'Social surfing' could lose parents millions to ID fraud

Survey says almost 50 per cent of computer users have been affected by spyware

Young people are the most risky demographic for spyware, Webroot says

Young people are putting their parents at risk of online fraud and identity theft through their social networking activities, according to a survey conducted by vendor Webroot.

Signing up for new accounts, engaging in IM chat, downloading files, and other activities that expose personal data to spyware, are all cuasing a rise in ID fraud, the survey says.

'Online socialising has rapidly become the new way to network and make friends, yet it is also one of the easier ways to become a victim of malware,' said Peter Watkins, chief executive of Webroot.

'This research report reveals that the younger generation is the least concerned when it comes to security threats such as spyware, Trojans, worms, cookies, adware, phishing and other forms of malicious Internet threats that they might encounter on social networking sites.'

Up to 82 per cent of teens and young adults surveyed visit social networking sites on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and 99 per cent browse the internet.

More than any other age demographic, 92 per cent of this age group will put themselves at risk of spyware infection by opening attachments and embedded links in instant messages, clicking on pop-up advertisements, and downloading games, music and screensavers.

Regarding the possible consequences of an external Internet attack to the home PC - including ID theft, loss of personal data and credit card fraud – the 18-to-24-year-old demographic showed the least concern of all those surveyed.

With 93 per cent of this group shopping online with their credit or debit cards, they present themselves as a high-risk group and put family computer users at risk as well.

Across the entire survey and all of its age groups, it was revealed that almost 50 per cent of computer users have been affected by spyware.

Despite this, the survey reveals a high level of ignorance about security issues amongst regular computer users. Although 87 per cent of respondents know what spyware is, one in eight has no idea what its actual impact on the user can be.