What is instant messaging?

Instant messaging allows people to chat in real time over the internet in a similar way to mobile phone text messages. Advanced systems allow webcam and voice communication. The main systems are: Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, AIM and ICQ.

What are the risks?

1. People aren’t necessarily who they say they are online.

2. Human interaction can be very persuasive when it comes to making you do something unsafe. For example, a common attack is to persuade someone to download and run a virus-infected piece of software.

3. There is no guarantee of privacy. Conversations are not encrypted and can be saved for use offline.

4. IM software may be vulnerable to virus or other attack.

5. Online chat rooms, accessible through instant messaging, are generally unwholesome places.

Use Instant Messaging Safely

1. Never give out passwords, credit card information or other private data.

2. Don’t use instant messaging chat rooms.

3. Block strangers. If your software allows it, set up the system so that only people on your ‘allow’ list can contact you.

4. Leave your online profile blank, or where you have to enter data to use the system, enter fictitious data.

5. Don’t use your system or email password to log on to an IM system.

6. IM is not encrypted so don’t use it to transmit information such as credit card numbers or other sensitive information.

7. Disable automatic downloads.

8. Be very wary of disclosing any private information to a stranger you meet via instant messaging. Even apparently innocent information like the name of your employer can be used against you by fraudsters.

9. Verify information you receive on instant messaging elsewhere. In particular, check any security “advice” you get.

10. Keep your IM software up-to-date.

Yahoo! Instant Messenger

Instructions for installing Yahoo! Instant Messenger: Click Here !

Instructions for using Yahoo! Instant Messenger: Click Here !