Win XP PRO sp2 and what how safe is AOL messenger?

[Joe K]

I have 8 Win XP Pro sp2 computers.They share a cable connection via
routers and switches.I have the firewall on and all computers have a
program firewall on them. Also all have antivirus programs on each.I am
not at liberty to name the actual products.
I have uninstalled any music sharing software from 3 of the
computers[very unsecure].I have run anti spyware and anti virus. I am
instructing the users how to do general maintenance.I also have the
computers set to do auto disk clean.
Going to several security sites all computers are secure from internet.
Basicly all computers are standalone not sharing files nor printers.
The users of 3 computers use AOL messenger.I want to know all the
information on AOL messenger and how it can compromize winXP pro. I want
the good and bad.

[Jone Doe]

Then I'd suggest a newsgroup for AOL rather than one for XP

"Joe K" > wrote in message
...
>I have 8 Win XP Pro sp2 computers.They share a cable connection via routers
>and switches.I have the firewall on and all computers have a program
>firewall on them. Also all have antivirus programs on each.I am not at
>liberty to name the actual products.
> I have uninstalled any music sharing software from 3 of the computers[very
> unsecure].I have run anti spyware and anti virus. I am instructing the
> users how to do general maintenance.I also have the computers set to do
> auto disk clean.
> Going to several security sites all computers are secure from internet.
> Basicly all computers are standalone not sharing files nor printers.
> The users of 3 computers use AOL messenger.I want to know all the
> information on AOL messenger and how it can compromize winXP pro. I want
> the good and bad.

[Mike Fields]

AOL is perfectly safe ..... as long as you leave it on the CD
(in our house, they are not allowed out of the wrapper), BUT,
after staying at a Holiday Inn Express, I found they make good
survival mirrors for hiking.


"Joe K" > wrote in message
...
> I have 8 Win XP Pro sp2 computers.They share a cable connection via
> routers and switches.I have the firewall on and all computers have a
> program firewall on them. Also all have antivirus programs on each.I am
> not at liberty to name the actual products.
> I have uninstalled any music sharing software from 3 of the
> computers[very unsecure].I have run anti spyware and anti virus. I am
> instructing the users how to do general maintenance.I also have the
> computers set to do auto disk clean.
> Going to several security sites all computers are secure from internet.
> Basicly all computers are standalone not sharing files nor printers.
> The users of 3 computers use AOL messenger.I want to know all the
> information on AOL messenger and how it can compromize winXP pro. I want
> the good and bad.

[Joe K]

Mike Fields wrote:
> AOL is perfectly safe ..... as long as you leave it on the CD
> (in our house, they are not allowed out of the wrapper), BUT,
> after staying at a Holiday Inn Express, I found they make good
> survival mirrors for hiking.
>
>
> "Joe K" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I have 8 Win XP Pro sp2 computers.They share a cable connection via
>>routers and switches.I have the firewall on and all computers have a
>>program firewall on them. Also all have antivirus programs on each.I am
>>not at liberty to name the actual products.
>>I have uninstalled any music sharing software from 3 of the
>>computers[very unsecure].I have run anti spyware and anti virus. I am
>>instructing the users how to do general maintenance.I also have the
>>computers set to do auto disk clean.
>>Going to several security sites all computers are secure from internet.
>>Basicly all computers are standalone not sharing files nor printers.
>>The users of 3 computers use AOL messenger.I want to know all the
>>information on AOL messenger and how it can compromize winXP pro. I want
>>the good and bad.
>
>
>
They used to send them in plastic cd covers.These were great for holding
my cd-R.Now they come in cardboard. No use except to balance a table or
scoop up dog doo.

[Vagabond Software]

"Joe K" > wrote in message
...
>I have 8 Win XP Pro sp2 computers.They share a cable connection via routers
>and switches.I have the firewall on and all computers have a program
>firewall on them. Also all have antivirus programs on each.I am not at
>liberty to name the actual products.
> I have uninstalled any music sharing software from 3 of the computers[very
> unsecure].I have run anti spyware and anti virus. I am instructing the
> users how to do general maintenance.I also have the computers set to do
> auto disk clean.
> Going to several security sites all computers are secure from internet.
> Basicly all computers are standalone not sharing files nor printers.
> The users of 3 computers use AOL messenger.I want to know all the
> information on AOL messenger and how it can compromize winXP pro. I want
> the good and bad.

I am a huge fan of the AOL Messenger service. In fact, my screen name is
VagabondSW and you can reach me at most hours of the day or evening. I love
it.

However, I despise the AOL IM client. To my knowledge, the AOL IM client IS
"safe" but it also has an ad-bar and feature-bar that I could not disable
(either because it was not possible or I could not easily determine how). I
would have stopped using AOL IM altogether if it were not for the Trillian
client. It is not exactly plug-n-play yet, but it is certainly ready for
prime-time use. Trillian supports AOL, ICQ, and Yahoo messenger accounts.

http://www.trillian.cc/learn/

Good luck,

carl
AIM: VagabondSW
YAH: VagabondSoftware