How to Avoid Viruses on Social Networking Sites

The online world is changing. Malware authors are becoming more and more creative and are frequently infiltrating our favorite social networking sites with viruses, spam links, Trojans, spyware and more. In short, some of your favorite sites are now being used against you. However, the good news is that these threats can be avoided, but you need to know what to look for.

Most social networking viruses are in fact triggered by users who are tricked into clicking on a link or downloading some software. Well-known examples include the Facebook Osama Bin Laden scam that offered to reveal pictures or videos of the deceased former leader of Al Qaeda if users copy and paste a JavaScript code into their browsers' address bar. This code then infected your computer with a virus and posted the hoax link to your friends’ walls in order to try and tempt them too.

Twitter was recently hit with a virus that redirected users who clicked on shortened goo.gl links to a rogue antivirus site. After a quick scan, it incorrectly warned users their computers were infected with a virus and urged them to pay to download a phony software solution to get rid of the virus.

So, what can you do to avoid these increasingly popular social networking malware threats? Consider the following tips:

1. Be extra vigilant about any links you even think about clicking on while browsing your favorite social networking sites. Make sure you know which site you will be redirected to before you click the link. If you can, right-click the link, copy it and paste it into a Word document to see your likely destination. If it is not a site you know or trust, avoid it.
2. Social networking viruses are often linked to sensationalist posts about celebrities or current news events, so be suspicious of links that boast over-the-top or unrealistic claims.
3. Avoid third-party plugins that only let you view the information they advertise if you install their app. This is often a gateway to spreading a virus to all your friends and followers.
4. Ensure that you have a good antivirus software solution that is up to date and running frequent scans on your computer. This is undoubtedly the best defense you can have against viruses on social networking sites, so make sure you check out our reviews of the best antivirus software products of 2011. Products like these are the quickest way to detect and remove any viruses you may encounter accidentally.

Social networking sites are as keen to eradicate this malware as anyone else, and most have their own security centers that are dedicated to finding and removing such threats. However, given the nature of these viruses, users have to accept some of the responsibility because the virus is only activated when someone clicks on it.

So, should you avoid social networking sites? No, but it is important to exercise caution while using them, and to make sure that you have a good antivirus solution on hand in case the worst happens.

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