A robust internet policy seems all the more sensible after reading the ENISA report* on the dangers of using social netwoking sites such as Facebook or MySpace.
Listing a series of ways that privacy may be compromised and showing many dangers lurking below the seemingly innocent profiles of the purported users, the report is not for the faint-hearted.
Businesses should protect themselves from these risks by technical means, but also by having a robust internet policy which excludes staff from accessing such sites using company equipment. Another justification for such action is the recent report that on average people with e-mail access spend 49 minutes daily dealing with their e-mail.
ENISA will be publishing a position paper on Social Networking in October 2007.
*The European Network and Information Security Agency.
