No Bull Webmastering

Well the instant messenger program, ICQ, had an update tonight. Now that isn’t bad news, by itself, but I think for future references, I shall not use the ‘recommended full installation‘ choice, but go with the custom selection.

To begin with, ICQ is a program most webmaster’s rely on, for communicating with each other, for just having a real time chat. Now that is good, though it does bite into one’s work time, but then hell, we gotta have a life, right? Problem is that ICQ is owned by AOL, and is notorious for being unstable, in that you can get really zonked with unwanted messages, invitations, and attempts to hijack your computer. Never mind all the spyware.

With this upgrade, the program attempted to change my home page settings in Internet Explorer, and add the ICQ toolbar to IE ( Internet Explorer ) along with some other plugin. My computer’s anti virus software ignored that, but windows defender ( the least effective of my defensive programs ) popped up and allowed me to DENY that attempt.

We all knock Microsoft and I am one of those. However, Firefox, the supposed answer to the security plagued Internet Explorer browser, wasn’t as good as IE was. In fact, despite having the security settings to its maximum, FIREFOX allowed ICQ to install a plugin, to install the ICQ toolbar, as well as to change my home page settings.

AND THAT ANNOYS THE CRAP OUT OF ME.

First off, who the hell does ICQ think it is, that it should automatically decide if I want its spyware riddled toolbar, its intrusive collecting of my surfing data, without my permission? And if they truly care about security, the least they should do, is to inform one of those changes, and allow the end user to decide for themselves. Maybe some will accept their crappy toolbar, allow for their settings to be changed, but I won’t.

And it brings up the whole issue of what these so called, user friendly services are really doing. As webmasters, we get vilified for having pop ups on our site, for displaying pictures of scantily clad models, yet it is okay for a CHILD FRIENDLY SITE to change your settings, to break through your security measures, to add its own programs. Makes you wonder just how safe are their chat rooms and how safe is it to use their software?

Call me paranoid, but I really wonder, are my chats on ICQ being stored somewhere? Are they keeping copies of everyone’s chats, for their marketing ploy, their SPAM? Or does it go further than that?

Mar 10th by Malcontent