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Cyber 911 Tiplines 
Are you worried about privacy and security online? Could you be a victim of Identity Theft? Instant messaging safety
IM spam (spim)
Unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) is generally known as spam and, following on from there, instant messaging (IM) spam has become known as spim (sometimes spelled spIM). Just as spammers deploy bots to harvest e-mail addresses online and send spam, IM spammers (spimmers) use bots that harvest IM screen names from the Internet and send spam instant messages, ergo, spim - which can contain nuisances like hoaxes and serious threats such as pornography and viruses.
- Keep your operating system, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software up to date.
- Don't download attachments from anyone if you are not expecting them
- Block messages from anonymous/unknown users (see below)
In AIM or AOL® Instant Messenger™
- Click "My AIM" > "Edit Options" > "Edit Preferences"
- Click "Privacy" in the left-hand column
- Click "Allow only users on my Buddy List" under the "Who can contact me" heading
ICQ
ICQ Lite
- Click "Main" > "Preferences and Security"
- Click "Spam Control" in the left-hand column
- Check "Accept messages only from users on my Contact List"
- Check both options under "Not in List Messages"
- Check "Do not accept World Wide Pager Messages"
- Check "Do not accept Email Express Messages"
ICQ Pro
- Click "Main" > "Security and Privacy Permissions"
- Click "Communication Events"
- Select the yellow check mark for each item
MSN® Messenger
- Click "Tools" > "Options"
- Click on Privacy Tab
- Check "Only people on my Allow List can see my status and send me messages"
- Check "Alert me when other people add me to their contact lists"
Trillian
Trillian has NO separate system of its own as such to block people and very cleverly employs the same systems used by various companies. For Example, If you wanted to Ignore a person on MSN, Trillian has a list system that looks very similar to MSN Messengers' and hence that user is Ignored.
Yahoo!® Messenger
- Click "Messenger" > "Preferences"
- Click "Ignore List" in the left-hand column
- Click "Ignore anyone who is not on my Messenger List."