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Instant Messaging (IM) Risks

Instant Messaging – What It Is

For many broadband Internet users, instant messaging (IM) is one of the most fun and convenient tools available to them. Instant messaging is a way of communicating over the Internet in real time. Instant messaging allows users to see whether or not a friend is connected to the Internet, and when they click on his or her name, they can instantly send that person a message, and that person can instantly reply..

Broadband Internet Security – Instant Messaging Security Concerns

While instant messaging is a very popular tool, there are some IM security concerns which should be heeded at all times.

Instant Messaging (IM) Security - Corrupted Files

In addition to messages, files can also be sent back and forth over instant messaging programs. This means that if an infected file is transmitted to another computer, then that computer will become infected. This being the case, some instant message security concerns are viruses and worms, both of which can wreak havoc on a computer. Unfortunately, disguised as instant messaging, worms are not checked for at the “gateway” level, meaning that they are not scanned when they arrive via instant messaging. So, if a worm gets into a computer via instant messaging, it cannot be prevented from infecting that computer. With worms, the user’s involvement is required to actually activate the worm, so as long as users educate themselves about how to protect themselves from worms, they cannot spread as easily.

Instant Messaging (IM) Security - Trojan Horses

Currently, there are a small number of Trojan horse programs that target instant messaging programs. Some of these Trojan horses work to modify configuration settings so that file sharing is allowed for the entire hard drive; this means that anyone in the public sector can view files on the hard drive, a potentially huge threat. Other Trojan horse programs use instant messengers to actually send messages back to the Trojan’s author, thus giving the hacker important information about the infected computer. Passwords and IP addresses are two of the many things that can be stolen from infected computers.

Instant Messaging (IM) Security – Hijacking and Impersonation

Unfortunately, it is not difficult for hackers to steal the account information of a user and use this information to impersonate someone else. Hackers have a wide variety of password-stealing programs at their disposal, so stealing passwords is fairly easy to do.

There are many advantages of a broadband Internet connection over a dial-up connection, but it also comes with some risks. If you take the proper steps to safeguard your information, however, you’ll be able to minimize your IM security risks, as well as other broadband Internet security risks.