Think employers don't research potential job applicants on Facebook, MySpace and other Internet networking sites?

Staff members at Information Technology Services think differently.

To demonstrate this, they created "Facespace," the Web site http://its.psu.edu/takecontrol, a fictional Web site imitating popular Internet networking sites such as Facebook or Myspace, to demonstrate the potential consequences of sharing too much information on public profiles, accessible to almost any student or alumni.

Mimicking a situation that happens often on college campuses, "Jack," a fictitious character on "Facespace," posted less-than-professional pictures taken at a drunken weekend party attended by over 300 fellow students.

Around the same time, he interviewed for a job with "Info-Tech," but failed to receive any notice on a job status, according to "Jack's" profile. Little did "Jack" know that Info-Tech's director of human resources was minutes away from making "Jack" a job offer when he checked out his Facespace profile and changed his mind, according to the hypothetical situation posted about "Jack" on the site.

"Facespace" is part of Information Technology Services' (ITS) recently updated Take Control Web site.

It promotes and provides resources for implementing the six steps students can take toward protecting their computers -- using firewalls, antiviral software, security updates, spyware protection, secure passwords and -- a new feature represented by "Jack" and his friends -- knowing the implications of social networking.

"'Jack' is my favorite because he represents a relatively new phenomena that students must take into consideration," said Robin Anderson, director of Customer Communications at ITS.

"So many students don't realize the ramifications of posting pictures on social networking sites. As an employer, I check Facebook and MySpace before any interview. My first impression is often formed by what I see there," he added.

"Jack" and his friends, "Cameron," "Kate," "Brad," "Debbie," "Phil," "Charles" and "Sharon," were dreamt-up along with Facespace with the goal of creating "an engaging site, in a style familiar to most students, that would provide important computer and personal security information," Anderson said.

Regarding antiviral software and spyware protection, keeping both updated plays a bigger role in keeping computers healthy and virus-free rather than the brands of antiviral software and spyware protection used -- the older updates are the easier they are to exploit, said Joel Weidner, associate director of Information Systems at Auxiliary & Business Services.

Students are advised to take all six steps toward protecting their computers that the site promotes, rather than picking and choosing which of the six necessary steps they should take.

"... security is a symphony rather than a solo.," said Kathleen Kimball, senior director of Security Operations and Services.

"Users need to pay attention to all of the steps listed in order to have a reasonably secure personal computing environment," she added.

Should a student's security symphony fail to tune out hostile probes, viruses and spyware, ResCom can come to the rescue.

ResCom operates help desks in North, South, East, West and Pollock Halls, Weidner said.

ResCom has about 55 student employees who each had a minimum of eight hours of formal training prior to the beginning of fall semester. Each of the employees experience on-the-job training as more experienced employees guide less experienced employees and can help students with any potential computer problems.

ResCom aided students with more than 8,500 issues last academic year. So far this year, ResCom has dealt with more than 2,800 issues, Weidner said.

"ResCom staff always work to educate our student customers on the cause of their problems in an effort to increase and to prevent the same thing from happening again," Weidner said.