OFFSTONE JAN EDITION 2023

39 SOCIAL MEDIA AND CYBERSECURITY By: Dr. Eizan Azira binti Mat Sharif and Mohd Zaki bin Abdul Razak eizansharif@usim.edu.my & mzaki@t.unikl.edu.my . The writer is a senior lecturer from the New Media Communications program in the Faculty of Leadership and Management, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Her research interests include communication technology, gamification, advertising, social media, media studies and neuroscience. ABSTRACT Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, enabling us to communicate, share information, and connect with people worldwide. However, as the use of social media continues to grow, so does the risk of cyber threats and attacks such as phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering scams. Hence, there is a relationship between social media and cybersecurity and the potential risks and threats associated with using social media platforms. Introduction Cybersecurity threats on social media can take many forms, including phishing scams, malware, and cyberbullying. Hackers use phishing scams to try to get people to give up sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers. Malware, short for "malicious software," is a type of software specifically designed to harm a computer system. Cyberbullying refers to using social media to harass, intimidate, or threaten individuals. One of the most common ways hackers gain access to individuals' personal information on social media is through phishing scams. These scams often take the form of messages or emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a social media platform, and ask individuals to click on a link or provide personal information. Once an individual has provided this information, the hacker can access their accounts and steal their identity.