ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how malware is distributed on social networking sites, what type of information is shared, with whom this information is shared, and how such information could potentially be used to one’s detriment. To understand the concept of a friend in the context of social networking, Facebook is used as a case study. The reality of privacy in the context of social networking, however, is quite different. Digital information is incredibly difficult to keep private. If digital content can be seen or heard, it can be easily copied, reproduced, and redistributed. The same principle holds true for digital content generated in the world of social networking. For honest, respectful, and law-abiding people, it might be difficult to understand how information sharing on social networking sites can be unsafe. Social networking sites allow their users to share their current location information via a multitude of methods, including status updates, tweets, check-ins, and photos accompanied with geolocation information.
