Editing MIRC

{{short description|Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client for Microsoft Windows}}
{{lowercase}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = mIRC
| logo                   = Mircnewlogo.png
| screenshot             = MIRC Screenshot.png
| caption                = Screenshot of an unmodified mIRC 7.27 running on [[Windows 7]]
| author                 = Khaled Mardam-Bey
| developer              = mIRC Co. Ltd.
| released               = {{Release date|1995|02|28|df=y}}
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q211680|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date    = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q211680|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q211680|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date    = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q211680|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| programming language   = [[C (programming language)|C]]/[[C++]]<ref name=PFAQ-Language/>
| operating system       = [[Windows XP]] and later
| platform               = [[IA-32]]
| language               = 
| genre                  = [[IRC client]]
| license                = [[Proprietary Software|Proprietary]]/[[Trialware]]
| website                = {{URL|https://www.mirc.com/}}
}}

'''mIRC''' is an [[Internet Relay Chat]] (IRC) client for [[Windows]] with an [[mIRC scripting language|integrated scripting language]] allowing the creation of [[extensible|extensions]].<ref name="Smith"/> The software was first released in 1995 and has since been described as "one of the most popular IRC clients available for Windows."<ref name="Smith" /> mIRC is [[shareware]] and requires payment<!-- Wikipedia doesn't list prices--> for registration after the 30-day evaluation period.<ref name="REG" />

==History==
mIRC was created by Khaled Mardam-Bey,<ref>{{cite web|last=Mattson|first=Bill|title=Chatting With Other Sailors|website=thebeachcats.com|publisher=|date=1998|url=https://www.thebeachcats.com/OnTheWire/wwwcatsail/archives/v3-i4/feature3.htm|access-date=2024-06-01}}</ref> a British [[programmer]] born in Jordan to a [[Syrians in Jordan|Syrian]] father and a [[Palestinians in Jordan|Palestinian]] mother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=mIRC: Personal FAQ |url=https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=www.mirc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=mIRC: Personal FAQ |url=https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.mirc.com}}</ref> He began developing the software in late 1994, and released its first version on 28 February 1995.<ref name=khaled>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirc.com/khaled.html|title=mIRC: Khaled Mardam-Bey|website=www.mirc.com}}</ref>

Mardam-Bey states that he decided to create mIRC because he felt the first IRC [[Client (computing)|client]]s for Windows lacked some basic [[IRC]] features. He then continued developing it due to the challenge and the fact that people appreciated his work. The author states that its subsequent popularity allowed him to make a living out of mIRC.<ref name="PFAQ"/> He also jokingly states that the "m" in mIRC stands for "moo" or "[[Mu_(negative)|MU]]" (meaning 'nothing' in Japanese and Korean).<ref name="PFAQ-Meaning"/>

mIRC 5.91 is the final version to support [[16-bit]] Windows;<ref name="FAQS2"/> 6.35 is the last to support [[Windows 95]], [[Windows NT 4.0|NT 4.0]], [[Windows 98|98]], and [[Windows ME|ME]]. The current version supports [[Windows XP]] and later.<ref name="GET"/>

The application makes an appearance in the 2006 music video for "[[Boten Anna]]" by Swedish singer [[Basshunter]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-did-slack-win-out-over-irc-anyway/ | title = Why Did Slack Win Out Over IRC, Anyway? | website = [[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] | author = Ernie Smith | date = 13 February 2018 | access-date = 12 June 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201107073309/https://www.vice.com/en/article/xw5wvj/why-did-slack-win-out-over-irc-anyway | archive-date = 7 November 2020 | url-status = live}}</ref>

==Main features==
mIRC has a number of distinguishing features. One is its scripting language which is further developed with each version. The scripting language can be used to make minor changes to the program like custom commands (aliases),<ref name="Smith"/> but can also used to completely alter the behavior and appearance of mIRC. Another claimed feature is mIRC's file sharing abilities, via the [[Direct Client-to-Client|DCC]] protocol, featuring a built-in file server.<ref name="FAQ6"/>

Starting with mIRC 7.1, released on 30 July 2010,<ref name="News"/> [[Unicode]] and [[IPv6]] are supported.<!-- primary ok for release dates and numbers. -->

===mIRC scripting===
{{main|mIRC scripting language}} <!-- moved to separate article per [[WP:SPLIT]] -->
mIRC's abilities and behaviors can be altered and extended using the embedded mIRC scripting language. mIRC includes its own GUI scripting editor,<ref name="Smith"/> with help that has been described as "extremely detailed".<ref name=Smith />

Due to the level of access the language has to a user's computer — for example, being able to rename and delete files — a number of abusive scripts have been made. One example of abuse was that executed with the $decode identifier which decodes a given encoded string.<ref name="Securiteam"/><ref name="EthHack"/> The issue was reported in August 2001; even five months later, users were still being reported as having fallen prey, tricked into executing commands on their systems which result in "handing control of [their] mIRC over to somebody else".<ref>Lo, Joseph, ed. (January 4, 2002). [http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/news/ "IRC News Jan 04 02 Happy 2002 - //$decode trojan keeps going and going... "] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801103533/http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/news/ |date=2012-08-01 }}. and <br/>"Aug 30 01 mIRC $decode() exploit." IRChelp.org.</ref> <!--Such messages were disguised as a fake promise of operator status in an IRC channel.--> This led to changes being made in mIRC version 6.17: according to the author, $decode is now disabled by default, and various other features which can be considered dangerous are now lockable.<ref name="News"/>

== Reception ==
mIRC has been downloaded over 40 million times from [[CNET]]'s [[Download.com]] service.<ref name="CNET" /> In 2003, Nielsen/NetRatings ranked mIRC among the top ten most popular Internet applications.<ref name="IntNews" />

== References ==

{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=PFAQ>
{{cite web
| title = mIRC: Personal FAQ
| url = https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html
| publisher = mirc.com
| access-date = 19 July 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230719163745/https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html
| archive-date = 19 July 2023}}
</ref>

<ref name=PFAQ-Meaning>
{{cite web
| title = mIRC: Personal FAQ - Meaning
| url = https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html#meaning:~:text=Question%3A%20What%20does%20the,MU.
| publisher = mirc.com
| access-date = 19 July 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230719163745/https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html
| archive-date = 19 July 2023}}
</ref>

<ref name=PFAQ-Language>
{{cite web
| title = mIRC: Personal FAQ - Language
| url = https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html#language:~:text=Question%3A%20In%20which%20language,C%2B%2B.
| publisher = mirc.com
| access-date = 19 July 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230719163745/https://www.mirc.com/pfaq.html
| archive-date = 19 July 2023}}
</ref>

<ref name="CNET">{{cite web|url=https://download.cnet.com/mIRC/3000-2150_4-10001733.html|title=mIRC |publisher=Download.CNet.com |access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>

<ref name="IntNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.internetnews.com/stats/article.php/3096631|title=InternetNews Traffic Patterns 2003 |date=22 October 2003 |publisher=InternetNews.com |access-date=2008-08-13}}</ref>

<ref name="FAQS2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20020208082842/http://www.mirc.com/faq.html#section2 "mIRC 6.0 drops 16bit support"]. mirc.com.</ref><!-- primary is fine -->

<ref name="REG">[https://www.mirc.com/register.html "Registration"]. mirc.com.</ref><!-- Primary is fine for such a detail -->

<ref name="FAQ6">{{cite web |url=https://www.mirc.com/faq6.html#section6-30 |title=mIRC FAQ: Section 6 | publisher= mirc.com |access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>

<ref name="GET">[https://www.mirc.com/get.html "mIRC download for 6.35 and latest version"]. mirc.com. Retrieved 2018-12-10.</ref>

<ref name="News">{{cite web |url=https://www.mirc.com/news.html |title=mIRC: Latest News | publisher= mirc.com |access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>


<ref name="Smith">{{cite book
 |last=Smith
 |first=Chris
 |year=2004
 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MbHAnBh9AqQC&q=mIRC+scripting+language&pg=PA71
 |chapter=Hack #20 Automate IRC with Scripting
 |title=IRC Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools
 |editor=Paul Mutton\
 |publisher= O'Reilly Media, Inc.
 |pages=71–74
|isbn=9780596006877
 }}</ref>

<ref name="Securiteam">[http://www.securiteam.com/windowsntfocus/5TP0T1P6AS.html "mIRC Backdoors - An Advanced Overview"]. originally by ReDeeMeR. Securiteam.com ''Windows NT Focus''. 24 February 2002.</ref>

<ref name="EthHack">Ahmadi Bidakhwidi, Mohammad (2005) [http://www.ethicalhacker.net/content/view/26/2/ "mIRC Worm"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103072612/http://www.ethicalhacker.net/content/view/26/2 |date=2012-11-03 }}. The Ethical Hacker.</ref>

}}<!-- end of refs= list -->

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book |first=Peter |last=Szor |year=2005 |title=The Art of Computer Virus Research and Defense |publisher=Pearson Education |chapter=3.7.7}}<!-- discusses mIRC attack vector -->
*{{Cite book |first1=David |last1=Harley |first2=Robert S. |last2=Vibert |year=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LBzXf0A-jQwC&q=mIRC+scripting+language&pg=PA147 |title=AVIEN Malware Defense Guide for the Enterprise |publisher=[[Elsevier]]  |page=147|isbn=9780080558660 }}<!--usage in script attacks-->
*{{Cite book |first=Esharenana E. |last=Adomi |year=2008 |title=Security and Software for Cybercafés |publisher=[[Idea Group Inc]] |page=173}}
*{{Cite book |first1=Markus |last1=Jakobsson |first2=Zulfikar |last2=Ramzan |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U8bh6a9Jvz0C&q=mIRC+scripting+language&pg=PA194 |title=Crimeware: Understanding New Attacks and Defenses |publisher=[[Addison-Wesley Professional]] |page=194|isbn=9780132701969 }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[https://www.mirc.com/ Official website]

{{IRC clients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirc}}
[[Category:Windows IRC clients]]
[[Category:1995 software]]
[[Category:Windows-only trialware]]