** Note :

These comments are my personal thoughts on DCC, and apply to any IRC Client/Software (e.g. Pirch, Mirc, Virc, ircII, Ircle, MacIRC, etc...), which has DCC as one of its functions.

The Chat server may mask all IPs when you are in chat, providing a fairly reasonable security mechanism - if a wanna-be-nasty attempted to "flood" or in other way disrupt your chatting (or worse), they would be disappointed :-)

DCC file transfers and chat, as the name implies, are direct from computer-to-computer.

This method of communication relies on identifying the IP address of each PC. As it is Direct, and not through the chat server, the IP masking/security is being bypassed. That means that during such DCC sessions you have exposed your IP address to the other person.

IMO (In My Opinion), DCC sessions should only be between (very) trusted friends.

For the security conscious, or for those wishing to feel a little more secure :

DO NOT USE DCC

For private messages/chats use:

/msg nick hello.....etc

(this will provide you with a private and confidential chat, while continuing to be protected by the chat server).

For file transfers - try email - and remember to run your Virus Scanning Software against all attachments received ((-: