Stay Safe Online
Protecting Yourself
While every effort is made to maintain a safe online experience for everyone, it's important to take measures to protect yourself. Here are some steps you can follow:
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Set User Modes (umodes)
Use umodes to prevent unwanted messages.
- /mode your_nickname +R - Prevent unregistered nicknames from private messaging you.
- /mode your_nickname +D - Prevent anyone from private messaging you.
- /mode your_nickname +c - Block messages and notices from users outside your shared channels.
- /mode your_nickname +V - Block all invites from other users.
- /mode your_nickname +T - Prevent users from sending all types of CTCPs to your client.
- /mode your_nickname +z - Prevent messages from being sent to or received from a user that is not connected using TLS (SSL).
Example:
/mode Dimitris +Rc
Prevents unregistered nicknames from private messaging you and blocks messages from users outside your shared channels.
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Ignore Users
Utilize the ignore feature to completely ignore a user.
- /ignore nickname - Ignore all messages from the specified user.
- /silence nickname - Silence all messages and notifications from the specified user.
Examples:
/silence shayne
Ignore all messages and notifications from the user named "shayne."
/silence *!*@* N
Prevents notice messages from all users.
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Use an IRC Client
Consider using an IRC client for more control and additional features, such as saving ignores, user modes, nickname passwords, and more.
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Tips for Protecting Yourself Online
- Register Your Nickname: Always register your nickname with a strong password to prevent others from impersonating you on the network.
- Use Secure Passwords: Choose a password that’s unique and difficult to guess. Include a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Enable SSL Encryption: Connect to the IRC server using SSL to ensure your communication is encrypted.
- Limit Personal Information: Avoid sharing personal information such as your real name, address, or phone number.
- Mask Your IP Address: Use an IRC bouncer (BNC) or connect via Tor to hide your real IP address.
- Utilize Cloaking or Hostmasking: Many IRC networks allow you to mask your real hostname or IP address.
- Beware of Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on links from unknown or untrusted sources.
- Avoid Untrusted Downloads: Verify the source before downloading files from users or channels.
- Keep Your IRC Client Updated: Ensure your IRC client is up-to-date with the latest security patches.
- Manage Your User Modes: Set user modes like +i (invisible) to limit visibility of your presence.
- Report Abuse or Harassment: Report any abuse or suspicious behavior to network administrators or IRCops.
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Final Steps
If you’ve tried the above tips but are still encountering issues, follow these steps:
Gather Evidence
Take screenshots or record incidents of harassment, abuse, or suspicious behavior. Capture details such as usernames, timestamps, and chat logs.
Report the Issue
Submit your evidence and a detailed description of the incident to:
abuse@hybridirc.com
Our support team will review your case and take appropriate action.
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For further assistance, join the help channel: #Help or visit our help webpage.