Since 2007 represented a huge success for social networking services, such as MySpace and Facebook, the attackers have adapted their techniques and targeted their attempts to the users connected to these websites. Security company MessageLabs rolled out an annual security report today, revealing that this year's attacks over social networking services increased with a shocking percentage. Usually, this type of attacks attempt to steal users' details and conduct other malicious activities such as identity theft, MessageLabs wrote in the report. "What's more impressive is that the attacks were increased from one per day in 2006 to more than 1,100 over a 16 hour period during September 2007", as the security vendor noted.

"The rapid adoption rate of social networking sites such as Facebook has inevitably been exploited by cyber criminals intent on adding the content in these sites to their portfolio of tools. As we have seen in the past, mass adoption of new communication or web-based tools is often followed by a rise in the number of threats against it and the 'Facebook' effect will present new challenges to corporate and personal online security", said Mark Sunner, Chief Security Analyst, MessageLabs.

And we all know that the social networking websites could easily put the user at risk, if an attacker is able to infiltrate into his profile. Just read today's news and you'll find out. Justin Timberlake's and Hillary Duff's profiles were attacked by a wannabe hacker, who wanted to prove a group of other hackers that he deserved to join the crew.

"2007 will be a memorable year for the security industry for many reasons. With consumers handing cyber criminals their personal details through social networking sites and the Storm botnet literally taking the market by storm, it has been an attention-grabbing twelve months", the MessageLabs official added.