Malicious Mobile Code

Types of Instant Messaging

In order for two instant messaging (IM) users to communicate, they must use IM software with similar messaging protocols. AOL created AIM in 1989 and although it has significantly more users than any other IM service, it has repeatedly fought attempts by other vendors to allow interoperability. There has been an ongoing effort to codify a single IM standard, but even that process has broken down into many fractured groups. It is expected that a single Internet protocol will be approved, thereby allowing disparate IM services to communicate with each other. For now, you have to choose which type of IM you want to use. You can select between the following major types: ICQ, IRC, HTML-based, and proprietary offerings.

ICQ

Started by Israeli-based Mirabilis LTD in 1997, AOL acquired I Seek You Chat (ICQ) a year later. Its popularity made ICQ second only to AIM. ICQ’s home page is located at http://www.icq.com. With ICQ you register yourself with an ICQ server and receive a unique identifier number. You can put in optional identifying information, if you wish. You can find friends and other people that you want to join your chat community. When ICQ runs in the background, you will be constantly alerted when a particular person in your community logs in. You can send messages, play games, transfer files, and even transmit messages to cell phone users. ICQ, like AIM, is geared toward buddy lists and most chats are invitation-only. Although ICQ attracts a fair ...