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How to use IRC
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2025 8:26 pm
by MetalJack98
Hi guys! Today I'm gonna teach you how to use IRC.
What is IRC?
If you don't know what IRC is, it stands for Internet Relay Chat, and it was invented in 1988 by a finish university student and was really popular back in the 90's-early 2000's. To this day, people still host IRC servers, and clients have been developed so much that it's become a very secure and anonymous chat protocol. You might be wondering, "Why would I ever in my life use this?" Because IRC can be used on anything and is by far one of THE most efficient and secure instant messaging services to exist. Some of you might be using an app called Signal because of it's end to end encryption, but with IRC you can also get really secure connections, and you can make it as secure as you want depending on what it is. All you have to do is download a client, and connect to a server. You can even connect through a VPN, Proxy, or through TOR.
How do I use IRC?
Ok so first you need an IRC client. If you're on mobile I recommend IRCcloud, and if you're on PC I recommend HexChat. You can also use a client on your web browser such as the one offered on Libera.Chat and others. Libera also offers guides on how to connect to their server in their FAQ, as well as how IRC works.
STEP 1:
Install a client
STEP 2:
Connect to a server of your choice. I'll be using Libera as an example.
STEP 3 (optional):
Authenticate with NickServ or other services (I'll explain more on that in a minute.)
Is this safe to use?
Ok so I wanna address the safety of this, it is VERY safe*.
*If you make it that way.
I wanna make it clear that if you join a channel, your IP can be exposed to people in it, but you can do things to hide your IP. The reason why I bring up Libera so much is because they have a service called NickServ which hides your IP. If you wanted to use other servers however, you can use IRC bouncers like IRCcloud or ZNC which sorta acts like a proxy and connects to a server for you so it doesn't reveal your real IP.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, refer to Libera's FAQ on how to use IRC, check out my IRC projects on my website, or ask in the replies or on my message board service NetNerdz.
Have fun folks!
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2025 11:00 pm
by frenchfry
I love IRC
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:49 am
by Patachoo
I honestly didn't know about IRC term until today, that's interesting
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:34 pm
by lakes
metaljack98 wrote:I wanna make it clear that if you join a channel, your IP can be exposed to people in it, but you can do things to hide your IP. The reason why I bring up Libera so much is because they have a service called NickServ which hides your IP. If you wanted to use other servers however, you can use IRC bouncers like IRCcloud or ZNC which sorta acts like a proxy and connects to a server for you so it doesn't reveal your real IP.
Question: Do should I still use NickServ if I have a VPN on?
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:53 pm
by Daniele63
lakes wrote:I wanna make it clear that if you join a channel, your IP can be exposed to people in it, but you can do things to hide your IP. The reason why I bring up Libera so much is because they have a service called NickServ which hides your IP. If you wanted to use other servers however, you can use IRC bouncers like IRCcloud or ZNC which sorta acts like a proxy and connects to a server for you so it doesn't reveal your real IP.Question: Do should I still use NickServ if I have a VPN on?
We just set it to registered people only (to prevent guests with exposed IP's) so yeah you may still need to use it to access our chat.
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:59 pm
by lakes
admin wrote:Question: Do should I still use NickServ if I have a VPN on?We just set it to registered people only (to prevent guests with exposed IP's) so yeah you may still need to use it to access our chat.
Ok how do I register and stay logged into NickServ? May I ask?
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 4:05 pm
by Daniele63
lakes wrote:We just set it to registered people only (to prevent guests with exposed IP's) so yeah you may still need to use it to access our chat.Ok how do I register and stay logged into NickServ? May I ask?
First you need to connect to the libera.chat channel on either an standalone or a web IRC client.
irc.libera.chat
port: 6697
Then type those commands:
Choose your name:
/nick YourNick
Register:
/msg NickServ REGISTER YourPassword youremail@example.com
You will then have to look at your emails to verify your account.
Then login like this:
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY YourNick YourPassword
Then you can go to the channel called #frutiger-aero-archive.
All that info can be found here.
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2025 5:11 am
by KarateMaster
IRC is a real trooper in the sense that it outlasted most other forms of Internet communication. Yeah, I don't think it's even "dead", especially given this thread exists, but it coexisted alongside even Skype in the 2010s. I think a large reason is the people who use IRC were always enthusiasts anyway, and console hackers and programmers still had a use for it.
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2025 5:14 am
by MetalJack98
KarateMaster wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 5:11 am
IRC is a real trooper in the sense that it outlasted most other forms of Internet communication. Yeah, I don't think it's even "dead", especially given this thread exists, but it coexisted alongside even Skype in the 2010s. I think a large reason is the people who use IRC were always enthusiasts anyway, and console hackers and programmers still had a use for it.
If you didn't know it already, it's original intent was an instant messaging platform for BBS users in the late 80's. But when it was made, it was used for SO much else too.
Re: How to use IRC
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:19 am
by KarateMaster
MetalJack98 wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 5:14 am
KarateMaster wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 5:11 am
IRC is a real trooper in the sense that it outlasted most other forms of Internet communication. Yeah, I don't think it's even "dead", especially given this thread exists, but it coexisted alongside even Skype in the 2010s. I think a large reason is the people who use IRC were always enthusiasts anyway, and console hackers and programmers still had a use for it.
If you didn't know it already, it's original intent was an instant messaging platform for BBS users in the late 80's. But when it was made, it was used for SO much else too.
Totally yeah, I actually got into the BBS history stuff for a bit a couple years ago, especially after watching that documentary about it. That era was before my time, so it was cool to learn about how people communicated with computers in the 80's and early 90's.
