[SGVLUG] AOL Sniffing IM Traffic at the Network Level

[matti]

Hmmm...

yes, my first thought was that this was part of a spam/phishing detection process.
( perhaps even kiddie porn .. )

good idea on OTR

thanks
matti



----- Original Message -----
From: Christopher Smith <cbsmith at gmail.com>
To: SGVLUG Discussion List. <sgvlug at sgvlug.net>
Cc: SGVLUG Discussion List. <sgvlug at sgvlug.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: [SGVLUG] AOL Sniffing IM Traffic at the Network Level

This is probably a legit attempt to detect spim. That said, if you want to believe your IM's have any privacy, I highly recommend using OTR:

http://www.cypherpunks.ca/otr/

It actually combines encrypted communications with plausible deniability.

--Chris

On Oct 30, 2011, at 6:02 PM, James McDuffie <mcduffie at pitfall.org> wrote:

> Apparently, according to the following link, if you send a URL in a private chat via AOL instant messenger, even if your not using their client, then AOL will download the link automatically.
> 
> http://ican.stealyour.info/2011/10/08/aol-instant-messenger-silently-sniffing-retrieving-urls-sent-in-chats/