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tools:irc [2025/08/31 05:31] – Humphrey Boa-Garttools:irc [2025/12/02 05:27] (current) – old revision restored (2025/10/11 10:47) Humphrey Boa-Gart
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 ====== Internet Relay Chat (IRC) ====== ====== Internet Relay Chat (IRC) ======
- 
-[{{ :tools:ss_1756546943.png?300|Use the following Hexchat config to connect to our IRC server. //(Click to enlarge)//}}] 
  
 **Internet Relay Chat** (or **IRC**) is one of the oldest chat platforms. However, it is not a service, nor an application, but a //**communication protocol**//. Using the IRC protocol, anyone can spin up a chat server with any number of individual chat rooms, and any compatible program can connect to any of these servers. **Internet Relay Chat** (or **IRC**) is one of the oldest chat platforms. However, it is not a service, nor an application, but a //**communication protocol**//. Using the IRC protocol, anyone can spin up a chat server with any number of individual chat rooms, and any compatible program can connect to any of these servers.
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 Its simple no-frills interface has led to IRC being affectionately nicknamed //Multiplayer Notepad//. To win in IRC, you go and talk, become popular, amass friends, and get ops. Now for most things in life you can just go read Wikipedia, but IRC is confusing as fuck. So let's break it down for the new operatives to learn. Its simple no-frills interface has led to IRC being affectionately nicknamed //Multiplayer Notepad//. To win in IRC, you go and talk, become popular, amass friends, and get ops. Now for most things in life you can just go read Wikipedia, but IRC is confusing as fuck. So let's break it down for the new operatives to learn.
  
- 
-===== AMI @ IRC ===== 
- 
-The Anonymous Military Institute's conference hall is located at **#ami** on [[irc://irc.freenode.net/ami|irc.freenode.net]]. If you are using IRC for the first time, it is recommended you use something simple like [[https://irc.com|IRC.com]], or install [[https://hexchat.github.io/|HexChat]]. Refer to the image to the right for configuring Hexchat, then type ''/join #ami'' once you are connected to Freenode. 
  
 ===== IRC Clients ===== ===== IRC Clients =====
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 If you're just getting started and are feeling apprehensive about installing software right away, perhaps consider a **browser-based client** to get a feel for the IRC ecosystem first. If you're just getting started and are feeling apprehensive about installing software right away, perhaps consider a **browser-based client** to get a feel for the IRC ecosystem first.
  
-  * [[https://irc.com|IRC.com]] //("official" Freenode webchat, type ''/join #ami'' after connecting)// 
   * [[https://kiwiirc.com/|KiwiIRC]]   * [[https://kiwiirc.com/|KiwiIRC]]
   * [[https://www.irccloud.com/|IRCCloud]] //("always-on" paid service)//   * [[https://www.irccloud.com/|IRCCloud]] //("always-on" paid service)//
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 Chat rooms on IRC are called **channels**, which are hosted on **servers**. One server will typically have many channels, and not everyone in one channel will be in the other channels on the same server. Before you can join a channel, you have to connect to a server first. Chat rooms on IRC are called **channels**, which are hosted on **servers**. One server will typically have many channels, and not everyone in one channel will be in the other channels on the same server. Before you can join a channel, you have to connect to a server first.
  
-There are many servers, but for the sake of this tutorial, we will use **Freenode** as an example, since that's where the AMI's channel is hosted. In most clients, you can do this with the ''/server'' command:+There are many servers, none of who want demo traffic from this article, so for the sake of this article we will be joining the nonexistent **#test** channel on **irc.server.org**. In most clients, you can do this with the ''/server'' command:
  
-  /server irc.freenode.net+  /server irc.server.org
      
-Once you are connected, you can type ''/join #ami'' to join our channel.+Once you are connected, you can type ''/join #test'' to join the channel.
  
 All channels are prefixed with the pound (#) sign //(like a hashtag)//. You can type ''/list'' to get a full list of other channels on the server, which you can also join with the ''/join'' command. All channels are prefixed with the pound (#) sign //(like a hashtag)//. You can type ''/list'' to get a full list of other channels on the server, which you can also join with the ''/join'' command.
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 ==== Managing Your "Account" ==== ==== Managing Your "Account" ====
  
-IRC does not require registration, and allows you to chat under almost any name //(aka 'nick' or 'nickname' in IRC terminology)// as a guest. To change your nick, type ''/nick newnickhere''. There is a limit on how long the nick can be; some networks only allow a maximum of 9 characters, while others let you go up to 18.+IRC does not require registration, and allows you to chat under almost any name //(aka 'nick' or 'nickname' in IRC terminology)// as a guest. To change your nick, type ''/nick newnickhere''.
  
-Some servers have nickname registration services, allowing you to keep other people from stealing your nick. On Freenode (and many other servers) this service is called **NickServ**.+Some servers have nickname registration services, allowing you to keep other people from stealing your nick. On many networks this service is called **NickServ**.
  
 You can get a list of available NickServ options with the ''help'' command: You can get a list of available NickServ options with the ''help'' command:
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 === IRC over VPN's === === IRC over VPN's ===
  
-Unless you are connecting from a datacenter //(see **"IRC in the Cloud"** below)// you will want to use a [[security:vpn|VPN]]. This is because on IRC //everyone can see your hostname and IP address//. So if you do not want people tracing back to your location, connect to IRC from a VPN, or from a remote server in the cloud.+Depending on how you are using IRC, you may not always need a [[security:vpn|VPN]]. If you are using TLS to connect to your favorite IRC servers, then your connection is already encrypted. If you are using IRC remotely //(see **"IRC in the Cloud"** below)// via SSH, then know SSH encrypts your connection as well. So rest assured, if you are hanging out with terrorists on EFNet, all anyone can really see is that you are connecting to EFNet - but they cannot see anything else unless this is happening in a public room on EFNet, which they would have to go find in a list of thousands of channels unless they have a way to man-in-the-middle a TLS connection. 
 + 
 +In many cases you will want to use a VPN. This is mainly because on IRC //everyone can see your hostname and IP address//. So if you do not want people tracing back to your location, connect to IRC from a VPN, or from a //via media// remote server in the cloud. 
 + 
 +You will also want a VPN if you are working sensitive [[:op:operations]] on a private IRC server. If you have a remote client in an opsec-conscious environment, you will want a VPN both ways: both between your local machine and your remote client, and between your remote client and the server. Even with encrypted connections using SSH and TLS, the datacenter can still pick up the IP addresses of everything your remote client talks to, and you cannot always trust the datacenter.
  
 === IRC over TLS/SSL === === IRC over TLS/SSL ===
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 IRC was developed in a time before the prevalence of mobile phones & wireless internet connections. Because of this, it is a little frustrating to use on unstable connections. Furthermore, when you are disconnected and waiting to reconnect, you completely miss any messages that are being sent in your favorite channels. IRC was developed in a time before the prevalence of mobile phones & wireless internet connections. Because of this, it is a little frustrating to use on unstable connections. Furthermore, when you are disconnected and waiting to reconnect, you completely miss any messages that are being sent in your favorite channels.
  
-To get around this, you will want to set up an IRC client on a remote machine. For under $10/m, you can get a [[https://www.vultr.com/?ref=9732785|Debian VPS with Vultr]] //(complete with automated backups)// on which you want to install [[tools:byobu]] or [[tools:tmux]], and a [[tools:bash|terminal-based]] IRC client like [[https://weechat.org/|WeeChat]] or [[https://irssi.org/|irssi]].+To get around this, you will want to set up an IRC client on a remote machine. For under $10/m, you can get a [[https://www.vultr.com/?ref=9732786-9J|Debian VPS with Vultr]] //(complete with automated backups)// on which you want to install [[tools:byobu]] or [[tools:tmux]], and a [[tools:bash|terminal-based]] IRC client like [[https://weechat.org/|WeeChat]] or [[https://irssi.org/|irssi]].
  
 By running an IRC client in this type of software stack, it will stay alive 24/7 even if you disconnect or close the window. When combined with a remote machine, you can use [[tools:ssh|SSH]] to check IRC at your leisure without missing a single message. You can even combine it with [[tools:wireguard|WireGuard]] to obfuscate the location of your VPS's datacenter from other IRC users. By running an IRC client in this type of software stack, it will stay alive 24/7 even if you disconnect or close the window. When combined with a remote machine, you can use [[tools:ssh|SSH]] to check IRC at your leisure without missing a single message. You can even combine it with [[tools:wireguard|WireGuard]] to obfuscate the location of your VPS's datacenter from other IRC users.
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 ==== Configuring WeeChat ==== ==== Configuring WeeChat ====
  
-WeeChat is probably the simplest of the terminal clients to set up. It also has a pretty robust out-of-the-box setup without having to track down plugins. For both these reasons, we recommend using WeeChat if you have never used a terminal-based client before.+Eventually you may need more functionality out of your IRC client, and when that time comes you will need a [[tools:bash|terminal]] client. WeeChat is probably the simplest of the terminal clients to configure. It also has a pretty robust out-of-the-box setup without having to track down plugins. For both these reasons, we recommend using WeeChat if you have never used a terminal-based client before.
  
 You can install WeeChat in Debian with the ''apt'' command, and then the ''weechat'' command to start it: You can install WeeChat in Debian with the ''apt'' command, and then the ''weechat'' command to start it:
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   /set irc.server_default.autojoin_dynamic on   /set irc.server_default.autojoin_dynamic on
  
-Next, you need to connect WeeChat to a server //(again, we will use Freenode as an example)//. To do this, you first need to define some details about the server:+Next, you need to connect WeeChat to a server. To do this, you first need to define some details about the server:
  
-  /server add freenode irc.freenode.net/6697 -ssl -autoconnect+  /server add SERVERNAME irc.server.org/6697 -ssl -autoconnect
      
-Then, use the ''/connect'' command to connect to Freenode:+Then, use the ''/connect'' command to connect:
  
-  /connect freenode+  /connect SERVERNAME
      
-Once you are connected, you can type ''/join #ami'' to enter our IRC channel. To test that autoconnect works, type ''/quit'' to exit WeeChat. Then reopen WeeChat. It should dump you right back into #ami on Freenode. There is no real limit to how many servers/channels you can have WeeChat automatically join. +Once you are connected, you can type ''/join #test'' to enter the channel. To test that autoconnect works, type ''/quit'' to exit WeeChat. Then reopen WeeChat. It should dump you right back into #test. There is no real limit to how many servers/channels you can have WeeChat automatically join. 
-https://bestpoint.institute/tools/irc#irc-in-the-cloud + 
-To keep WeeChat alive on a remote machine, simply run it inside [[tools:byobu]] or [[tools:tmux]]. Then just reattach to your session when you SSH back in.+To keep WeeChat alive on a remote machine, simply run it inside [[tools:byobu]] or [[tools:tmux]] via [[tools:ssh|SSH]]. Then just reattach to your session when you SSH back in. 
 + 
 + 
 +== Autosorting Channels == 
 + 
 +Make the following tweaks to enable sane autosorting in the channel list: 
 + 
 +  /set script.scripts.download_enabled on 
 +  /script install autosort.py 
 +  /set irc.look.server_buffer independent 
 + 
 +   
 +== Aliases == 
 + 
 +Make your life easier by setting aliases for talking to Nickserv/Chanserv/Hostserv: 
 + 
 +  /alias add ns /msg nickserv 
 +  /alias add cs /msg chanserv 
 +  /alias add hs /msg hostserv 
 + 
 + 
 +== Custom Quit/Part Messages ==
  
 +You do not need custom quit/part messages, but it's generally not a good idea to broadcast your software version to the internet //(which is Weechat's default behavior)//. You can change them to blank strings with the two commands below:
  
-==== Configuring irssi ====+  /set irc.server_default.msg_part "" 
 +  /set irc.server_default.msg_quit ""
  
-{{wst>expand}}+To use these same commands to set custom quit/part messages, simply place your message in the quotes.
  
 {{tag>Tools Communication}} {{tag>Tools Communication}}
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