Warning re: Yahoo Messenger

[Baph]

For all those that use Yahoo Messenger, a word of warning.

I've just heard through the grapevine that your conversation is logged by Yahoo Messenger, even if you select the option to not log conversations.

Worse still, anyone with access to your PC can drop an application (that doesn't require installing) onto the PC, and without knowing your Yahoo account details, read any messages you have sent/received, again, even if logging is disabled!! This application does cost, but it's only $25 USD for the year, and this application has cracks floating around on the internet.

Further to this, the very same application can set your account to enable logging conversations if desired, even though this isn't required for this application to read your conversations!!

I've just tested it in the office, and the results are, well, interesting. The application I tested, even has the ability to hide itself from other users of the PC, which it does it quite an interesting way (hiding in plain sight) but also has the ability to password lock it's use.

If you use Yahoo Messenger in the office, be especially careful, as we've had 3 people leave because of Yahoo Messenger conversations.

[ooger]

Hmm, how devious. I would really not be surprised if every IM client somehow reported "stuff" (define as what you like) to the mothership. Even if you say no to it.

I've never really had any trust in anything Yahoo!-ey. Dunno why, but as soon as google appeared on the interweb Yahoo seemed to be pushed way down in most peoples tools for searching and it never seemed to resurface (for me anyway).

Now its an all singing all dancing platform to everything on the net (stocks, shares, mail, IM, sport, dating, cooking, entertainment, lesbian mud wrestling etc) I trust it less. I can't stand anything that attempts to do multiple jobs but does every one of them badly.

I know you use it at work (for work purposes, somehow :)) so this obviously applies to some more than others.

Good work though, well researched.

[Jamie Slick]

does MSN messenger have this?

[DanAbnormal]

Windows Live Messenger has this as do most others. It's nothing new to be honest, what do you think mobile phone companies do with your texts and conversations? Log them all. Big brother is watching YOU ooger. ;)

[ooger]

Big brother is watching YOU ooger. ;)

True, but it's nice to feel a little loved, but one thing's for sure; Ooger will never be watching Big Brother.

(PS - I can also do an excellent impression of whoever that bloke is too - "Daiya 75: Noone wants to do anything. Adam is going for a pow. The housemates task today is to build a career", Jenny is looking for the sellotape)

[SoulKiss]

Use Pidgin and set it to encrypt all chats (tho needs to be used/setup at both ends)