Social networking sites are being referred to as profit-making tools

Absrtact: Our correspondent Nie Xiaofei recently, according to media reports, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that social networking services Twitter in the protection of personal information security deceive users, so that their privacy is in jeopardy. In fact, it's not just twitter,fa.

Newspaper reporter Nie Xiaofei

In recent days, according to media reports, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that social networking services Twitter, in the protection of personal information security fraud users, so that their privacy is in jeopardy. In fact, not only Twitter,facebook, Google and other networks are also controversial because of privacy issues.

Data show that the current number of social networking sites in China up to 1 users. 7.6 billion, the scale is big, the development speed is very impressive indeed. But at the same time, social networking site problems are increasingly emerging, such as the content of the homogenization, nasty online games, but the most criticized is the user's privacy disclosure problem.

Social networking sites are sweeping the world, and privacy leaks are highlighted.

With the Internet more and more deep into people's lives, China's network media has become a strong news media, the former representative of the "grassroots" has become an increasingly influential mainstream media. and social networking sites are undoubtedly one of the Reggie in the online media army. With social networking sites, people can stay in direct contact with friends, and can contact friends who haven't seen each other for years. In addition, many social networking sites have a lot of games and entertainment functions, so that people can relax after busy. At the same time, businesses can use social networks to attract new users, build platforms between businesses and buyers, and earn profits.

Given these advantages, it is not surprising that social networking sites have been favored by users since their launch. From the domestic QQ space, happy NET, Renren to foreign Facebook, Myspace, social networking site is red-hot. According to the latest data released by market research firm Insites Consulting, 72% of the world's netizens are at least one social networking site user, or about 9 of the world. 400 million for social networking site users.

But while the banner of social networking sites is flying, a lot of the problems are starting to highlight, with the most focused on privacy leaks. Facebook, the boss of the social networking site, has been in the forefront of public opinion for allegedly leaking user privacy. Recently, the first new Media Blue Book published by the Institute of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the social science literature Press of Cass, points out that the non technical factors such as the privacy disclosure and the weak security awareness of users have become an important source for the collection and utilization of Internet privacy by illegal and commercial organizations

Many social networking sites are characterized by real names, in addition to the recent fields such as online games, online shop real-name system has been introduced, the new regulation frequency, in the standardization of the network environment, but also increased the risk of personal privacy disclosure. According to industry estimates, in large and medium-sized cities in the 15-30-year-old netizens, more than 95% will register one or several social networking sites. Given the size of Chinese social networking sites, the risks of registering information are conceivable. These privacy information, once leaked, could be disastrous.

"Big hidden" is nowhere to hide, user information security who maintain

In stark contrast to the large number of personal information and data collected on social networking sites, the privacy protections of social networking sites are not yet well established, so these privacy messages are inevitably exploited by outlaws. It's like a defenseless child carrying a huge amount of money, the danger of which can be imagined. But much more than that, many social networks and even commercial companies collaborate to make personal information a profit-making tool. Privacy protection settings are not perfect has made people nervous, information managers again inside, so that the user sentiment why?

Personal privacy information once disclosed, light users may be harassed, the heavy may be used as an illegal crime tool, the user himself or other related personnel of personal safety and property security caused serious damage.

In general, the user's personal information leakage mainly through the following ways: First, many social networks themselves only commercial interests, not the security principle, the user information as a profit-making goods; second, because the site technology management is not perfect, many hackers use Trojan virus and other malicious programs online collection; third, Unscrupulous people or businesses through the blog published by netizens, posts and the group of students joined directly or indirectly to obtain personal privacy information.

According to media reports, current information, including MySpace accounts, Facebook accounts and other foreign social networking sites, can be bought on the black market, the price of individual accounts based on the level of activity, the degree of improvement from a few cents to a few dollars. To the user, this is how shocking! Ancient cloud: Small faint in the wild, in the faint in the direction of the big faint in the city. Where are our personal information on social networking sites today? If it is really "big hidden little hidden", all personal information on the internet is nowhere to hide, user information security is not secure, social networking sites will also be condemnation, eventually disappeared in the market.

Privacy issues Become a constraint, the long-term development must break the "privacy door"

Rising company released the "Internet Privacy and social networking site (SNS) Security Report (2009)" pointed out that, Internet users in the social network registration of personal data, it is very easy to encounter mobile phone number leakage, MSN and email account password stolen Seven major security risks, and the use of various ways to cheat netizens personal data for profit, has become an important source of profit for social networking sites. In the future, Internet users suffer, and social networking sites will be hit hard. How to break the privacy issue this development constraints, has become the design of the Web site can not be avoided subject.

So, how to seek a balance between network real name and privacy protection? First of all, through legal means to protect the privacy of netizens, the illegal disclosure of privacy of the website and personal penalties. Since this year, our country has repeatedly to the vulgar website to renovate, at the same time also will increase from the legal angle to the network copyright protection. Second, the social networking site itself to strictly abide by professional ethics, protect the privacy of users, but also in the technical aspects of strengthening the system construction, for the user information security to build a stronger protection wall. Third, Internet users in the use of the network, to strengthen security awareness and privacy protection awareness, in the registration and selection of social networking sites, should be screened and differentiated to avoid personal privacy and information disclosure and theft.

To achieve long-term development, social networking sites must first break the "privacy door", otherwise, the accompanying information disclosure will not only become the loss of users, but also the fate of social networking sites.