How to enable SSL-IRC-access to Freenode and OFTC with XChat
The two main IRC networks I use are Freenode and OFTC. I've always liked the idea (though I don't currently make use of it) of things like HTTPS Everywhere, and I remember being disappointed the last time I checked if major IRC networks supported SSL. For some reason, I checked tonight and found out they do! Here's how to set it up with XChat on Linux.
- In XChat, edit the connection information for Freenode and OFTC in the Network List. Check Use SSL for all servers on this network.
- Modify the Servers lines to be
irc.freenode.net/7000
irc.oftc.net/9999
as SSL-enabled connections use different ports than non-SSL IRC.
When you reconnect to the network, you'll see something like this in your connection log. Enjoy!
* Looking up irc.freenode.net * Connecting to chat.freenode.net (128.237.157.136) port 7000... * * Certification info: * Subject: * OU=Domain Control Validated * OU=Gandi Standard Wildcard SSL * CN=*.freenode.net * Issuer: * C=FR * O=GANDI SAS * CN=Gandi Standard SSL CA * Public key algorithm: rsaEncryption (2048 bits) * Sign algorithm sha1WithRSAEncryption * Valid since Jan 13 00:00:00 2010 GMT to Jan 13 23:59:59 2011 GMT * * Cipher info: * Version: TLSv1/SSLv3, cipher DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA (256 bits) * Connected. Now logging in... * *** Looking up your hostname... * *** Checking Ident * *** No Ident response * *** Found your hostname * Welcome to the freenode Internet Relay Chat Network mattst88