Social Internet Sites: Threats to Security

I decided to write about internet security and privacy because I believe that since these “Internet social networking sites” have become so popular “anyone can set up a personal profile that includes as much — or as little — information about themselves as they desire. And in the vastness of cyberspace, a user's profile may be getting more attention than he or she is aware of.”(Reiter 1) I also decided to research this topic because I am a member of Facebook and My Space which are the two biggest “social networking sites” online, and I’m interested in knowing how these websites might not be as protected as I thought they were and also relaying information to other Facebook and MySpace users.

“Some of the problems encountered in social networking or other anonymous online communities typically fall into three categories which are, ID theft, fraud and privacy abuses, cyber bullying, cyber stalking and harassment, and sexual predators, con artists and sexual exploitation.” (Aftab 1) Some issues that you should be aware of when accessing these websites is that you should always keep your personal information to yourself. “Never divulge any personal information that could be used to find or identify you in real life in a public forum. This information includes your real name, address, telephone number, mobile number, your workplace, health club, or links to websites or other profiles that might give this information away. It also includes this kind of information about your friends and family. You may be sharing more information than you intended to by including a picture with something showing in the photo. Your personal information could be easily abused and misused. Your password can often be guessed, your identity can be stolen, it can be used by people wanting to defraud you or groom a teen into an offline meeting, or used to cyber stalk or harass you or by cyber bullies. It's your personal information so protect it.” (Aftab 1)

In an article “Facebook, MySpace raise issue of safety” an issue was raised “when sophomore Emily Hough began using Facebook {and} she included her room number and her phone number on her profile {and soon enough} she got several prank calls.”(Reiter 1) This is just a minor example of how these people can use your information that you are willing to put in your profile against you. Another issue that goes on with these websites is that if you post a picture of illegal drinking or drug use on your website and a policeman or the Dean of your school sees that then you are in big trouble. Also students who post ‘“provocative pictures {…} may also be cause for concern, “said associate professor of sociology Steve Gunkel.” ‘"With one keystroke some of these pictures are global,"’ “Gunkel said.” ‘"What if there's just some unsavory individual out there looking for this kind of information?"’ “Gunkel said he found it interesting to browse Facebook to see what students posted and what kind of groups they joined.” ‘"People are pretty free-flowing with the information,"’ “Gunkel said.” ‘"I think the people who are posting these things don't realize that there are goofy professors and such floating through this.”’

MySpace is also an internet social networking site where you don’t have to have a valid school e-mail address to be signed up and to view other student’s pictures and profiles. This concerns many people because anyone who has access to the internet can go on and look up anyone’s personal information. In one case “A month ago, police in Connecticut arrested a 21-year-old man, accusing him of raping a 14-year-old girl he found on MySpace.”(Williams 1) Another investigation went on in “Long Island {when} investigators say another man found the work address of a 16-year-old girl on one of the Web sites last fall, lured her to a parking lot, and sexually assaulted her.” (Williams 1) “Some Universities have taken action” with the issue of using Facebook in school University libraries. “In October, the University of New Mexico banned access to Facebook on its campus system, citing numerous concerns, including student privacy.”(2 Hass) But since most of the users were just going on Facebook through outside networks campus officials decided to restore the service for this semester

Another important aspect to consider when developing a profile on one of these websites is to have common sense. If you know that you’re putting a picture up of something illegal, think twice about it. You may not think anyone will see it but there is always a chance that some authority figure will see it and take disciplinary action. For Michael Ginn, a student at John Brown University, he learned the hard way. “Communications director at the university said that Guinn violated the school's community covenant, a biblical standard of principles and values. All students are asked to sign an agreement that they will uphold the covenant — and administrators say Guinn broke his pledge by displaying a picture of himself in drag because it is not condoned in the Scripture," she says. “Today, Guinn, who says he still feels wronged, acknowledges his own role in his dismissal. He states “In the beginning, I kind of posted whatever without really thinking about it, I could have saved myself a lot of misery if I had just sat down and used my common sense." (1 Kornblum)