ITinfo: There's Now A Problem With ICQ

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Popular IM App Can Be Cracked

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ERROR: Random File Unopenable

The random file, as specified in the $random_file perl variable was unopenable.

The file was not found on your file system. This means that it has either not been created or the path you have specified in $trrandom_file is incorrect.

There's Now A Problem With ICQ

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

AOL Time Warner, owner of the popular ICQ (I Seek U) instant messaging (IM) software have confirmed a serious buffer overflow exploit that puts some users at risk of attack from hostile crackers.

The buffer overflow vulnerability affects versions of ICQ prior to 2001b that are running on Microsoft Windows.

To the portal of risk, users can upgrade to the current beta release version on ICQ's website.

Dave's Opinion

Don't confuse this ICQ security problem with the recent problem that affected AOL's' Instant Messenger software, a separate IM application from AOL Time Warner.

Instant Messaging is the hot topic for business this year. Road warriors can stay in touch with support staff and intra-branch interaction can take place without tieing up corporate trunk lines with voice traffic or incurring long distance and international phone charges.

Call for Comments

What do you think? Leave your comments on the message center.

References

ICQ
Message Center

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http://itrain.org/itinfo/2002/it020115.html
updated January 15, 2002