The original article described people accepting unknown contacts in services such as Windows Live Messenger, sometimes because they wanted to meet someone new. It also noted how convenient messengers made it to exchange photographs, sounds, backgrounds and other files.
Convenience can hide an unexpected risk
A file arriving in a conversation can feel more personal than a download from an unfamiliar website. The article warned that malware could exploit that expectation, especially when a message appeared to come from someone already on a contact list.
A familiar account name is a useful clue, but it does not establish that its owner intended to send a particular file. Accounts and devices can be compromised.
Pause before accepting an unknown contact
The author recommended finding out who someone was and why they wanted to make contact before accepting a request. The broader point was to make an informed choice rather than treating every request as harmless.
Use a way of checking the person's identity that makes sense for the situation. A stranger's own explanation is not independent verification, and you do not need to reply to an unwanted request.
Review incoming files before opening them
The article suggested requiring confirmation before receiving shared material where the application offered that option. Reviewing a request gives you a chance to reject something unexpected.
Receiving and executing a file are also different steps. Inspect the actual file type and avoid running a program just because its name suggests that it contains a photograph or another document.
Ask about unexpected material from friends
If a friend sends a file you did not ask for, check what it is and why they sent it. The original example was a seemingly ordinary archive called photos.zip that could conceal something else.
A short confirmation through a known channel can be more useful than guessing from an automatic message. Do not assume that an archive or a link is safe simply because it appears in an existing conversation.
The lesson beyond the old messenger
The products named in the original article belong to an earlier messaging era. The underlying checks apply more broadly: understand who you are communicating with, examine unexpected content and keep normal device protections active.
For comparable questions about P2P downloads and private folders, see the eMule file and sharing guide.