FAQ's

Questions

• Que1 - What are some of the security precautions I can take with the ICQ program?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que2 - My account has been stolen (commonly reffered to as "hacked") and the information changed. Can I get it back?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que3 - I've heard that there are exploits capable of allowing users who have me on thier contacts list to see my online presence even though I have set my status to Invisible Mode. Is this true?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que4 - I've lost/forgot my password and my the Primary email address I listed with ICQ is no longer available to me. Is there any way to recover my password.
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que5 - Does ICQ work with Zone Alarm?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que6 - I have a new email address and want to make it the address ICQ uses for Password Retrieval. How do I do that?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que7 - Is it possible to have ICQ ask for a password when changing the Active User?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
• Que8 - What is "Web Aware" and how do I disable it?
  Applicable Versions: 2002 / 2003
  
  
  
• ICQ Inc's FAQ's. [What's This?]

Questions with Answers.

Que1: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

Good computer security practices should be a must and the following suggestions will greatly improve the security of your ICQ account and your computers security in general.

1.) Make your ICQ password difficult. One method of stealing Passwords is by the "Brute Force" method whereby an individual(s) will try to guess your password. The first thing they do is look at your info for clues. Is a clue to your password in your ICQ info? The best password you can choose is a mix of randomly selected numbers and/or letters AND the maximum allowable length of characters. Write your password down immediately after you choose it. Label it in such a way that you will know that it is your ICQ password and place it where you can retrieve it. Do not rely on memory. You WILL forget it and at some point you WILL need it. Although it may seem obvious. DO NOT create a file on your computer and call it "Passwords". If you want to create a computer file that contains your passwords then write to a floppy and keep the floppy secure and away from your computer. Always have a written backup of passwords.

2.) Do not enter a fake email address in the Primary Email address text field, especially a web based email addresses. One of the first things an individual with mailicious intent will do is try to setup an email account using YOUR primary web based email address. If the account syntax is available then your password and thus your ICQ number and account is as good as gone. Keep in mind that web based email clients such as Hotmail will render your account inactive or close it if you do not use it often enough. A closed account will afford the same opprtunity as if the address you entered as your Primary was fake!

3.) Beware the File Transfer!! Most ICQ users will admit that of all the features included with the ICQ program, the File Transfer feature is one of the best. However, the feature does not discriminate between good or malicious files. You've likely heard the term "Trojan". Most password stealing Trojans are placed on a Users computer because that User chose to accept a File Transfer from an untrusted source. You are your own best security feature when it comes to accepting files. Here are some suggestions as to how to improve that security.

a.) Only accept ICQ File Transfers from trusted friends or individuals. If choosing to accept a file from a friend, Verify that friends identity.

b.) Do NOT accept file transfers from new and untrusted ICQ aquaitances no matter how tempting.

c.) Always save a file to disk. Never run the file blindly. Scan ALL transferred files with an up to date anti-virus software program before opening. Most virus scan software includes free updates to the programs dat files. The dat files are simply a current library of the virus's and trojans the program can look for. Keep you virus scan updated! Check for updates at least every two weeks. Once a week is even better.

4.) If your computer is accessable by friends and family you may want consider settting your security setting to "High". Doing so will require Password entry to launch and use ICQ. If you have multiple ICQ accounts and Users on your computer than educate those Users with same information listed here.

5.) Don't download programs from websites of questionable repute and never take someone's word that the program on the site is "great". That same someone may simply be attempting to get you to download a program that contains malicious code such as a Password stealing trojan or worse. If you download a file ALWAYS scan it first with the most up to date virus scanning software.

7.) Do not accept and run files from a floppy that someone has given you. This is one of the most frequent ways malicious files are transferred between computers!

To learn more on how you can tighten up your security even further check out the Helpful Links page of this site under the category "Security Sites".

Que2: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

ICQ's password retrieval system allows Users to retrieve their password using their old Primary email address regardless of any address change an individual has made to it. You can find this retrieval system here:
http://www.icq.com/password/

Que3: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

Yes. There are a number of third party exploits available that will accomplish this task. Treat Invisible Mode as exploitable.

Que4: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

There are some third party programs that can search your ICQ dat files and retrieve it. Try the following URL:

http://www.headstrong.de/software-icqrinfo.shtml

Que5: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

Yes. You can configure Zone Alarm to allow the use of ICQ. Consult your Zone Alarm Help Files.

Que6: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

While Connected to the ICQ network:

1.) Open ICQ.

2.) Click the 'My ICQ' button on your main menu.

3.) Choose "View/Change My Details" from the pop-up menu.

4.) Choose 'ICQ Details / Email' from the side menu.

5.) Click on your Primary email address that is displayed in the Email Address window. (It will highlight in blue)

6.) Click on 'Remove Email'.

7.) Click on 'Add Email'.

8.) Enter your new address and click 'Add'.

9.) Click 'Apply'.

Que7: Version[s]: 2002 / 2003

No. There is no local login feature with the ICQ program.

Que8: Version[s]: 2001 / 2002 / 2003

Web Aware is the security setting within ICQ that lets you decide whether you want others to see your online/offline status on the World Wide Web. Examples of status indicators would be communication panel status indicators you placed on a web page or ICQ search result indicators. You can disable the Web Aware setting via the following procedure:

1.) Open ICQ.

2.) Click the "Main" button on your main menu and choose "Security & Privacy Permissions" from the pop-up menu.

3.) Click on "General" from the Settings menu, then clear (uncheck) where it says ""Allow others to view my online/offline status from the Web and from My ICQ Web Front page".

5.) Click "Apply".