3char

A 3char is a domain name or AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) screen name with only three characters.

Since AIM screen names must start with a letter, there are only 33,696 valid three-characterscreen names ($26*36*36$), and 46,656 valid three-character second-level domain names per top-level domain ($36^3$).

AIM screen names

Since all of these screen names were registered in the middle 1990s, mostly by America Online members, these are a form of online "rarity", sought after by youths, hackers, or anyone wanting their screen name to appear impressive. 3chars are regularly sold or traded online. Some people have attempted to crack the password of 3char accounts through brute-force search.

Additionally, complex methods of screen name theft have been developed over time to allow AOL crackers to gain unauthorized access to rare screen names, including 3chars. In late 2000, one AOL cracker reportedly developed software which used an AOL security glitch [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/11/29/aol_instant_msgr_accounts_easily/] to gain access to all three-character screen names vulnerable to that security issue, effectively bringing many thousands of these screen names under his control. This resulted in numerous long-time users losing their accounts, and began a cottage industry of screen name barter and sale.

See also

*Inside-AOL.com
*AOL

External links

* [http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/1,57753-0.html "Wired News"] Hackers Run Wild & Free on AOL, by Christopher Null