The real-time, text-based conversation experience known as “instant messaging” seems brand-new.

But, believe it or not, I first experienced “IM” way back in 1985.

At the time I was working for the Educational Computer Corp. Having purchased a new mainframe computer, the company connected employees to it—and, thus, to one another—with basic key boards and monitors. Soon everyone learned about the new communications capability. You could type text to someone and send it to his monitor. He would hear a bell and up would pop the message you just sent. He would answer and the conversation would be on. Nobody I knew used the technology to increase work productivity. Instead, it became a fun distraction.

The next time I came across IM was on CompuServe in 1996.I was uploading our magazine in a forum bulletin board when a window popped up. Someone had decided to just say, “Hello.” I was a bit surprised by this uninvited guest but answered anyway. At that time online access was limited. So I told the person I had work to do and couldn't afford to just chat.

Around this time, an Israeli company developed a free DVI program. With its software, called ICQ, instant messaging exploded on the Internet. The innovation allowed people to know whether or not their friends were online and to set up times to chat live.

The Israeli company was bought by America Online in 1998; Brother Mark here used AOL's Instant Messenger extensively before joining our community. So I asked him about the difficulties he experienced with it.

In most IM programs, there is a shut-off feature that allows you to block all IMs—or just IMs from certain people, Brother Mark explains. “I had an online Ebay business,” he continued. “Trying to run a business online while others are trying to talk to you can be a little nerve-wracking. But if you block your friends, and they find out you are online at the same time but that you've shut off your IM feature, sometimes there can be hurt feelings all around when one of them feels slighted that you won't give them your instant attention.”

Brother Mark also says it's important to remember that you can block some IMs some of the time, but you can't block all IMs all of the time. For example, a person can surf profiles and find out whether or not you are online. Even if your instant messaging is turned off, this person can find out if you are in a chat room and then come in that room to send you a message. He can also decide to e-mail you things you'd rather not be exposed to.

“When you are talking to someone by DVI and they are in an AOL chat room,” Brother Mark adds, “your e-mail address can be harvested for advertising because you are connected to them by IM.”

Brother Mark's experience was with AOL's Instant Messenger, which is even available to non-AOL users (at aol.com/aim/ home.html). However, there are other IM programs out there, including Microsoft's MSN Messenger (messenger.msn.com) and Yahoo! Messenger (messen-ger.yahoo.com). Given the competition between MSN and AOL, if you already have AIM and then install MSN Messenger, it will automatically make itself your system's default IM. And with Windows XP, MSN Messenger automatically opens every time Outlook Express is opened. It seems Microsoft may be flexing its muscles to dominate IM.

Then, too, IM technology has moved beyond simple text chat. MSN Messenger advertises the ability to have audio and video conversations, hold online meetings, play online collaborative games and share programs installed on your computer. Of course, some of these features do not work so well on low-bandwidth connections such as a dial-up modem.

With the rise of e-mail viruses, some people are turning to DVI for a safer communications medium. IM viruses are relatively few. However, according to Christopher Saunders, managing editor of InstantMes sagePlanet.com, the consumer-grade variety of IM is widely known to have a myriad of security holes—and people are taking advantage of it.

The first half of this year saw a 400% rise from the previous year of IM virus threats, according to Symantec Corporation. IM software also can open the door to remote control of your computer by hackers, in connection with chat rooms. Fortunately, anti-virus programs are being expanded to look at IM as another method of virus delivery.

Tired of spam? How about turning to IM? Spam is slowly making its way into this medium. However, users can keep it off their IM, for now, by only accepting messages from people on their contact lists.

If you are a current IM user and want to safeguard against viruses, hackers and spam, try Zone Labs' IMsecure software (go to zonelabs.com for info). There is a free version and a full-function version. The latter comes with a year of updates and support for $19.95.

I have resisted getting involved with IM. E-mail is still fast enough for me. I would never get any work done, like this article, with IMs popping up continually. There are people who multitask very well. I'll leave the IM to them.

Brother John Raymond,

co-founder of the Monks of

Adoration, writes from Venice, Florida.