Protecting your MySpace from phishing..

Good day! One of the reasons MySpace has been so successful is the ability for users to customize their pages. Granted, in order to customize your page, you need codes and sometimes back doors to change it drastically, but it's still something that drives MySpace usage. Recently, a friend of mine completely redid her page, changing her layout (including background, divs, text and more,) and it looked absolutely amazing. There was just one little problem when I checked out her page: all of the links on the page were changed to phishing links.

Before going further, I'll define phishing since the term isn't overly abound. Phishing is when links are changed to websites that try to steal your data, be it your password, your E-mail, personal information like social security numbers, credit card numbers or something else. Usually these sites will make mock-ups of other sites in order to trick users into thinking that it's still that site. Many phishing sites phish on MySpace by creating MySpace login look-alike pages. These pages closely resemble where you'd type your login E-mail and your password, and they're highly successful because MySpace users simply aren't educated about phishing.

Whenever you visit one of the MySpace layout websites, you're sure to find numerous pre-made layouts. These layouts look superb and professional, and are very attractive to users are looking for the newest, most fashionable layout for their page. Usually associated with these are numerous links to the site where you obtained the layout, often at the top left corner of your page, but as well there can be some extra baggage, such as phishing links. These links are there to trick people into hitting them and logging in (a repeat occurrence is that the top links to home, browse, search, etc. will be phishing links.) Your friends are at risk of having their information stolen if you leave the links like that.

So, how do you protect yourself and your friends from phishing on MySpace? If you use pre-made layouts, check all of the links on your page to see if they lead to a site that is NOT MySpace, even though it might look like it. Check the address bar; if the URL does not contain myspace.com, it is likely a phishing site. If these links are on your page, ask a knowledgeable friend to make you a profile or find a different layout and test that one as well. Also, phishing comes in the form of bulletins that entice you to click a link, such as free laptops, cell phones and more. If those bulletins are being sent from your profile, change your password immediately. If those bulletins are coming from your friends' profiles, advise them to change their password. Don't click any links to sites from bulletins advertising anything free, and tell your friends not to as well.

If you add anything new to your profile that contains links, such as glitter graphics or add-ons like falling text, check your profile to see if any of those links take you to something resembling a phishing website. These can add links around your page to phishing websites, so be sure to check your whole page. Always be on the lookout for suspicious things on your profile, and if your friends have them on theirs, be sure to alert them. The most obvious target for phishers is the populous that is unaware of phishing and won't know the difference. The most important things for you to do to avoid phishing are to know what it is and to be vigilant and to spread that knowledge and vigilance. Feel free, as always, to E-mail me personally with any questions at bluestar42 at gmail DOT com.