I am a big fan of Adium, not only because it’s an app that let’s me log in from all the chat services I use but because it leaves a small footprint on my screen. Some clients use AIM, others MSN or Yahoo, but most of them are on Google Chat. The fact that I can log in using only one app, have the file transfer services available and I can search history (now dates back to 2005) is a win-win situation for me. Oh, and no, there’s no Video Chat Services available but I use Skype for that. I don’t run it all the time, but just when I need to.

Each provider makes changes to their services, the ones that usually do the most are Microsoft and Google. Yesterday after I installed the latest update, all my Google+ circles contacts (that were online) where showing on on my contact list. I didn’t want that! I am strongly against social media chat services on (not on Google+ or Facebook). I value my privacy and being constantly online on both networks, checking on my personal profile as well as the fan pages for my clients and projects, I actually do some work in those networks.

Worry not, as this is easily fixed. Go to your Google+ home screen, sign on to Chat and click on Privacy Settings, and choose Custom and remove the checks for all of your circles. Next time you restart Adium the Google+ contacts shouldn’t be there!