Instant Message (IM) Safety Tips
Using Instant Messaging (IM) has become increasingly popular not only for personal but for business use as well. However, virus infections are also becoming more common spreading through this popular communication medium.
Safety Tips
- Choose your screen name carefully. If you are using this account for personal use, don't use your real name, email address or other personally identifiable information.
- Only share your screen name with people you trust.
- Only communicate with people in your contact or buddy list.
- Never provide sensitive information like account numbers, passwords or other sensitive data in an IM conversation. IM is not a secure means of communication.
- Never open pictures, download files or click on links sent via IM unless you are expecting them and you can verify who the information is from. The file(s) may have a virus or the link may take you to an unsafe site. If you are unsure, contact the sender and verify what the file is. Use the same precautions you would use with email attachments.
- If you share a computer, do not set your IM client to automatically log you in. This will allow others to act on your behalf.
UCI Chat
The NACS Instant Messaging Service offers a secure mechanism for communicating with other members of the UCI community via Instant Message (IM). Where commercial services might transmit your messages “in the clear” and leave your correspondents’ identity in doubt, NACS Instant Messaging encrypts all communications and identifies each user with his or her UCInetID.