Instant Messaging

 

The Internet can be utilized for numerous functional ways especially in your learning activities; however, this is pretty risky. This is risky due harmful software that can plague you computer, steal your information and even obliterate your hard drive. Accessing Instant Messaging is an example of acquiring this destructive software.

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Instant Messaging security is now one of the concerns not only to consumers but in the business world as well. How do we know that we have not been exploited when we used IM? Are we secured when we use any IM vendor? Why does accessing IM a vital threat to anyone accessing it?

Trade secrets can be communicated over publicly through IM and can become public knowledge in a blink of an eye. An employee chatting with a friend through IM and mentioned a new design for an upcoming project is a concrete example for this.

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Since the employee used public network and used the IM provider’s community, the information was intercepted and broadcasted. Setting up and using IM made a hole in the company’s Firewall.

Instant Messaging Security is a concern because communication through IM cannot be monitored in a corporate environment. Businesses prefer to use email rather than IM so they can control the traveling of the data and they will also have the awareness on whoever sees the data.

Identity theft is another great concern as this crime can be easily committed. Sharing account number, social security number and even your credit card information should never be shared during those IM conversations.

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It is essential to always log out after using a public computer so no impostor can take charge of your account and use it maliciously.

Another fear that comes up is cyber stalking. IM gives the information that the user is available, therefore; it is easier to stalk that person. Action should be done to hide users from cyber stalkers. When a user’s status is online, that user is very vulnerable to stalkers.

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The best thing to do is change it to invisible so no one can stalk on you however, you can still check on your contacts.

With a lot of concerns with Instant messaging security, the best practices consumers or businessmen can do are: secure IM session, make IT control and monitor incoming files to avoid viruses, proper control to those who can only access IM, establish Private IM network, consider making an in-house application and cost analysis.

Instant messaging security would always be a great concern to anyone as IM has become very popular and heavily used. Instead of treating it as a risk, we need to start evaluating the security needs in order to use IM properly.

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For the business side, a cost analysis of safety risk and the advantage accomplished to boost efficiency and revenue will help companies decide the right track. Looking at the increasing variety of vendors, IM is for sure to stay.

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It will continue to grow in the years to come as technology becomes strong. We hope that when that time comes, IM would not be an issue but an immense help to everyone.