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The Marines Say No to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter

And I say they made a great decision! 90% of new clients that call me for malware removal have visited these social networking sites (either them, or someone in their families).

Malware distributors are not stupid. They know that the hottest trend on the internet are social networking sites and therefore concentrate almost all their malicious distribution through these networks in various ways (like the koobface worm).



  • Clinon

    I think its because they might not be allowed to go there.

  • Bruce

    Does GesWall have trojans? According to Avira it does. Others report the same.

  • Anonymous

    Keeping users away from Social Networking sites isn’t going to be an easy task (Ok, Marines say No, with no action).

    I use face book everyday for social networking and keeping in touch with friends, etc. Almost everyone uses Facebook nowdays for social reasons. Point is, Computer/Internet Security shouldn’t be an inconvenience! Telling users to “Stay away from Social Networking Sites” or another example “Stop using this browser” – It’s not the right answer, It helps NO ONE, period. Getting users the right tools to protect them selves and being able to utilize those tools is the answer and most important for the users and letting them do what they want with the right protection.

    (AV, Detection btw is only one layer of that protection).

  • Aurelius

    Are you sure it’s “not the right answer” Anon? I will present to you a statement arguing the point that this is, in fact, the “right” answer.

    For clarification, the Marines are banned from using social sites on _MILITARY NETWORKS_. They are _NOT_ banned from using Facebook on their home PC (unconnected from a secure network).

    On the contrary, preventing military from accessing social networking sites on secure government servers is an excellent decision. We’re talking about a group of federal employees who have computers carrying important, often classified information which can only be accessed by personnel with a high security clearance. If someone grabs an infection because their infected Facebook buddy sent them a spam link, that computer holding classified documents is now infected with malware, and in some circumstances, classified intel may be leaked.

    Your idea for a solution to the problem is to “give users the right tools to protect themselves.” Simply put, it won’t work in this case. You don’t waste time and money educating each Marine how to protect their computer with quality anti-malware tools. With funds as tight as they are for the USMC, you don’t purchase everyone in the unit a Mac or Kaspersky Internet Security, or open a two week training course on “internet security.”

    Being a civilian, Anon, you are used to what’s called Individual Responsibility as opposed to Corporate Responsibility. You are the home PC user who probably fills their computer with web tools, music, maybe a couple games, and some photos. At worst, your credit card number is stolen and your computer is crippled. When an individual infects their computer, they put their privacy at risk, and they possibly infect the other people – if it’s a worm – on their network.

    When a Marine’s work computer is infected, they put the entire security and safety of their unit at risk, as well as national security. In other words, it’s far more important to protect the corporate security than it is the individual.

    It’s a great decision to limit their accessibility to Facebook on their government machines. These are Marines we’re talking about, they’re used to grueling living conditions and constricting regiments. Besides, being connected to everyone, everywhere, at any time while using a secure military network is NOT mission-critical.

  • Marcos N Pesic

    I can understand “why” the US Marines are not alowed to acess those networks… and personaly I don´t like them very much either.

    But IF a user CAN´T enjoy on-line services so popular like those it may as well be off-line forever (that would decrease malware a lot!)

    Since I am being sarcastic… your “everyday” antimalware tool should protect you when you visit those networks.

    The Internet is like a heavy rain… and if you will use it, get used to being wet.


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