Welcome to the SpywareInfo / TomCoyote IRC chat room. IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a system that allows people
from all over the world to connect to chat servers and communicate with one another. For more information about IRC, please visit irchelp.org.
Privacy Notice
This is a public chat system using non-encrypted transmissions over public (and private) servers and routers. The conversations in the chat room are logged for various reasons. If you have something to say that you wouldn't want to see published on a public web site, don't say it in the open channel.
Using either our java program or a desktop IRC client, you can chat in private with someone. Double click their name in the user list and a separate window will pop up for both of you to chat in. The conversation will not be seen in the public channel. Keep in mind that the conversation is still unencrypted.
Skip all this and start chatting
There are two ways to access this chat room.
Desktop IRC Client
If you have an IRC client, connect to irc.dixiesys.net on port 6667 and join #privacy once you are connected.
The most popular IRC client is mIRC. mIRC only works on Windows.
Java Client
If you do not have an IRC client and prefer not to download one, we also have a java IRC client that will run in your browser window. The java applet will open in a pop up window sized to fit around it. This is to stop you from accidently using the window for opening a link or accidently closing it.
Depending on settings, users of Netscape, Mozilla, and Firebird may notice that the applet loads in a pop up window and in a background tab. We have no idea how to fix this.
If you have disabled javascript, the applet will open in a full-sized window. If nothing happens when you click the chat link, then you have something filtering out pop up windows and need to disable it long enough to load the chat window.
When the java chat program loads, it will need to install some components so that it can work with your browser. Depending on your security settings, it will probably cause a security alert, similar to these:
Please give the applet permission to install its components or it will not work. These components are perfectly safe to install. If installing them makes you uneasy, you can always use one of the desktop IRC clients mentioned above.
If you have any problems with or questions about this java chat program, please refer to the developer's FAQ. We don't know any more about it than you do.
Click here to start chatting
Accept advice at your own risk
SpywareInfo and/or TomCoyote will not be held responsible or liable for damages caused by bad advice given by anyone in the chat room. We generally know what we're talking about, but if advise you to do something and it causes damage of any sort, we can not be held responsible for that.
Don't worry if no one is talking
Not everyone you see logged on is paying attention to their computer, so don't be offended if you join a chat room full of people and no one says anything. Depending on the time, you might catch us all asleep.
Type someone's name if you urgently need to get someone's attention. Many of us have our chat programs set to beep when our name is typed.
Do not send someone a private message without asking permission
It is annoying to most people for a perfect stranger to send a private message uninvited. If something needs to be said in private, ask them if they'd mind before just starting a private chat.
Everyone is a volunteer
No one gets paid to answer questions. This chat room is a place to hang out first, and a place to get tech support second. We're happy to assist any way we can, but if no one is able to help, then that is that.
This is not Disney World
We prefer to keep the language and behavior clean, however this is not Disney World. Don't be surprised if you see foul language being used or chatters flirting with each other.
This is not a democracy
You have no rights or votes in an IRC chat room. Your right to free speech ends when it offends someone else in the chat room or becomes disruptive.
We reserve the right to remove any person that we feel needs to go. If you become disruptive, we will remove you.
If you have never been here before, but receive a message that your address is banned, that means that someone at your ISP did something to get themselves banned. Please use the support forums or try again later.
