msn messenger

[newme]

hello
my daughter wants to sign up for an account to use messenger,ive heard there could be security risks using it,could someone clear this up or point to an article on the subject
thankyou

[reboot]

The security risk is letting your daughter chat on the internet
There is no real security risk with MSN Messenger. It's no worse than any other program that accesses the net.
Just make sure you download and install the latest version, and don't try setting it up through Windows Messaging.
If you have a firewall on the computer, MSN will ask to open certain ports for communications, and others for file transfer.
You can use the firewall to check the security.
If you're not running a firewall because you're on dial-up, then don't worry at all, because you probably have a dynamic IP, and it's too slow for any hacker to try and get in anyhow.

To make a long story short, I have a teenage daughter as well, and she can't seem to live without MSN Messenger. There have been no extra security issues with it, but plenty of issues with the software she downloads (Gator and Bonzi to name 2), as well as the people she wanted to chat with.
Just set up Messenger to only accept chats from people on the buddy list, and only allow people on the buddy list that you know.
That's about as secure as you can get.
Parental supervision is the ONLY "net nanny" that really works.

[newme]

hi reboot thankyou for the reply,my daughter is only nine so ill be very strict who she chats with,right now the rule is she chats only with her close friends from school and her cousins ,i was worried about opening the ports for msn to use,but you have said it is safe,so ill go ahead and install.
thanks again

[reboot]

If you don't open any extra ports, she can still chat, but can't transfer files, which is probably a good thing

[BearEater]

You should really look after who she chats with and what she does. whenever a person on internet is identified as a girl,most boys,including me lo, try to "cyber" her...kinda sick.
Also some people have totally different personalities in real life and in virtual life.
Another thing is not to download files,which might be explict photos,or viruses.
Also tell her not to share personal information........

[leonnorris]

if you didnt know 'cyber' is talking about sex
e.g im pulling your pants down with my teeth