description-logo Description

It indicates detection of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) data traffic.


AIM is a popular instant messaging program that provides text and voice messaging as well as file transfer services. This sometimes presents several security problems since AIM can be used to transfer potentially malicious data that will circumvent the firewall protection.


affected-products-logoAffected Products

Any system that has AIM installed and enabled is vulnerable to related attacks.

Impact logoImpact

There are several general security concerns about Instant Messengers (IM):


IM clients can expose the user IP address to outsiders. Attackers can penetrate a corporate network by first attacking users who remotely access the corporate VPN from home.


Although most companies have antivirus software in place to scan email messages, such protection does not apply to IM file transfers. A virus, such as W32/Hello, can spread via IM file transfers.


IM is often used by attackers to communicate among each other, and to control systems with backdoors installed.


Messages sent via most IM clients are clear text, which can also be misused.


Technology

Browser-Based, Network-Protocol, Client-Server, Peer-to-Peer, Cloud-Based, Mobile-Device

Behavior

  • Reasonable