? About AOL's AIM? Is it bad?

[tenaynet]

Does AIM download and/or expose my computer to spyware, viruses, adware and the like?
I've heard it is not good to use it. Is this true? Does anyone know?
How about Pogo.com
and Postopia.com? Do these sites also open my computer to baddies?

Thanks!

[renegade600]

turning on your computer can expose you to nasties, it all depends how you use it. Just chatting, you will not have any problems. If you start downloading junk, then you could be open for nasties.

[Dodge]

You could try out Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/) It is a chat program that auto connects you to ICQ, MSN Messenger, AIM, and IRC. (Ofcoarse you have to create an account for each of the services) Trillian is much better than using AIM. Ofcoarse I wont have anything that has to do with AOL on my system.

[oink]

If you install AIM, just be carefull, as if you let it, it will by default install some junk that could be considered adware or spyware. (Weatherbug etc)

[tenaynet]

Thanks for your input, people!

I still don't know what I'm going to do with AIM exactly. I'm not the one who uses it at my house, but I'm considering banning it on my computer because of the things it automatically downloads - like weatherbug etc.
Thanks again!

[oink]

If you are attentive to the install, you can decline the installation of the junk software.