Looking for advice on a chat program. Which one?

I have stayed away from the online chat programs for a quite a while because I have heard that they can mess up your computer and be a gateway for maleware and other stuff. But.. I miss them and I was looking for advice on how to choose one and which one might be the best security wise. Anyone out there have any ideas?

Also which one do you use..Irc..yahoomessagenger..AIM...Windows messenger?

 

HI!
I have used AIM, Yahoo!, Trillian and MSN Messengers and now I use
Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0812 - Available here:
http://majorgeeks.com/Windows_Live_Messenger_d4451.html
Out of all the messengers I've used I like it the best as it has been the most reliable and trouble free app for me.
My $0.02

 

Is that the windows messanger program that comes with windows? Or is that some other program because I thought I heard that it was prone to making you computer susceptible to spyware and maleware. Which is why I never used it and got rid of it.

 

Not the Windows Messenger most of us disable or remove.
This is the Newest Messenger since MSN Messenger 7.5.0324
It's a GREAT Instant Messenger!
NOTE: It is listed here as supporting W2k...but it doesn't(I'm sure they will correct that soon)
It's for XP

 

If spyware is your concern, you can be pretty much 100% sure that the multiprotocal clients gaim or trillian will leave you protected. Trillian is my personal favorite, but even the paid Pro version is glitchy and resource hoggy. I've given up on it for the time being, switching back to AIM.

AIM on its own is the probably the most frequently downloaded adware available. But don't let that deter you. You can run a PERFECTLY LEGAL program called aim ad hack which will remove all the junk that comes bundled with AIM and leave you with a super-fast, full featured, and--importantly--widely used messaging service.

As far as your original concern, I would say that if used wisely, instant messaging is no greater security risk than e-mail. IMing may get a bad wrap because it's a little easier to get tricked. Just use your common sense. Don't click links who's origin you do not know. Viruses often hijack friends screen names to spread themselves. Also, don't accept direct connects or file transfers who's origins you do not know. Do all that and you'll be fine.

And as with all net protocals, you should never allow yourself to be turned away by security concerns. The answer to security concerns is to upgrade. It should always be fight not flight.