is ICQ safe to use?

[lotust]

I see there is some sort of crack to get you IP adress. I want to DL and install it but I am having second thoughts.

can some one please explaine.

 

[Pepsi90919]

meh. i don't care who has my ip address, i got my firewall and i'm happy.

 

[jmcoreymv]

You dont even need a crack to get the ip, a simple netstat will do that.

 

[Soybomb]

Actually I havent tried in 2000, but in 99b when I thought a friend had lost their connection but didnt seem to on ICQ yet, by looking at their profile I'd just grab their IP and ping them. I'm pretty sure you can turn off show ip in preferences.

 

[Igor]

Every time yout talk to someone on ICQ, a connection is established and both ends know each other's IP. They may not be showing them in properties, but the numbers are there. Any simple network sniffer/protocol analyzer will show them.

 

[lotust]

yeah I guess you guys are right. If some one wants your ip there gonna get it anyways un less you have an awsome fire wall.

 

[Soybomb]

Don't forget if you could force your machine to send through the server you might be able to get away without having your ip transmitted

 

[lotust]

Soybomb, So in other words is ICQ safe ir not? I have AOL instant messanger now, I like that but no one else has that any more.

 

[Chris A]

There are way too many things that these crackers can do through ICQ. All in all it is pretty safe but. Do a search for ICQ on the alta vista box sk site and you will see why I dont run it.....

 

[Soybomb]

I use it all the time, but i'm on a 28.8 connection and really am not too picky about security. I'd say if you use one messenger service you might as well use them all

 

[Eli]

Uhh... It's just as safe as any other Instant messenger.. Besides, anyone on a Broadband connection should have a Firewall up...

 

[Moonbeam]

I've been running about six months now without firewall or virus protection. Norton, for example always was the source, not the cure for problems. I don't have any national secrets or important stuff to worry about. A clean install is a great fix if there are problems.

 

[Pretender]

Yeah, there are programs which can give you the IP just by using the user #, but seriously, if you have a firewall you really don't have to worry, unless you have your entire drive shared for no reason, have no firewall, don't use a password for file sharing, or have trojans on your computer. Besides, there are at least 10 million users (assuming user #s are assigned in numerical order and most people don't multiples), and the chances of you being even targeted for an attack is slim.