Steer Clear of Malware on Facebook and Twitter

You've heard of drive-by shootings, but drive-by downloads? That's what happens when you click a seemingly innocent link and land on a seemingly innocent Web site that secretly downloads malware to your PC.

In other words, one click and you're hosed.

This danger is getting worse now that hackers have targeted Facebook and Twitter. Fortunately, with a little knowledge and precaution, you can protect yourself from drive-by downloads and other social-network threats.

ReadWriteWeb offers eight tips on avoiding Malware on Facebook and Twitter. Step 1:

Don't assume a link is "safe" because it's from a friend: Your friend's account may be infected. You should never assume that a link is safe just because a friend tweeted it or posted it to your wall. Use your common sense. If it doesn't sound like something they would say, be wary, don't click. If you're unsure, try to contact them through another channel and see if the link is legit.

I'm also a strong advocate of step 4: use an updated browser. If your company is forcing you to stick with, say, Internet Explorer 6, warn your bosses of its inherently weak security. A free upgrade to Firefox 3.5 or IE8 can go a looong way toward keeping you safe.