Instant Messaging Safety

There are several safety issues related to using Instant Messenger programs. The first is privacy and the links below provide tips to help protect yourself. It should also be noted that Instant messages are transmitted as clear text, using insecure protocols and that these messages use nonstandard TCP ports so will not necessarily be filtered by firewalls. Depending on your antivirus software, IM attachments may not be scanned for viruses.

It is important to remember that, in order for your Instant Messenger to be secure, your computer must also be secure. It is vital that you run up-to-date antivirus software and that you regularly apply security patches to your computer. For a windows system that means using Internet Explorer and going to windowsupdate.microsoft.com and installing the necessary product updates. You should also install either a software or hardware (or both) firewall to add extra protection for you computer.