Social Network Security (continued)
Some Sites are Safer
At LinkedIn, which bills itself as world's largest business network with 8.5 million users, officials say they are mindful of the potential for security breaches. They claim protections have been built in to allow users the flexibility of deciding what information they want to share, and what they would prefer to keep private.
"Privacy and protected communications are key elements of LinkedIn,'' says Allen Blue, vice president of Product Strategy, at LinkedIn in Palo Alto, Calif. "We have created communication and browsing systems, which allow all participants - browsers, message-senders and recipients - to show or hide as much information about themselves as they like, and to protect private information (for instance, email addresses) until they are ready to share that information."
Vshake founder Sagi Richberg says his site was built with privacy and security protection in mind and the site eliminates spam by acting as a proxy for visitors.
"Even after you pay to contact someone, we act on your behalf as a proxy. You don't get the person's email or telephone number; everything is done via our system and we send the email on your behalf," says Richberg in Ashland, Mass.
As an added security measure, Vshake also has what Richberg calls a "unique verification system." If a Vshake visitor decides to verify him or herself on the site with a driver's license or other identification, lending credibility to the communication, Vshake will send that person a letter with a random, system-generated number via snail mail. (article continues)
<< Previous Page
Next Page >>
