The dangers of internet viruses, ad bots, malware and other nasty things that can infect our computers is nothing new. But most of us learned to avoid these internet dangers by staying away from suspicious web sites and learning what bad emails looked like so we could avoid getting hit by an internet attack.

But cyber criminals are clever evil doers. Just as the online habits of millions of people have shifted to the use of social network sites, so have the stalking habits of criminals who would try to get to us using damaging tricks like malware and spy bots. They have invaded Facebook and Twitter in a big way.

More and more the dangers of bad internet website links and the doors to open us up to malware are appearing on our favourite social networking sites. It is important for all of us who get a kick out of using Twitter or constantly posting on Facebook to be aware that cyber criminals are lurking there too. It has not been lost on them that more people are shifting their attention away from email and using social networking sites a great deal. And they are attracted to Facebook and other social networking sites because that is where their potential victims are hanging out.

Part of the appeal of social networking sites for cyber bad guys is that, even more than email, the messages move very quickly through these sites. Many of us post or read posts dozens of times a day from our Facebook or Twitter accounts. It can become a real obsession and one that for the most part is harmless. Harmless, that is, until an internet criminal gets in the middle of the fun and tries to ruin it for everyone.

The second draw of criminals to social networking sites is the fact that so many people just stay online virtually nonstop This gives those who would try to get to you through Facebook or Twitter a much better window of time to do their dirty business. The third huge advantage to online bad people that they find on social networking sites is the level of trust we develop toward each of own little "networks" of people.

A cyber criminal can find ways to get to you by hacking your friend’s accounts and sending bad things your way from someone you already trust. This is a relatively unknown line of attack that not many people are defending themselves against.

When malware and viruses began to hit us through email and bad websites, raising user awareness to combat these threats was slightly easier because there are usually some real world examples they can draw similarities to. So a phishing email is akin to a cold-caller or door to door salesperson trying to peddle some dodgy wares. A bad website being a run-down part of town where you’d never dare venture.

A compromised Facebook or twitter account is like Patrick Stewart in Terminator 2. A dangerous enemy who can shape shift in order to look like your most trusted friend, or even your mother just to get you close enough so it can paint the walls with your brains.

Too many people are very trusting when they get a link from a "friend" on their social networking site. But that is just the kind of trust tricky people want to exploit. By becoming suspicious of any links or anything unusual even if it comes from your sweetheart or best friend online, you can spot a cyber criminal and keep him from hitting you like he wants to do.