Thursday, August 31, 2006

Universal Instant Messaging Platform by VoiceOne

VoiceOne™ Communications presented a new universal instant messaging platform that integrates the instant messaging services of Google (Google Talk), Yahoo (Yahoo Messenger), MSN and AOL IM. By using this service provided on Click4Me.net and VoiceOne Labs the users can send messages between any of the four services. For instance, Google Talk users can send instant messages to MSN users, or AOL users, or Yahoo! IM users - using Click4Me.Net - without having to use separate Instant Messaging clients for each service.

VoiceOne has added this IM integrated functionality to its recently released beta version of Click4Me.Net, the world's first Web-click calling service that utilizes VoIP technology for free phone-to-phone calling, and now Instant Messaging across services. Click4Me.Net is available for testing on VoiceOne's Virtual Lab - an open forum for users to preview, test free of charge, and provide feedback on new IP communications services developed by VoiceOne.

To start using the Click4Me.Net service, just register for free. The members can then review, provide feedback on the service or discuss additional IP communications services with VoIP Inc.'s development team.

Features:

  • SMS Text messaging to users,
  • An online Inbox allowing people to leave messages for one another on the Click4Me.Net website,
  • Email and SMS text notifications of missed calls or new messages,
  • Instant Messaging across popular IM services.

VoiceOne will add more expanded and new features in the coming days and weeks.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

New Generation of IM Worms

According to Kaspersky Labs, new generation of instant messaging worms is spreading across protocols and platforms. We have seen a lot of worms which were specific to a single instant messaging protocol, for example MSN or AOL. However, the next generation of worms poses a much greater threat because of their ability to use different IM protocols to spread. And more - they can attack both Microsoft Windows and Mac platforms.

Of course, if the instant messaging user is smart and careful enough, the computer will be safe. It's very important not to open any attachments or URLs sent by unknown persons. Even more - if you receive an attachment or URL by someone in your buddy list, always ask him what he's sending you. Maybe he doesn't even know that his computer is under the control of a worm.

Meanwhile, Postini announced that there is a 160% increase over June in instant messaging attacks against corporate networks. One of the detected IM threats is Prokeylogger, which logs every key you type on your keyboard and gets your passwords. Then it sends this information to their owners, which can get details about your e-mails, credit cards, other sensitive personal information.