Understanding IRC?

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Soldato
Joined
3 Dec 2004
Posts
2,639
Hi all,

I am new to IRC and I am struggling to get my head round it!

As i understand;

The IRC world is split into many networks, many more servers are used in each network which contains all the chat rooms. What I don't understand is the connection between networks and content they host i.e are all the rooms talking about different topics not related to each other at all?

For example. I know there is a network called Efnet. Is there a certain area of talk its designed for? As with OcUK its geared at computers, is Efnet targetting a certain group? As far as i can tell everything is completely random?
 
Yes, though some networks are more specific. I.e; quakeworld server (if it's still there?!) held a lot of channels (rooms) which were specific to online gaming, though rooms of any topic were allowed. Perhaps I'm showing my history with this post, who knows...
 
Some are intended for certain audiences - for example Quakenet is obviously geared towards gamers - but seeing as any user can create any channel pertaining to any topic they like, most networks have chat rooms relating to lots of different things.
However, a lot of quakenet's channels would probably be geared towards games but not because the network was designed that way; just because it attracts a lot of gamers.
 
Quakenet is the most used by most people - Especially in the UK aswell. I used to use gamesurge and things which are mainly for the yanks.

Anything computery or any game or event or forum normally has an IRC channel on Quakanet though.

Just connect up, and then type /j (room name) .... Dunno if OCUK has one but im guessing it does.
 
Quakenet - Games
Freenode - Opensource software
EFNet/Rizon - Warez
 
Thanks for help guys :) You've made it much clearer for me.

Whilst on topic, what security precautions would you say is a must?
I'm using something called 'NoNameScritp' which apparently is very good (dont exactly know what it does but it looks great!). Is it worth setting up the SSL?
 
Ye i would use NNscript.

It makes it a lot easier and better to look at, as i find the original IRC a bit of an eye tear tbh.

It has cool functions and things so ye use NN
 
Ice Rich said:
Whilst on topic, what security precautions would you say is a must?
Click to expand...
Dont click any links. Make sure you have any 'auto-accept' options turned *off* in setup (xdcc/files/chat/etc.). Be wary of anyone telling you to do /xxxxx (where xxxx could be anything), as /xxxx is a command for your client.
 
Whilst on topic, what security precautions would you say is a must?
Click to expand...
This is a nice little script i came up with to help stop the script kiddys trying to ctcp/dcc spam you till you get disconected:

/ctcpoff /ignore -dt *!*@* | /echo 3 -a Ignoring All CTCP/DCC Requests!
/ctcpon /ignore -r *!*@* | /echo 3 -a Now Acepting To CTCP/DCC Requests!

place it in your aliases tab. then just type /ctcpoff to ignore all ctcp/dcc messages, if you ever need someone to DCC you something, just type /ctcpon

The script is usefull because without ignoring ctcp, anyone can send a ctcp message to you, and by default your client will respond to certain messages (time, version, ping etc...), because of this, if multiple people do it to you realy fast, you will disconect due to flooding (sending too many messages over a short time span). For the average user there is no use for recieving ctcp.

Also if you decide to go on quakenet, make sure you create an auth with Q (a guide can be found on quakenet.org), once you have authed you can do /mode user +x which will hide your IP from everyone (other then ircops).
 
When it comes to security, other than keeping your client up to date the only real thing to do is use a modicum of common sense. If someone messages you out of the blue and says "Type this to get ops", the chances are it's something untoward. If someone joins a channel and starts spamming addresses, avoid them, don't accept DCCs from strangers when you're not expecting them, and never ever install a script unless you know the scripting language (be it Perl for IRSSI or XChat, or MSL for mIRC) well enough to be sure it does what it says it does.

I've been using IRC on a daily basis since 1995 (first dalnet, then quakenet) and have never had any issues with any of it.

I don't even bother hiding my IP address, although on networks that support it I use IPv6.
 
Most networks are setup for a specific reason, e.g. a specific language (Spanish) or interest. Quakenet was setup for the computer game Quake(world), although it now seems to have morphed into a general network for other games as well.
 
Thanks for replies, I'm glad im not the only one who thinks mIRC can be quite complicated. :)

Longbow said:
Well there's your problem, IE6 users deserve all they get.
Click to expand...

Why are you comparing mIRC to Interent Explorer, is it built on the same engine? Therefore hacks for I.E work in ICR (or mIRC)?
 
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