This article describes some ways you can protect your account from unwanted contacts and abuse.

Here are some suggestions for steps you can take to protect yourself from unwanted contacts and abuse when using Yahoo! Messenger. The instructions cover how to:

• Remove the contact's Connection
• Remove the contact from your Messenger List
• Ignore the contact

Please Remember:

• Instructions for removing and ignoring a contact vary depending on the version of Yahoo! Messenger you're using; the instructions for each version are included below.
• After you add someone to your Ignore List, you'll always appear offline to the contact; and they won't be able to view your status or send you an instant message.

How to remove the contact's Connection:

1. Open your Yahoo! Contacts
2. At the top of your list of contacts, click the first "down" arrow after "All Contacts," and then click Connections from the list. All of your connections should display below.
3. Click the name of the connection you want to remove.
4. In the contact's details next to "Connection," click Remove.

Additionally, here are some articles that can show you how to "ignore" a contact in Yahoo! Messenger. 

• If you are using Yahoo! Messenger on your PC and would like to learn how to place someone on your ignore list, please see the article entitled How to protect yourself from unwanted contacts when using Yahoo! Messenger on your PC.
• If you are using Yahoo! Messenger for Mac, then please see How to Protect Yourself From Unwanted Contacts in Yahoo! Messenger for Mac.

If you feel that you or someone else is in danger or if you feel threatened, you may want to contact your local law enforcement agency. You should be able to find the phone number for your local law enforcement agency in your local phone book or by using Yahoo! Directory Search.