Along the road of Windows Live Messenger popularity comes exploits and exploiters. The latter is probably the most dangerous. In the past three years I've noticed that there has been a horrific increase in viruses that advertise things on Windows Live Messenger, and which don't seem to be removable.

One of my friends sent me a message today and I realised she had gotten one (her little sister clicked a link she shouldn't have).

IM-Names is a virus that will send your contacts messages that look like this:



Like always, a quick google search provides a quick fix:



I suggest that you warn your contacts via e-mail that they may have gotten the virus, and that they can remove it with the above instructions.

Here are, however, a few tips you should always follow (and which you should encourage your contacts to follow as well):

• Never, ever download something you don't have proof is safe
• Never go to a link from anyone unless your contact tells you what it is
• If a link is given from a contact and it doesn't seem like they would link you there, they're probably infected
• Last but not least, never get any Messenger Add-ons that aren't talked about anywhere, they are probably not safe

IM-Names removal instructions
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