How to change AOL’s AIM settings

General

While AOL Canada is still offering the older version of its Instant Messenger (AIM), 5.5, the U.S. service is now offering a newer version, 6.1. AIM 6.1 is more than just a visual upgrade, it addresses many of the security concerns found in version 5.5.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be making sure it’s as safe as possible for your children. AOL has done a great job making the settings in AIM 6.1 default to the safest values. Of course, your children can, and likely will, change them. So this will be more of a housekeeping exercise as opposed to a full security sweep.

In AIM 6.1, at the top of the program, select “Edit”, then follow the drop-down list to the bottom and click “Settings”. 6.1This will open a familiar-looking window with options on the left, and settings in the main body. Start at the top with the first option of “General IM”. The date stamp option should be checked to keep a record of the times and dates of the chats. It’s important to make sure that the “Auto-Accept IMs from unknown senders” is unchecked. This will prevent strangers from contacting your children. It should be disabled permanently by AOL, and not be an option at all due to the risk it opens. But it is unchecked by default. Below, in Enhanced IM, ensure all of the boxes are unchecked. This will force the program to require permission to turn on the camera or start voice chats.

Further down on the left, find the “IM Logging”, and check both the “Log IMs” and “Log Chats”. As with the other programs, these logs are only for emergencies. 6.1Always respect your children’s privacy regarding these logs, as these are along the same lines as diary entries. Only resort to reading the logs when a legitimate concern exists that might involve the police.

Further down in the “Privacy” section, check the button next to “Allow only users on my buddy list”. Again, this limits your children’s exposure to only those people they add to their list.

As mentioned above, the new AIM does a very good job making AIM safe right from the start, and most of the settings listed above are already set by default. It’s just a matter of checking in from time to time to make sure they stay this way.

For comparison’s sake, here’s how to make sure the earlier version, 5.5, is safe, too:

Again, its functions are very similar to the other two messaging programs, Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. It’s simpler than Yahoo!, with fewer options to change.

To get to the options in AIM, select “My AIM” at the top of the main window. Move the arrow down to “Edit Options”, where the program will kick out another list. Select “Edit Preferences” This will open a new window that looks very similar to Yahoo and Windows Messengers.

Click the “Privacy” link on the left. Select the middle option for both the “Allow” and “Block” settings. This will ensure that only those users that your children have added can contact them. At the bottom of this option screen, it asks what to do if people know your e-mail address. Select “Nothing about me”. This will ensure that only your children are able to add people to their list.

Further down the list, select “Direct IM”. Make certain that under the “When I receive a Direct IM Connection request” that “Display Approve Dialog” is selected for people on the buddy list, and “Don’t Allow” is selected for those not on the buddy list.

As always, make sure that personal information about your children is kept off the program. Select “My AIM” at the top, and select “Edit Profile”. Uncheck “Allow People to Search for Me”. Select “Next” and make sure that “I am available for chat” is unchecked as well. This will again prevent those people your children didn’t add from contacting them.

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