A little question

Discussion in 'privacy general' started by Detox, Mar 7, 2002.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Detox

    Detox Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    8,507
    Location:
    Texas, USA
    How safe is MSN Messenger? I use ICQ already and a friend of mine wants me to get Messenger to talk with them... Or are both of these things nasty proggies? hehe
     
  2. spy1

    spy1 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2002
    Posts:
    3,139
    Location:
    Clover, SC
    IMO, a much better solution would be for both you and your friend to d/l and install Trillian: http://www.trillian.cc/ , since then you can both keep the chat program of your choice but yet you'll still be able to IM each other.

    Learn to use all the features of Trillian and I'm pretty sure you'll start wondering how you ever got along without it. Pete
     
  3. luv2bsecure

    luv2bsecure Infrequent Poster

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    713
    Detox:

    I agree with Pete 100%! There is also the problem with spam with many users of MSN's Messenger. Trillian all the way.

    John
     
  4. spy1

    spy1 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2002
    Posts:
    3,139
    Location:
    Clover, SC
    And in reference to your other question, "Or are both of these things nasty proggies?", I'd say, if you're currently using ICQ, you better have gone to this page: http://www.icq.com/support/security/ and read/applied all the measures you can to secure itbefore d/l'ing/installing/using Trillian.

    That page says it all: "The ICQ security and privacy features and options, may not operate according to the description provided throughout these pages or may not operate at all. " Quite a disclaimer, eh?

    As for your friends' IM program (MSM Messenger), well, if MSMM or AIM were the last two IM programs on earth - I wouldn't be using one. Pete
     
  5. Detox

    Detox Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    8,507
    Location:
    Texas, USA
    Oh boy ICQ sounds a little worse than I thought also! I"m checking out this Trillian thing and definitely going to your link Pete! Thanks!
     
  6. Liquid_Fish

    Liquid_Fish Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2002
    Posts:
    81
    I quit using ICQ as soon as they put that http server into the IM client.   Took me several months to discover that I was running a web server every time I logged into ICQ.  
     
  7. Gnostic

    Gnostic Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2002
    Posts:
    108
    Location:
    South Carolina, USA
    I agree that Trillian is the best choice for instant messaging.
    I never open MSNM, AOL or Yahoo.  I don't even have ICQ installed on my machine--not since two reformats ago :D  Trillian has practically all the features of the separate clients without all their security issues.  Try it--you'll never go back.
     
  8. Technodrome

    Technodrome Security Expert

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2002
    Posts:
    2,140
    Location:
    New York
    Trillian is all that but it is also hungry for the memory!!!! It uses 16-17 MB on my computer.

    The Big Nahh from me!!!

    Technodrome
     
  9. Blacksheep

    Blacksheep Spyware Fighter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    109
    Location:
    Missouri, USA
    I got lots o' memory for Trillian to use. Trillian is the only way to go. Doesn't install phone home loadqm.exe like MSN Messenger. :)
     
  10. Detox

    Detox Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    8,507
    Location:
    Texas, USA
    I tried MSN later on, for who-knows-what stupid reason...

    And it kept trying to phone home like you said, so I used TrojanCheck 5 to remove the offending EXE that it had placed in Windows. When I did that, my browser (IE 5.0) performance went to the floor and my broadband connection was useless for surfing the web although my email and online games, etc worked perfectly. Another one of my observations where the connection is there although I don't know exactly what it is. Anyway I fixed the problem by being (as SPY1 pointed out) the last person on earth to upgrade to IE 5.5 sp2.
     
  11. Blacksheep

    Blacksheep Spyware Fighter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    109
    Location:
    Missouri, USA
    All ya gotta do with M$ phone home loadqm.exe is run msconfig and uncheck loadqm.exe in start up menu.
     
  12. Paul Wilders

    Paul Wilders Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2001
    Posts:
    12,475
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Detox,

    Although TC offers this possibility, it's aimed at trojans in specific. Quite a harsh method you have been using here  :eek:. Be careful using this option from TC!

    regards.

    paul
     
  13. Detox

    Detox Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    8,507
    Location:
    Texas, USA

    Well I suppose you are right, but it's my personality ;-) I'm about to graduate with a law enforcement degree and am very seriously considering a masters, with my long term goal being SWAT here in Texas. So... I kinda like the "kick in the door approach! lol... on a more serious note Ihave taken your warning to heart, and will look for softer methods on my computers...

    Hmmm now everyone's going to be apprehensive of me... Don't worry guys I'm the paranoid type too I just wanna do some good out there.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.