Saturday, January 14, 2006
Sending someone an instant message is the online equivalent of walking up to someone on the street and starting a conversation. If it's someone you know, it's one thing; if not, it's usually an intrusion.
Unless you have some sensible reason, don't send instant messages to people you don't know who haven't invited you to do so. Don't say anything that you wouldn't say in the same kind of situation on the street.
Most instant message programs allow you to send and receive files. Leave the file feature off except when you have a specific file you need to send or receive. Unsolicited files from people you don't know are generally spam, viruses, or both. Most virus-checkers don't monitor file transfers via an IM program.
The messages that you send with AIM and other chat programs may seem like they're going to disappear in a mist pretty quickly, but it's easy for anyone in the conversation to store the messages. Most IM programs have a "log" feature that saves the series of messages in a text file, which may be embarrassing later.
Finally: If someone tells you to give a series of commands, or download and install a program, don't do it. And never tell anyone any of your passwords.
Unless you have some sensible reason, don't send instant messages to people you don't know who haven't invited you to do so. Don't say anything that you wouldn't say in the same kind of situation on the street.
Most instant message programs allow you to send and receive files. Leave the file feature off except when you have a specific file you need to send or receive. Unsolicited files from people you don't know are generally spam, viruses, or both. Most virus-checkers don't monitor file transfers via an IM program.
The messages that you send with AIM and other chat programs may seem like they're going to disappear in a mist pretty quickly, but it's easy for anyone in the conversation to store the messages. Most IM programs have a "log" feature that saves the series of messages in a text file, which may be embarrassing later.
Finally: If someone tells you to give a series of commands, or download and install a program, don't do it. And never tell anyone any of your passwords.
