After I posted the warning about instant messaging (IM), some of the librarians wondered if the popular Yahoo chat rooms are also security risks. IM is different from the chat rooms. They're similar in that they both involve instant communication between people who are online. But there are some differences, too. IM usually involves two people; chat rooms usually contain a group. To do IM, you must download and install a program. With IM you can do video conferencing and exchange files. This is where the security problem starts. Someone could send an attachment containing a virus or trojan with the message, "click on this cool thing".

The chat rooms that the kids use in our library are OK.