However I would prefer you not use the chat unless your register your nickname. This will show your IP as "unaffiliated" when someone does a look up on you. To do so follow this link here:
http://freenode.net/...shtml#nicksetup
It is not needed to register your nick using the mIRC channel through Abrosia. It's a password protected room so no one can login via anything except Abrosia(doesn't allow user lookups). So if you feel safer that way go stick to that chat room. Again to get to it open up Abrosia and hit join. I'm always in there to see the Restock alerts you guys send (Awesome feature SL *super high five*)
If you don't know where the channel is located here's a direct link:
<A href="irc://irc.freenode.net/neocodex">irc://irc.freenode.net/neocodex</a>