Virus Protection for ICQ

[tami3_3]

I got this in a newsletter today:

AVX for ICQ is a FREE utility which uses new technology to intercept;
filter, and virus scan all files sent during an ICQ chat session. The new
proprietary technology incorporates features found on enterprise-class
corporate firewalls. AVX for ICQ uses the same powerful virus protection
scan engine incorporated into the AntiVirus eXpert Professional (AVX), a
full-featured virus protection application for desktops. If you are an ICQ
user this utility is highly recommended. 3.5 MB

I'm including the URL for their page instead of the one I got sent...that just sends you directly to the download. At least here you can read about it.
http://www.avx.com/avx4icq.html

Tami

[MishY]

Hey Tami,

I'm going to take a look at that http://www.cybertechhelp.com/ubb/smile.gif

Just wanted to say that whenever using ICQ on a dialup modem, or cable/isdn/adsl always use a firewall. A really good free firewall is zonealarm (http://www.zonelabs.com) http://www.cybertechhelp.com/ubb/smile.gif

MiShY

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Cyber Tech Help (http://www.cybertechhelp.com)
You Break 'em - We Fix 'em

[FrostyPhrog]

Hi
Tami I went there and Downloaded it, haven't had a chance to take a look at it yet. Mishy great tip, I have two firewalls on my machine, the one that came with my proxy software and zone alarm.

FrostyPhrog

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<FONT COLOR="green">From the land of Jesse</FONT c>

[tami3_3]

Thanks Mishy...I've been using ZoneAlarm for a little over a year now and yeah, I think its great. In fact I went to that HackerWacker site (or whatever its name was) that you suggested to someone here and my computer isn't even here! Too cool!

But just from reading some peoples's posts here about ICQ, I thought this might make them feel safer.

Hey FrostyPhrog...I downloaded it too, and haven't had a chance to look at it yet either. But the way I see it, you can never be too careful.

Tami

[smurfy]

Mishy, the way I see it, if you are allowing ICQ to act as a server via ZA to conduct chat etc, then the firewall is no longer any use. AV protection is then your only safeguard.
Now, I never accept any file transfer in ICQ chat, only via normal ICQ file transfer, and then I AV scan them manually with InocculateIT before opening. If I did accept file x/fer I thought normal a/v monitoring would catch it but have never tested nor investigated this aspect.

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Smurfy
Suggest A Fix (http://www.suggestafix.com) & CyberTech Help (http://www.cybertechhelp.com) moderator.
smurfynz@netscape.net

[MishY]

Smurfy,

D'ya remember the early versions of ICQ where you could find the person you were talking to's IP number ????

Well there are also a lot of freely available programs or plugins that you can add to your ICQ to do that today on the more secure versions.

If someone has your IP then they can scan for other open ports regardless of those that ICQ uses.

That's the way I see it, but I do see your point. I've never really liked ICQ especially for its security, but it is a very handy tool and I still use it http://www.cybertechhelp.com/ubb/smile.gif

Smurfy wrote a good lil article on ICQ that anyones whose reading this can find slightly further down the Applications list of topics.

Smurfy - d'ya mind if I turn that into an article to use on the site mate ????

MiShY

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Cyber Tech Help (http://www.cybertechhelp.com)
You Break 'em - We Fix 'em

[smurfy]

Oh yeah, I agree Mishy, I wasn't saying turn ZA off, just that it's not stopping anything you have told it to allow. I know one or two people who USE those sort of ICQ plugins LOL

btw as mentioned before, no problem taking that page and playing with it. Just run final version by me before publication. http://www.cybertechhelp.com/ubb/smile.gif