Stop Advertisements in AOL Instant Messenger

Are you sick of all the popups in AIM? You can get rid of them pretty easily by installing AIM Ad-Hack.

Steps

  1. Go to Cuban Aftermath's AIM ad hack site and download the latest release of AIM ad-hack.
  2. Open the installer.
  3. Accept the agreement.
  4. Choose what you want installed. By default, AIM ad hack will block installation of the AIM web browser, AIM toolbar, Weather Bug, and Wild Tangent and it will also block the installation of most other software included with AIM.
  5. The installer will then connect to the internet to download and install AIM, but it will modify the AIM client so that ads are not downloaded (yes, it doesn't just hide the ads, it removes them.)
  6. Once the Ad-Hack is installed, open the preferences and open the ads tab, you will notice an option that doesn't come with AIM by default in the ads tab. It will allow you to switch ads off entirely.
  7. Enjoy the fully featured ad free version of AOL Instant Messenger!

Alternate Method

  1. Log into your router and in the router menu there should be a section listed as “block websites (Netgear), filters (Dlink), internet filter, etc.‿. The name of the section varies by router manufacturer but it should be easy enough to find; you might have to dig through your router's menu to find it. When you find the section in your router, you will need to look for “website blocking/filtering" or “URL blocking/filtering" Make sure to enable website/URL blocking if it isn’t enabled already.
  2. Add (without quotes) “www.aim.com/redirects/*" and click on apply/ok/etc. You might be prompted to reboot your router; this is normal. You can now use AIM without the annoying ads. Your router will filter out and block the ads from reaching PC’s connected to your router. Software-based firewalls with customizable filtering rules like Zone Alarm work as well.

Tips

  • Make sure you also disable the "Launch AIM.com at start-up" feature to prevent it from opening.
  • There is third party software available that will allow you to connect to AOL's Instant Messenger service without any form of advertising. Many of them can access other chat protocols as well.
  • Trillian supports IRC, YIM, AIM, ICQ and MSN. Trillian Pro supports Jabber (including Google Talk), Groupwise, and Rendezvous. Trillian Basic is free, while Trillian Pro cost $25, but comes with a lot of extra features and supports more protocols. Trillian only runs on Windows, however it may also be capable of running on wine on Linux.
  • Pidgin supports AIM, YIM, ICQ, MSN, Jabber (including Google Talk), Groupwise, Zepher, SILC, and Gadu-Gadu. There are plugins for Pidgin that also offer support for Xfire, Battle.net, SNPP, Blogger, and Lotus Sametime (Meanwhile). Pidgin is also open source so it is free and you may modify it's code. Pidgin can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux (it is commonly preinstalled on many Linux builds)
  • If you chose to use either Trillian or Pidgin and are wondering why Trillian and Pidgin both put AIM and ICQ in the same protocol plug-in, it is because AIM and ICQ both use the same server running the same protocol (OSCAR)! What this means is that an AIM users may send IMs to ICQ users. To do so, simply enter someones ICQ number into your buddy list and send them an IM. This feature is a little buggy, so you may see weird HTML text in your message and you probably will not be able to engage in file transferring, voice, or video. Also, people who use the official AIM software can communicate with ICQ as well.

Warnings

  • For a while AOL was trying to block 3rd party software from being capable of accessing their servers. While AIM ad hack should always work as it uses the same client as AOL makes just with modifications, Trillian and Pidgin could be blocked. AOL seems to have quit trying to block third party software (as they sometimes wound up forcing the people who used their client to upgrade to the newest version)
  • Keep in mind, the use of 3rd party software is discouraged by AOL, as well as discouraged by MSN and Yahoo (but Google doesn't discourage users from using third party software for their Talk service, in fact they encourage it).

Things You'll Need

  • For AIM ad-hack you'll need Windows. If you use 98 or ME you may need the older version of AIM ad-hack. You will also need Internet Explorer version 6.0 for the Triton version and IE 5.5 for the older version. You also should have 128 MB of RAM. About 20 MB of hard disk space. A 32kb modem should work, however you should try to use at least a 56.6 KB modem or Ethernet. You may also need Macromedia Flash (Flash may just be used for the ads, but some other features of AIM might require flash.) Any Pentium Processor (or similar Processor)should work. You will also need an internet connection that supports IM. Keep in mind, these are the minimum requirements, more RAM and a faster connection enhance performance.
  • For Pidgin you will need either Windows, Linux, or Mac (it takes a little work to get it running on Mac as there are other things you must install) You will also need an Internet Connection and the amount of RAM and disk space varies based on the number of plug-ins installed and the number of IM services you are connecting to.
  • For Trillian you will need 30 MB disk space, 64 MB of RAM, an internet connection, and Windows 98/ME/2000/XP (it might run on wine).

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Sources and Citations

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