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Basic Instant Messaging Safety Tips

What is Instant Messenger?

Instant messaging is real-time communication. It's a blend of e-mail and chat (since you send one to someone and get real-time communication), but better. It's also fast eclipsing e-mail as the most popular Internet communication tool.

What is a Buddy List?

Buddy lists are a great way to keep track of friends online. They started on AOL, to allow you to track other members and know when they were online so you could contact them. Now many ISPs and other online services offer them as well. Most instant messaging services and ICQ use them, although these services might call them something else, like "notify lists."

Hazards:

Some of the hazards of using instant messengers are as follows :

1. It is an easy way for strangers to contact you.

2. It is an easy way for people to find out vital information about you.

3. If you have not set your preferences you may never know who may be watching you while you are online.

4. IM programs are never 100% secure.

5. You can receive unwanted messages which many contain live links to adult sites.

Privacy Preferences:

After logging onto the AIM program click your mouse where it says MY AIM, then Edit Options, Then Edit Preferences.

Click the tab named Privacy. Once inside the Privacy options there are several ways to block some people while allowing others access.

The top box says.. Who can contact me?

Left side says:

Allow All Users to Contact me.
(If this option is checked, then anyone with AIM or AOL can message you)

Allow Only users on my Buddy List
(If this option is checked, only users who are actually on YOUR buddy list may message you)

Allow Only the Users Below
(If this option is checked, only users who are on the list below this option may message you)

To Add Users to the allow list:

Click the button that says ADD NAME, and then type the screen name in the highlighted space above the button.

On the right hand side of the Who can contact me list are three more options

Block All Users:
(If this option is checked, then No one can see that your online or message you.

Your virtually Invisible Block AIM users Only:
(If this option is checked, then only users who are logged on to AOL can message you. All AOL Instant messenger Users will be blocked)

Block the Users Below:
(If this option is checked, then only the users who are listed in the box below this option will be unable to message you) * Remember, though that these users could have multiple screen names, and if you don't have them blocked on all their screen names, they could add you using another and still message you *

To add users to the block list, click the button that says ADD Name, and then type the screen name in the highlighted space above the button.

In the privacy options, there is also an option to allow others to know how long you have been idle.

You may or may not want to check this button.
(I personally do not allow others to know how long I have been idle)

And Finally also in the privacy preferences options, an option to: Allow users who know my e-mail address to find: My Screen name:
(checking this option will allow anyone whom has your e-mail address to find your AIM screen name)

Only that I have an account:
(checking this option will let others know that you do have an AIM account, but not your screen name or other information)

Nothing About me:
(checking this option will not allow others to know anything about you at all)
* safest option in my opinion *

Top 10 Questions and things to do:

1. Start with find out what information about you is online by searching for your full name (in quotes), then your full street address (also in quotes) and finally your telephone number, in all three formats, just numbers XXXXXXXXXX, (XXX) XXX-XXXX, and XXX-XXX-XXXX. If you find references to you, whether you knew about them or not, let your parents know. They can have them taken down. 2. Make sure that any references to you online don't include your full name, address, telephone number, school, team or anything else that alone, or together with other information you can find online, would allow someone to find you off-line. Remember that little bits of information, while okay on their own, can be a problem when they are combined with other pieces of information you may be able to find elsewhere online. So, if you tell kelly4@aol.com your real full name and city where you live, she may be able to look you up in the white pages or yellow pages or other online directory. If you tell one person what school you go to, and another your name, how do you know that they are really two different people? Don't you ever pretend to be someone else online? What makes you think they don't? 3. Do you know how to block someone from sending you an instant message, if they become a problem and won't leave you alone, or say things you don't want to hear? (See Privacy Preferences) 4. Do you use a buddy list? Who is on it? Only people you know IRL (that means "in real life")? If you don't know them IRL, be careful about what you say to them online...and don't meet them off-line unless you go with an adult (preferably a parent) and use our safer meeting tips when you do it.

5. Whose buddy list are you on? Only those you have on your buddy list? Are you sure? How comfortable do you feel with someone you don't even know tracking when you are online and what you're doing? Creepy isn't it? You can block strangers from adding you to their buddy list without your permission. This is how you do it.... (and tell them)

6. Check your online name, and make sure you have not used one that may identify you IRL somehow. Use numbers or letter in your username, and never use a username that reveals your gender. For Example : Kite511

7. Select a NON obvious password - a meaningless combination of letters and numbers is the best. Change it often and never give it out to anyone.

8. Do NOT send content sensitive material. Due to the fact that the nature of the Internet and computers causes data flow to pass through many computers in various places, you can not be sure the information you send is secure or who may intercept it.

9. Do you really know the person you are talking to, You should never talk to stranger online, it goes for the same in real life. On the Internet, you never really know who or what the other person is, they may lie about there age or sex.

10. Have you given out your personal information to anybody you do not know. If you have inform your parents immediately with who they are with information such as there username.