AIM spyware?

[pyowomaniac]

I've read reports that AIM drops spyware onto our PC's.

Spyware is no joke, that stuff will mess up a computer.

Has anyone else heard of this or is it a rumor?

Is there a way to upload AIM usernames onto another messenger?

[Will.Spencer]

Originally Posted by pyowomaniac

I've read reports that AIM drops spyware onto our PC's.

I have not seen this.

Originally Posted by pyowomaniac

Is there a way to upload AIM usernames onto another messenger?

Yes, I do this now with Trillian.

Gaim, Miranda, and Psi will do this also.

[pyowomaniac]

For Trillian, would the people on my buddylist need to download the program too? How are the game and voice features?

[Will.Spencer]

Originally Posted by pyowomaniac

For Trillian, would the people on my buddylist need to download the program too?

Nope. Trillian is compatable with AIM clients -- but you do lose the advanced end-to-end encryption features.

Originally Posted by pyowomaniac

How are the game and voice features?

Ummm... I have no idea. I don't play multi-player games and I am extremely sensitive to sound, so I strongly dislike voice conversation. I am definitely the wrong person to ask about those two options. ops:

Those features might only be in Trillian Pro, in which case I strongly recommend you look at Gaim, Miranda, or Psi.

I intend to switch from Trillian to one of those; I just haven't taken the time to do so yet.

[Bender]

What do you mean you are sensitive to sound?

If Trillian does not have sound,I recommend Miranda which I am pretty sure allows voice contact.

[Will.Spencer]

Originally Posted by Bender

What do you mean you are sensitive to sound?

I find most sound to be unpleasant. I am not such a big fan of light either.

Remember the last time you had a hangover? Did sound and light seem pretty annoying? That's how I feel. 8)

Come to think of it, I don't like most smells either. I can't stand to go to the mall near our house, because it just smells so bad. They have perfumed it up to the point where it gives me a headache just to step inside.

[infinitomagazine]

Trillian is a good option to comunicate with your friends who use AIM, Yahoo, and MSN; but it is not perfect. For example, if you use Trillian you can't see a webcam if your friend is using MSN.

Also, the Trillian skin is not good for me.

[suzeygal]

I haven't heard this and have been using AIM for years. I sure hope it's not true!

To stay on top of things though I generally do scans on a routine basis and generally don't have too many issues.

Susan

[pyowomaniac]

I had spyware on my computer earlier this year. I had someone(a professional) look at my computer and that's when I learned that AIM drops spyware.

[CaitSith4343]

Originally Posted by pyowomaniac

I had spyware on my computer earlier this year. I had someone(a professional) look at my computer and that's when I learned that AIM drops spyware.

Are you sure it didn't come from something you downloaded from a link someone sent you through AIM? There was a virus going around somewhat recently that sent a link that contained the virus to all your buddies after you downloaded it and then wouldn't let you get into AIM again. I really doubt that AIM itself contains spyware though.

[kelp]

I really doubt that such a popular instant messenger would put spyware on your computer, maybe adware due to the ads it offers. I have not yet tried the new version, yet. Sometimes, users may send links saying, "look at my new album at aaaa.com/aaa.exe" and I hope you know to ignore those. People you know will even send those messages to you because they have been infected the same way.

You should be able to log into your usernames in other messengers and access your buddylist.

[pyowomaniac]

Well, it most likely is adware. Whatever it was, it was messing up my ability to use my computer and it was recommended by a professional that I remove aim. I don't know anything as fact though.

[deuce]

Originally Posted by pyowomaniac

Whatever it was, it was messing up my ability to use my computer and it was recommended by a professional that I remove aim.

That professional sounds pretty flaky to me. AIM definitely installs no spyware, and the ads are for revenue for continuing to improve their product. Maybe one of the AIM core files (or a system file that AIM uses) became truncated and it happened to mess with your OS, but in that case I severely doubt AIM shouldn't just be uninstalled and reinstalled to fix the problem (or replace the broken system files).

[kbelloise]

I've been using AIM for years and I have AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroyon my PC.

I run them all the time and they have never found anything that was just from AIM.

There's definitely no spyware in AIM.

[compnut]

No, there is no spyware on AIM. After I downloaded it, I scanned the folder for it before I opened it. It's easier that way; however, since then, I have downloaded Trillian, which allows me one messenger service to incorporate the three that I use. This is a great program and is SO much easier than having three. Once you download Trillian, you can then go into add/remove and uninstall the ones you have incorporated into Trillian. Great program!

[jess]

I don't think AIM would install spyware, since its the product of a large company.

It is the smaller company products you need to look out for as they often install spyware as its the way they fund their projects.

[deuce]

AIM is already making tons of money with the ad at the top of the buddy list and through advertising on their AIM today startup page.

[bear]

Originally Posted by deuce

AIM is already making tons of money with the ad at the top of the buddy list and through advertising on their AIM today startup page.

Do they?

I guess they would get alot of clicks on those ads. Personally I'm trained not to click ads at all, so I'm not making them a cent.

[pyowomaniac]

Originally Posted by bear

Do they?

I guess they would get alot of clicks on those ads. Personally I'm trained not to click ads at all, so I'm not making them a cent.

I'm not making them a red cent either. LOL I hate those ads at the top of the buddylist, especially if I'm in the middle of something and one of those freaking commercials loads up.

[Fry]

I don't use AIM so I am not familiar with the ads you are all talking about.

I believe MSN only has a text ad at the bottom of the message window, I don't find this intrusive at all.

Are the AIM ads really intrusive?

[deuce]

Originally Posted by bear

Personally I'm trained not to click ads at all, so I'm not making them a cent.

I don't think they get paid by the click for the ad in the program, I think they get paid to expose the ad to millions of people, similar to a TV ad.

[pyowomaniac]

Originally Posted by Fry

I dont use AIM so I am not familiar with the ads you are all talking about.
I believe MSN only has a text ad at the bottom of the message window, I dont find this intrusive at all.

Are the AIM ads really intrusive?

I consider some of them to be intrusive. Sometimes when I log in, there's a commercial playing and there really is no option to close the ad. It's almost like I'm being forced to watch it.

[Feety]

You can get spyware from clicking links in profiles. But i dont know about them dumping spyware into our computers...

[zandyne]

I haven't encountered any spyware with AIM. But be careful of what links you click there, pasting them into Firefox instead of direct clicking seems like the safest way to go.