection software is able to identify a known malware link within a social media post and remove that post from the network immediately if it is found to contain malware. This will prevent a company’s social networks and employees from being exposed to malware which in turn will protect the company’s reputation and keep their information protected.
For more information on malware monitoring and detection, please contact us today.