Password - Security and Privacy

Protect Yourself with Your ICQ Password
When you register with ICQ you are asked to create a password. It's the key to using your ICQ number.

Keep your ICQ password safe: Never tell anyone your password.
Be cautious of someone claiming to be associated with ICQ who asks for your password. The ICQ staff will NEVER ask for your password.
Your password should include a combination of letters and numbers.

In this section we help you:

Set Your Password Protection
Change Your Password
Retrieve Your Password

Set Your Password Protection

Click Main -> Preferences & Security -> General (under Security).
Choose from the following options in the Security Level section:
- Low enables most ICQ operations to work without entering a password (including when you log on to and update your ICQ User Details). Low may be suitable if you're the only person with access to the computer from which you ICQ.
- Medium requires password entry for changing your User Details, password, and other settings. However, many other ICQ operations will not require a password.
- High demands password entry to log on to ICQ, access the Contact List, change your User Details or ICQ settings, and carry out numerous ICQ operations. High is recommended for users who share computers.
Click Apply to save your settings, or Cancel to exit the dialog box without saving your changes.

Change Your Password

Security experts advise that users change passwords regularly as a standard security precaution. Select a random password that can't be guessed. It's recommended that you choose strings of letters (upper and lower case) and numbers.

Click Main –> Preferences & Security (under Security) –> Password.
Enter your new password in the Type Your New Password field.
Add the same password into the Retype New Password field and click Apply.
Enter your current password in the Password Verification dialog box and click OK.
Click the Apply button to save your settings. Or click Cancel to exit the dialog without saving changes.

Note:

Protect your password, because whoever knows it has the key to your ICQ account! Never reveal it to anyone, including people claiming to be associated with ICQ - ICQ staff will never ask for your password. Since it's important that you remember your password we recommend that you write it down and keep it in a safe place.

Retrieve Your Password

If you've forgotten or misplaced your password, click here and find out what it was with ICQ's web based password retrieval service. The password retrieval service sends your password to any email address entered in your User Details.