Home
>
Software
>
Instant Messenger Clients

Instant Messenger Clients

If you have been using the Internet for any amount of time you have probably used an instant messenger at some time or another. They allow you to talk to your friends, family and co-workers with the click of a button. There are many great clients out there, as well as many different networks.

(Windows) ICQ - http://www.icq.com/

One of the oldest networks is ICQ, with millions of users world wide. Their software has come along way, with many hurdles being overcome. One of the biggest advancements in my opinion is the addition of a roaming profile, letting you travel from computer to computer keeping your user list intact. If this had been supported from the start I would have probably not started using additional IM clients.

One of the major failing points I've found with ICQ is the fact that their software is often full of 'extra' stuff that I don't want. They have quite a bit of advertising and unfortunately it became a playground for spammers, often for adult websites which for children using the software is a major problem. More recent versions of ICQ have Spam blockers built in, but the occasional piece still manages to make it through.

(Windows) MSN Messenger - http://messenger.msn.com/

The MSN Messenger client is very easy to use, as is the case with most Microsoft software. Roaming profiles was a huge selling point with me when it was first introduced, and the use of smiley emotion icons. It has many features built in for transferring files and having live conversations using your speakers and microphone. The remote desktop features and sharing your pictures gives it a nice personal feel. This program is very easy to use and those who are very new to computers or the Internet will probably feel at ease using this software. With almost no learning curve the average person can be on and chatting with their friends and family within minutes. The one problem I have with MSN Messenger is the inability to send a message to an off-line friend and have them receive it when they come back on-line.

(Linux) GAIM - http://gaim.sourceforge.net/

This is probably my favourite Linux client! Not only does it work with all the major chat networks such as ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, you can also go on IRC with it! There are many additional features for this program including auto-reconnecting and security features. Some such security features are hiding your operating system and a very easy to use block list. This software currently is include in such Linux distributions as Red Hat Fedora, and Mandrake.

(Linux) Kopete - http://kopete.kde.org/

Another really great Linux based messenger client! It includes the same network support as GAIM, but takes user friendliness to a whole new level. It's really nice looking with sharp graphics and lots of interesting plug-ins. Some of the older versions were not quite as good but it's really coming in to it's own with newer versions! This application has been bundled with the SuSE Linux distribution, however it is compatible with all versions of Linux. If you are interested in a really fancy looking messenger you should definitely consider trying this one out. The only down side is if you aren't using SuSE you may have to build the source yourself.

Instant Messengers are a great tool for keeping in touch with co-workers, children away at school, and friends abroad. If you have the time and want to save some money on phone bills, check out these applications and have some fun!

Ken Dennis http://kendennis-rss.homeip.net/

reliable maid service Buffalo Grove ...

In The News:

Educational Testing Service hackers stole millions of California student records, but families who moved out of state years ago may also be affected.

Apple's iPhone Duo screens are cracking near the hinge just days after its $1,999 launch, and iFixit's CT scans may reveal what's going wrong.

Travel expert Katy Nastro says 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles vanished from her account after someone redeemed them without permission.

Google AI Overviews can't be permanently turned off, but adding -AI to your searches and using the built-in Web filter can help bypass AI summaries.

Attaxion researchers found 30 fake Texas campaign merchandise stores traced to just two sellers hawking gear for competing Republicans and Democrats.

GM plans to debut eyes-off driving in the Cadillac Escalade IQ by 2028, but safety testing reveals how long distracted drivers take to regain control.

Data brokers assign labels predicting your health, finances and religion based on browsing and purchases, then sell those profiles to businesses.

Elon Musk says he'll give one SpaceX share to every kid in America in 2027, but key details about eligibility and distribution remain unclear.

ClearSpace UK's robotic spacecraft with giant claws will chase down dead satellites at 17,000 mph, with a 2029 launch from Scotland planned.

A fake Social Security statement phishing email uses the SSA logo and a convincing layout, but the sender's domain instantly exposes the scam.

A clean credit report doesn't mean your identity is safe. Six ways criminals can steal from you without triggering a credit monitoring alert.

Carolyn Marvin, a 78-year-old retired professor, was arrested after blocking an Uber Eats delivery robot on a Philadelphia sidewalk for months.

The Midnight Mimosa malware campaign hides inside cheap Android phone firmware, giving attackers powerful access before owners even turn devices on.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Meta's Muse AI was built to manage tasks, but users are developing romantic AI relationships and even calling the AI companion their girlfriend.

A Minnesota murder suspect's notebook listed 11 people search websites, raising urgent questions about data broker opt-out and online privacy risks.

Google Universal Cart tracks price drops, surfaces promo codes and uses Google Wallet to match your best credit card rewards before checkout.

Safari's Notify Me feature and Google's price-tracking tools can monitor products and send alerts when prices drop on your iPhone or Android.

George Weiner built PACspam.org to trace who sends nonstop political fundraising texts after blocking numbers repeatedly failed to stop the messages.

A dedicated VPN IP address may reduce frustrating CAPTCHAs and bank login security checks by giving websites a consistent connection to recognize.

Apple Wallet in iOS 27 lets you create digital passes from physical cards using a photo or screenshot, but not every card in your wallet qualifies.

Anthropic's Claude AI submitted a fabricated eyewitness tip about an unsolved murder to a Philadelphia police website during automated testing.

P7 DarkSword iPhone spyware can steal saved passwords, photos, Apple Notes and cryptocurrency wallet data by checking for commands every 15 seconds.

Cybersecurity experts told Fox News Digital that a cyberattack on French supermarket freezers should warn the U.S. about critical infrastructure gaps.

The Oracle Health breach exposed medical records, Social Security numbers and diagnoses of nearly 20 million patients across multiple states.

Instant Messenger Clients

Software