New analytics tools should drive even more businesses into social media use
I am pleased to announce that I will now have a guest blogger posting here with me from time to time. Paige Taylor is a recent college graduate majoring in creative writing,
New analytics tools should drive even more businesses into social media use
Twitter Virus Redirecting Users To Malware Site
At 8:45 a.m EST today, this Twitter search shows thousands of Twitter messages continuing to spread the worm.
According to malware researchers, tracking the threat, the worm’s redirection chain pushes users to a Web page serving up the “Security Shield” Rogue AV. The page is using obfuscation techniques that include an implementation of RSA cryptography in JavaScript to obfuscate the page code.
Kaspersky Lab malware researcher Nicolas Brulez said the original “goo.gl” links in the Twitter messages are redirecting users to different domains with a “m28sx.html” page. That page then redirects to a static domain with a Ukrainian top level address.
As if it was not enough, this domain redirects the user to another IP address which has been linked in the past to fake anti-virus distributions. ”This IP address will then do the final redirection job, which leads to the actual Fake AV site,” Brulez explained.
Once a user’s browser session is redirected to the malicious site, a warning message claims the computer is running suspicious applications and the user is encouraged to run a scan. As usual, the result is that the machine is infected with malicious threats and the scam is to trick the user into downloading a fake disinfection tool.
Foursquare, Twitter – Security Implications via GPS Geotagging
Smartphone apps add location posting data ( sites such as Twitter , Foursquare , and Loopt use geotagging technology to post information about where you are . These apps are great to see what's happening in the area, but pose a serious security risk.
Let's use Foursquare for example
- Foursquare is an app that allows users to broadcast to all of there friends ( via the twitter and Facebook synching that is done when you first create an account ) When a Foursquare user reaches a certain location , ( real world ) , your gps sends a message to Foursquare , and then forwards it to Facebook Twitter to let your friends know where your at. In a perfect world , that would be cool , however I think it's a little creepy. How hard would it be for a disgruntled lover or stalker to find you if you are broadcasting your location on the net for the world to see ?
Foursquare can also reveal a lot of personal information. When you first signup , you are encourage to sync your other social networks ( your Gmail account , facebook, twitter ) . Doing this allows you to adds the linked profiles to your Foursquare profile, which of course the “stalkers” can also view – even if they are not a friend .
I was going to make a super long post about this topic , however it's common sense I think – If you don't want information visible on the internet – don't put it up.
Twitter Hacked … Again ?
Twitter Hacked
Today sometime in the early afternoon ( eastern time zone ) Twitter was hacked ( as of now we are unsure of whether it was an individual or if it was a hacker group. According to the Twitter status page
Follow bug discovered, remedied. 22 minutes ago
We identified and resolved a bug that permitted a user to “force” other users to follow them. We’re now working to rollback all abuse of the bug that took place. Follower/following numbers are currently at 0; we’re aware and this too should shortly be resolved."
Is twitter's security to lax ? What type of measures should be put in place to ensure that something like this won't happen on a more freqwuest basis ? Well maybe not ever again ( as we know technology and security needs change from day to day ) .
In the meantime , here are some tips to keep you safe.
- Do not use implement the "Add location" feature ( it gives away your gps coordinates , and as such is sensitive information)
- If you are posting content on your twitter page that you are tying to keep private – don't. There are many prying eyes out there. Just becasue your account works flawlessly , does not mean that you are not being monitored ( better safe than sorry )
- If you can , avoid posting times locations of where you may or may not be.
Of course this is not an inclusive list , but it should serve more as a checklist for you to ensure that while you are on twitter ( in fact this could apply for any social network) your sensitive information is safer.
Have any more suggestions ? Ideas ? Lets here them
Twitter presents : @anywhere : Expanding Tweets to Even More Sites !!!
Twitter is expanding its integration tentacles by breaking ties with the APIs that developers have been using to incorporate the short messages into other sites and platforms.
Today, at the SXSW conference in Austin, Twitter announced @anywhere, a coming-soon feature that will allow site owners to drop integrate Twitter by dropping in a few lines of javascript, rather than implement Twitter’s APIs. In a blog post announcing the feature, Twitter writes:
Imagine being able to follow a New York Times journalist directly from her byline, tweet about a video without leaving YouTube, and discover new Twitter accounts while visiting the Yahoo! home page—and that’s just the beginning. Twitter has proven to be compelling in a variety of ways. With @anywhere, web site owners and operators will be able to offer visitors more value with less heavy lifting.
A handful of sites will launch when Twitter flips the switch, though it didn’t say when that might be. Weeks? Months? The blog post by co-founder Biz Stone only used words like “soon” and phrases like “when we’re ready to launch.”
Upon launch, however, sites participating in @anywhere will be Amazon, AdAge, Bing, Citysearch, Digg, eBay, The Huffington Post, Meebo, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Salesforce.com, Yahoo!, and YouTube.
Luv Jawn by Ackryte
I am a Senior Web \ Mobile Developer residing in sunny Orlando Fl. I love developing awesome mobile apps, fresh web designs, playing my bass guitar and watching Robot Chicken ( Adult Swim rocks lol) .Uber Twitter addict, and leopard gecko owner.
-Christian Martell
