Stay Safe Online

Protecting Yourself

While every effort is made to maintain a safe online experience, it's important to take measures to protect yourself and your personal information. Follow these steps to stay safe online:

Set User Modes (umodes)

Use umodes to control who can contact you and prevent unwanted interactions.

• /mode your_nickname +R - Prevent unregistered nicknames from private messaging you.
• /mode your_nickname +D - Block all private messages.
• /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 (like version checks) to your client.
• /mode your_nickname +z - Prevent messages from being sent to or received from a user that isn’t connected using TLS (SSL).

Example:

/mode Dimitris +Rc

This will block private messages from unregistered users and prevent messages from users outside your shared channels.

Ignore Users

You can ignore users to avoid unwanted communication.

• /ignore nickname - Ignore all messages and notices from the specified user.
• /silence nickname - Silence all messages and notifications from the specified user.

Examples:

/silence shayne

This will ignore all messages and notifications from the user "shayne."

/silence *!*@* N

This will prevent notice messages from all users.

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.

Tips for Protecting Yourself on IRC

Here are some important tips to protect yourself on IRC:

• 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.
• 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.
• Manage Your User Modes: Set user modes like +i (invisible) to limit visibility of your presence.
• Keep Your IRC Client Updated: Ensure your IRC client is up-to-date with the latest security patches.
• Report Abuse or Harassment: If you experience abuse or harassment, report it to channel staff immediately.
• Beware of Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on links from unknown or untrusted sources, as they might lead to phishing sites or malware.
• Avoid Untrusted Downloads: Verify the source before downloading files from users or channels.
• Do Not Share Personal Information: Avoid sharing your real name, email, phone number, home address, or other private details on IRC. Malicious users may exploit this information for phishing, doxing, or social engineering attacks.

⚠ Disclaimer: The network staff do not take responsibility for the information that passes through the network. Users should exercise caution and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.