Comments:
: : is it possible to scan people in those lists? if so how? i : : have been attacked before through them : You didn't explain what type of "attack" you received. : Generally, in order for anyone to issue any type of "attack" : across the internet, they must have a target (your IP : address). In general, the instant messenger programs do not : reveal your IP address through regular messenging. However, : if you connect to send files, voice chat, or any other type : of direct connection, your IP address is revealed. You can : then be a target. However, if your computer is secure (no : backdoors, no file sharing, up to date OS and services, : etc.), they can do nothing more than DOS (Denial of Service) : attacks against you. This will likely, at most, slow down : your internet connection enough to prevent you from using : it. This is, of course, illegal in the U.S. : There are much easier ways to find targets to attack than : finding people on a chat program. Are you drawing extra : attention to yourself? : Some programs do reveal your IP. You need to investigate the : security ramifications of any software which you plan to use. : Recently it was revealed that AOL's Instant Messenger had a : very dangerous security weakness for some time, but the : weakness was patched immediately by AOL once discovered. : Does this answer you question?

Optional Link URL:

Link Title:

Optional Image URL: