For safe, smart IM-ing

Especially from a parent's perspective, "IM" could stand for "insecure messaging" instead of "instant messaging." That's because of 1) how many tweens and teens love this form of communication, and 2) the ever-increasing number of IM-borne threats to the family PC. ZDNET writes about a dad and computer security expert who told his 13-year-old daughter that she could use AIM (AOL's instant messaging service), but if she ever downloaded a virus, "the result would be no IM for a long, long time." He and other security specialists are saying the best protection is education, which falls on parents' shoulders, because kids are the computer users most likely to click on images and other IM attachments they think their friends are sending (corporate IM users have more safeguards). The problem is, hackers are posing as our kids' friends - screennames on their buddy lists - saying, "click here to see this cool image" or "hear this great tune." So here's the very simple education part: Tell your kids that, if they get a message like that, start a new IM conversation with that screenname/buddy (don't reply to the msg telling them to click), and ask that buddy if s/he just sent that file, image, or tune (or just call the friend on the phone and ask about the message). If they're online and reply saying "no," don't click! Someone's posing as them. If the buddy is offline and can't reply, just don't click. The safest thing is not to get into the habit of sending each other files and links (unfortunately), because then kids get into the habit of clicking. Nothing really malicious has been attacking family PCs via IM yet, but the potential is there. "Trojan horses" that install software on family PCs have been going around, and that software could eventually be worms, viruses, and code that turns a computer into a "zombie" that other people can control.