Businesses should make next step from email to instant messaging (IM) to improve security.

The stable growing in Web 2.0 communication services such as instant messaging (IM) and social networking networks - plus client-oriented applications that drive the services - means that heightened levels of vigilance are required against links and messages sent from hacked accounts, according to F-Secure.

According to the IT security and malware specialist, instead of logging in and out of the internet to send their email, many users are now constantly online with their computers and mobile phones.

This is, in part, being driven by the fact that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have grown rapidly as people are making use of the constant stream of fast communications that they enable.

Sean Sullivan, a security advisor with the Finland-headquartered F-Secure, said that cybercriminals are increasingly seeing opportunities to make money from hacking Facebook and other social networking accounts.

The high level of personal trust within communities of friends on these social networking services, he said, provides them an ideal cover for scams and for spreading malware.

"Email account addresses can be faked and people are used to getting mails from unknown persons, so they are skeptical of links sent via email", he said.

"It is often more difficult to recognise when a member of their social network has been hacked. People have not yet learned to be skeptical of the links forwarded by their `friends' on social networks, which can lead to infection from malware or to websites promoting rogue products", he added.

Sullivan went on to say that instant messaging is fun, personal and useful but everyone should also be aware of the new security risks involved.

"Links sent from hacked accounts and requests for financial help from so-called friends are bound to increase as social networking sites become ever more popular", he said.

Source: http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com