Security Connections
All messages through the IRC network are passed with clear text . In some broken IRC servers , there might be a possibility that others can read your private messages . Althrough the DCC connections can offer some security , some times DCC's are slower , and maybe not easy to connect or not . TurboIRC has a mechanism to secure transferred messages through the IRC network , or through a DCC connection .
IRC Private Conversations
When the query window is open , you talk to someone and the messages are passed through the irc network with clear text . TurboIRC enables you to use a 1024-bit encryption key that will encrypt the message sent in such a way, that it will be able to be transferred through the IRC network . Here is the step :
In the Window , press "Security" button or enter /sendkey
This creates the random 1024-bit key and sends it to the remote side .
TurboIRC shows "Key sent to remote side" . If the other side does not run a TurboIRC client , it will show "garbage data" . Do not worry , you will still be able to transfer messages , without encryption .
If the remote side is TurboIRC , it will send a response that the key is accepted . Then the security is enabled and the nicks in the window are shown in red instead of black . You are sure now that no one can read your private messages . ( The way the encrypted messages are shown can be changed with Appearance Formatting ) .
You may reset the key just by pressing the Security button anytime !
Warning : TurboIRC cannot determine if the remote side has closed the query window . If you cannot understand the messages from another , just close and reopen the query window . The encryption will be stopped and you can reset it again .
The messages are encrypted and encoded with a way that there is no possibility that the message will carry the 0x1 ( CTCP ) character . Therefore , all messages including CTCPs or single messages that have 0x1 in the text , are NOT encrypted .
DCC Secure Conversations
You can add more security to your chats , by establishing a SECURECHAT connection . NOTE THAT SECURECHAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE DCC CHAT PROTOCOL . ONLY TurboIRC CLIENTS CAN USE THE SECURE DCC CONNECTION .
When you ask or be asked for a SECURE dcc , the key will be automatically created and used . You may reset it as well as the private irc conversations . The key is updated frequently automatically .
Unlike Private IRC messages , TurboIRC can understand if the remote side has closed the connections , and discard the encryption method .
See also :