Quick start guide to connect securely to IRC.
Always choose SSL/TLS when connecting.
Example (IRCWorld): irc.ircworld.net port 6697 (TLS)
Popular choices include mIRC (Windows), HexChat, and web clients like The Lounge.
Download mIRC: mirc.com
If the network uses services (NickServ), you can register your nickname and identify when you connect.