Web users are being encouraged to use technology and mobile
phones more responsibly to ensure they stay safe online, in a
bid to mark this year's Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day,
which takes place today (February 8) is an annual event
organised by InSafe, in a bid to educate web users on online
security issues. This year's topic covers 'virtual lives', in
particular online gaming and social networking and features the
slogan: 'It's more than a game, it's your life'. According to
Christian Brindley, senior principal systems engineer at
security vendor Symantec, the growth in social gaming has
created a boom in the use of virtual identities online. "With
users' accounts often linked to their social networking sites,
the potential for cybercriminals to glean personal information
for illegal activity is higher than ever," he said. "Combined
with the fact that most individuals still rely on simple
username plus password logins, which can easily be hacked,
social networks and gaming sites are prime territori