Social network users report increased incidents of spam.
More cases of spam are hitting those using social networking sites, it has emerged.
Many social networking site users have been inundated with spam messages after spammers used fake accounts to steal passwords and usernames, it has been revealed.
In particular, those who use Twitter and Facebook have reported increased numbers of spam messages.
They receive a notice from a friend including a link to another website which they then click on, allowing spammers access to their passwords.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, an internet security business, commented: "As an alarming 41 per cent of internet users foolishly use the same username and password for every website they access, the potential for abuse is even greater."
He pointed out that spammers could use a person’s details to pose as them online and send malicious messages and viruses to their friends.
Those returning to work this week from their Christmas breaks may have found an average of 450 spam emails in their inboxes, according to communications consultancy Expert Messaging.
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