Editing AIM (software) (section)

==Vulnerabilities==
AIM had security weaknesses that have enabled [[exploit (computer security)|exploits]] to be created that used third-party software to perform malicious acts on users' computers.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Jaikumar|last1=Vijayan|accessdate=2024-03-05|title=AOL Instant Messenger vulnerable to hackers|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2586310/aol-instant-messenger-vulnerable-to-hackers.html|date=2 January 2002|website=Computerworld}}</ref> Although most were relatively harmless, such as being kicked off the AIM service, others performed potentially dangerous actions, such as sending [[computer virus|viruses]]. Some of these exploits relied on [[social engineering (security)|social engineering]] to spread by automatically sending instant messages that contained a [[URL|Uniform Resource Locator]] (URL) accompanied by text suggesting the receiving user click on it, an action which leads to infection, ''i.e.'', a [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojan horse]]. These messages could easily be mistaken as coming from a friend and contain a link to a Web address that installed software on the user's computer to restart the cycle.{{fact|date=March 2024}}