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The America Online Protocol Revealed

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you've-got-something dept.

Gods Misfit writes "The America Online protocol(Connecting, Logging In, Joining Chats, etc..) has remained a mystery for most of its life. The only way one could log into their AOL account was via the AOL software. A few months ago, some people set out to break down the AOL protocol and open the door for alternative America Online software. This document is the result: The AOL Protocol. A sign on example for Visual Basic programmers has been written and is available here." I suspect a fair number of people never try Linux or one of the BSDs because they're moderately happy with AOL as an ISP, and switching OSes would mean switching ISPs at the same time. A shame that AOL doesn't make this kind of information more easily available.

4 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. Erm...hrmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Most people who use AOL aren't SMART enough to use any OS other than WIndows...

  2. Congratulations! by Methuseus · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    As much as I dislike AOL, I understand many people like it. I'm glad that one more proprietary thing has been broken to help people. I just hope this doesn't make AOL accounts any easier to hack into, as I've heard. I don't know the exact nature of AOL's login process, so does anyone have any idea what the chances this can be used as a malicious hacking tool are?

    --
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, though I'm not yet sure about the universe. - A Einstein
  3. Why should everybody reveal everything?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    Whoop dee damn doo..so now the AOl protocol is revealed. First of all, timothy, why should AOL reveal anything about their own proprietary software??? It's within their rights to keep it confidential if they so desire. It'll keep out Linux and other OS's from connecting, but they're obviously well aware of that and know it's a market not worth pursuing.

    Thats what galls me about these open-source zealots..that everything should and must be open for them to play with. The world isn't made only to benefit you, you hippies.

  4. Hmm by Sturm · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I hate to say it, but chances are, anybody who "needs" AOL as an ISP is likely going to have a difficult time running Linux.