FAQ and Review

Q: I shut down Pidgin last night. Today, when I launched the program again, I did not see any of my contacts, even though I knew they were online.

A: This happens sometimes if your account was not shut down properly (the Internet connection was dropped or your computer had crashed). You need to re-enable your account. To re-enable your account Select: Accounts > Add/Edit menu and check the box next to your account.

Figure 30: The The Accounts screen with a re-enabled account

Q: Can I use Pidgin-OTR to chat with friends in both MSN and Yahoo?

A: Although Pidgin-OTR supports a number of chat and messaging services, you have to use the same provider to initiate an IM session with your buddy. You both need to use an MSN or a Google Talk account for example. However, in Pidgin you can register and be online with several IM accounts simultaneously. That's the beauty of using a multi-protocol IM client.

Q: What would happen if I had to access my Pidgin-OTR account on another computer?

A: You would have to generate a new private key to use with your IM account on that computer. You can start a conversation with your buddy using this new key, but you will need to authenticate your session again.

Q: What if I forget the login password for my IM account? Or what if someone steals it? Will they have access to my past and future conversations?

A: This is a very important question. First of all, if you forget your login password, you will have to generate a new IM account. Then, you can tell your friend about the new account by telephone, Skype voice-chat, or secure email. Finally, you should create a new, authenticated session with him/her. If however, someone steals your IM password, that person could try to impersonate you when using Pidgin. Luckily, he/she won't be able to authenticate the session without your shared code word, and so your buddy should be alerted and become suspicious. That's why authentication is so important. Furthermore, if you followed the instructions above and set the recommended preferences in the OTR 'Config' tab, then even someone who steals your password won't have access to your past conversations, since you chose not to record them.

5.1 Review questions

• What are the requirements for creating an account in Pidgin?

• Is it possible to register and use several instant messaging accounts in Pidgin at once?

• What are the requirements for having a private and authenticated chat session in Pidgin?

• How many times do you need to 'authenticate' your chat session with a given buddy?

• What is a fingerprint in Pidgin?

• What will happen to your OTR preferences (including received keys' fingerprints) when you install Pidgin and OTR on another computer?