Hacker Read

fullstop · 2024-03-18 14:11:27

I still have an ICQ account from 1996, and I can still sign into it. It's a low six-digit UIN.

aspectmin | karma 548 | avg karma 5.03 · | 2024-05-24 23:14:11

Oh wow... I still remember my old ICQ number (very low 100Ks). Basically lived on it for many years.

marban | karma 26745 | avg karma 6.48 · | 2021-03-01 08:36:36+00:00

Just recently found that ICQ is still alive or back for what's it worth but after digging around I could still log in with my 5 digit UIN. Nice.

khedoros1 | karma 2911 | avg karma 1.53 · | 2016-11-16 01:17:32

I had a friend that would only talk over ICQ, waaaay after its heyday. I don't remember when I created the account, but I ended up with a 9-digit ID...which I somehow still remember. I was able to log in for the first time in probably 3 years (and input my password for about the first time in 10 years. Pidgin had been configured to auto-login to ICQ on a previous machine of mine).

circa | karma 195 | avg karma 0.8 · | 2021-01-25 14:36:51

Wow turn back the clock! I always liked ICQ. I had a 6 digit account # too! I think I joined in 1997 or so?

bdcravens | karma 20814 | avg karma 2.3 · | 2016-11-15 20:53:03+00:00

I still remember my ICQ # (147xxxxx - set up around 1997 or 1998 I think) and my password - looking at the list of contacts, I suspect most if not all haven't logged in over 10 years. It's like a time capsule.

00deadbeef | karma 385 | avg karma 2.06 · | 2021-01-25 08:51:02

Incredibly my ICQ account from 1999 is still working. I just logged in probably for the first time since 2006. Most of my contacts have vanished though. Only four left of about 50.

Arubis | karma 4334 | avg karma 4.83 · | 2024-03-18 14:46:58

I've still got an ICQ number that works, though I've not used it (prior to today) in at least a decade, probably two. Eight-digit starting with 1, so probably 1997-1998?

devoutsalsa | karma 5118 | avg karma 3.31 · | 2022-03-25 08:27:12

I still remember my ICQ number… 1057955. Been a long time since I tried accessing that account.

sashk | karma 2355 | avg karma 8.63 · | 2021-01-25 13:50:20+00:00

I really missed ICQ when it started to die down with introduction of other messengers, which took over. I think mostly Skype was responsible, at least in my circles due to free audio calls... In any case, I still have my 6 digit UIN which works, despite I was told year or two ago it was deleted due to inactivity.

choko | karma 649 | avg karma 2.11 · | 2017-10-06 15:52:35+00:00

ICQ lives on as well, though not under the original management. The account I created in the 90s still works.

hatchoo | karma 67 | avg karma 0.82 · | 2017-09-08 01:37:39+00:00

Funny how folks still remember their ICQ. Mine is 952050

s0rce | karma 3170 | avg karma 2.27 · | 2022-04-09 00:08:16

I still remember my ICQ number, this one is 8 digits, I had a 7 digit but somehow lost the login. I must have been 11.

joering2 | karma 5521 | avg karma 1.68 · | 2018-12-29 23:42:08

Oh boy memories.. i still remember my six digit ICQ number. It had to be circa 2000?

mikey_p | karma 839 | avg karma 2.3 · | 2016-03-15 15:08:27+00:00

Say what you will about ICQ, but I can still log in with my number and password from the late 90s and see the names of the people I chatted with in high school in my contacts list. This is nothing short of somewhat amazing in the world of software startups and shutterings, etc.

FWIW, I've also realized that my Yahoo account from circa 1996 works just as well. my.yahoo.com even remembers what news topics, stocks, weather locations, etc I setup nearly 20 years ago.

reply

00deadbeef | karma 385 | avg karma 2.06 · | 2021-01-25 14:52:17+00:00

What happened to ICQ: it still exists and so does your account.

jedberg | karma 72921 | avg karma 5.98 · | 2024-05-24 16:23:13

This makes me sad. I mean, I haven't logged in in about 20 years now, and couldn't if I wanted to (don't have the password or access to the email address).

But I had a low five digit user number, and built a lot of relationships on ICQ (some of which continue today!). It was my main method of electronic communication in college. I had romantic relationships live and die on ICQ.

Another reminder of how things change over time.

reply

avodonosov | karma 1865 | avg karma 1.76 · | 2024-05-24 21:13:58

I sill clearly remember my 9 digit ID, despite haven’t logged in for years.

I used icq a lot for personal and work communication

reply

windexh8er | karma 4219 | avg karma 3.48 · | 2024-05-25 00:02:20

Out of curiosity I tried popping my # into the link format and my account was/is still, amazingly, there. I think I started using ICQ in '96 or '97.

The early Internet was an amazing place.

reply

richardknop | karma 2119 | avg karma 2.02 · | 2017-10-09 15:32:14

Is ICQ still a thing? I think that might be my first ever account, going into late 90s. Not sure if my first email account was before that or not.