As social networks continue to grow in popularity, attackers are looking more closely at these web 2.0 sites as a way to launch malware and phishing schemes. While there’s lots to like about social networking, studies continue to show that people are more likely to click on a link on a social networking site than in email. With that in mind, it’s good to see that Check Point is releasing a product designed to address this persistent threat.

This new product, known as Zone Alarm Social Guard, is designed to assess a social networking user’s friends and identify if a request was spoofed or is initiating outside the user’s circle of trust. Products like these are a good start to securing this potential threat vector, but users will still need to be vigilant. This includes setting the appropriate privacy settings and practicing care when clicking on links or installing applications.