"Instant messaging is everywhere nowadays, but people who use it may be surprised to know how trivial it is to listen in on their private conversations. Snoopers can use tools like tcpdump and aimsniff to tap into the contents of the messages. But with a little free software, IMers can be secure in the knowledge their conversations are, well, secure.
"Gaim is the most popular free instant messaging platform. Available for most Unix operating systems, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows, Gaim can connect to most IM networks, including AIM, Yahoo, MSN, and Jabber..."
