Being a web user, it is very important for us to learn about the online security threats. In year 2008, online security threats loomed dramatically. Web-based services, including social networks MySpace and Facebook, are becoming prime targets for hackers to seek personal information.

Risk of identity theft may be caused by cases of stolen laptops or systems hacking which contain personal particulars of some organisations' employees. Stolen laptops might contain personal data with their financial information like bank account details, which will potentially lead to abuse of data or being used to apply loans or credit cards under false names.

As Internet users display more of their personal information on social networking Web sites, and office workers upload more sensitive data to online software programs, computer hackers are employing increasingly sophisticated methods to pry that information loose. In many cases, they're devising small attacks that can fly under the radar of traditional security software, while exploiting the trust users place in popular business and consumer Web sites.

In September, tens of thousands of customers' names and contact information of Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and SunTrust Banks (STI) were stolen from Salesforce.com, which provides online customer management software for those two companies. The incident occurred after a hacker tricked a Salesforce employee into disclosing a password.

The assaults on consumer sites are getting more unnerving as well. A security researcher reported Nov. 8 that hackers had hijacked pages on News Corporation's social networking site MySpace, including the home page of singer Alicia Keys. Clicking nearly anywhere on the page would lead viewers to a Web site in China that tries to trick them into downloading software that can take over their PCs.

Besides that, social networks, Internet calling system, and smart phones could be more vulnerable to hackers in year 2008. Innovative software, Web sites, and devices attract attention because they make communicating easier, accomplishing tasks faster, or being online more entertaining. But hackers generally follow to exploit the latest mass market.

With all these online security threats, people may wonder how safe is their personal data. Occasionally, I did received a message saying that I have won a first prize in some kind of competition and asked me to send them my bank account number, so that they can transfer the money to my account. The problem here is I never participate in any competition, how can I win something? And how do they get my phone number and my identity card number? To avoid these situations, we should pay more attention to the safety of our private information and avoid sending out our personal information to the stranger.