Are IM and Spyware Inevitable Partners?

mad ranter here again( abit more composed, with better spelling)

well im not sure on all the detail, but icq have a flash based version that you can run.

Some assumptions:
- flash is less of a security issue(is this true) since it runs in a browser?
- since it's flash, does it mean it is restricted to http calls only, if so what does this imply?

jabber's idea using xml seems good, but again what ports does it expose to the internet and how does it behave when doing so?

this is a bit unrealted, but has any one else notice thier winxp machine connecting to 224.0.0.2, i get these calls from a fresh winxp install. at the moment i just block outgoing trafic to this ip and others like it. My paranoia makes me lean towards the micorosft spyware scenario. Indeed this is a concern, for when you realise that 30% your bandwith is reserved by windows core modules for reporting of some kind.

Personally, i didn;t install the QOS bit for networking, and my networks still runs as expected (flaws included, for it is windows were talking about, one of THE largest viri in my opinion)
i metion this for it seems like spyware activity to me, traffic i didn't ask for is being propgated so i'll block it.

any ideas anyone?

qoute John A. Hodgins - March 15, 2004
nothing is safe for private or corporate computer users. I think these invaders of privacy should be punished to the full extent of the law. A good hefty fine to a few of them might slow this trend down.

mate im so sick of wimps that are afraid of viglante action, don;t you reliase that if you continue to deferr to the "proper or-foritees", you will eventually have no freedom left(oh i dont' care cause ther not coming for me attitude is only short trerm buddy, reality sets in after but only if you observe and remember history)
In other word someone who won;t stand up for themselves is going to get taken advantage of, plain and simple.

So instead of whinging to the cops about that so-and-so, confront so-and-so first. Make them realise that YOU will not put up with their actions or behaviour. They wont understand this if you dont atulaise it for them, this is why most civilans are intimidated by police. If you really cared about it YOU would DO SOMETHING about it PERSONALLY, thus installing your persona as one not to be ****** with!
More laws equals more slaves required to finace those laws, end upo getting an efect a bit like entropy

The attitude of

Another good Instant Messaging choice in the line of programs is a much similar application compared to 'Trillian' is GAIM, typically for Linus, being the Gnome AOL Instant Messanger. Has support for AIM, Yahoo IM, ICQ, IRC, MSN, Jabber, and so on.. Although works best under Linux, I use it also under windows, I felt Trillian didn't work the way I felt an instant messanger client should. Check out GAIM's project website at gaim.sourceforge.net.

The latest BETA version of AIM now allows users to CHOOSE what to and what not to install, including Wild Tangent. Interesting. http://www.aim.com/get_aim/win/win_beta.adp

the idea of instant messaging runs parallel with the information age of on demand everything; people just aren't taking into consideration the security flaws that might exist. if people become more and more dependant on the service, what happens if someone decides to be malicious? it'll just turn into another target. more rigid standards and rules should be made, beyond just encrypting chats.