Instant Message Threats - Perils of Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging (IM) has taken internet communication world to new level, and with it instant message threats have become a growing problem. As with other internet technologies, IM can be exploited namely by online predators, internet scams, or by people performing identity theft.

Instant Messaging software allows people to communicate in real time with anyone at anytime, and that’s one of the prime reason that instant messenger has become so much popular among kids and teens. Whether its night or day one can stay in touch constantly with whomever they want to. Now kids do not have to pick up a phone to call their friends, with instant messenger and computer handy, they can communicate endlessly.

There are several freely instant messaging software available that can be downloaded and installed on ones computer. Popular among them are MSN Instant messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and ICQ Messenger.

Instant Messaging is a more dangerous communication medium when compared with chat rooms. On chat rooms there can be a moderator watching the conversation, and preventing any inappropriate activity, but with Instant Messenger there are no moderators. Thus it becomes much more difficult to monitor kids when they use IM instead of chat rooms.

Viruses and their derivatives can easily be sent over IM in real time. All our kids have to do is to accept the file that someone is sending through IM. Our children can easily be fooled to believe that what they are receiving is a cool picture, or some fancy game, but in reality it can be a virus.

Online Predators utilize IM very cleverly. What they do is hack there target's Instant Messenger account specially children’s account, and captures there friends list. This helps online predators to impersonate as one of the target's friend by using a name that they found on targets friends list. Impersonating target's friend assist online predators to elicit all sort of information from the target.

Spammers, also use IM to market their products mostly adult materials. They usually send a message with a link formatted in a fancy manner attracting children attention, and once the children clicks the link a web page opens with pornographic material.

For information on how to protect kids from instant message threats read IM safety guidelines.

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