From Sigmon

recompile w/o any idle reporting

apt-get source pidgin
sudo apt-get build-dep pidgin

vi debian/rules

add --disable-screensaver

DEB_CONFIGURE_EXTRA_FLAGS = --enable-gevolution \
      --enable-cap --enable-nm --with-system-ssl-certs=/etc/ssl/certs \
      --enable-perl --with-zephyr=/usr --enable-dbus --enable-gnutls=no \
      --enable-nss=yes --enable-cyrus-sasl --enable-vv --enable-farsight \
      --enable-tcl --enable-tk --disable-screensaver

dpkg-buildpackage

get some tea

cd ..
sudo dpkg -i libpurple0_2.6.2-1ubuntu7.2_i386.deb pidgin_2.6.2-1ubuntu7.2_i386.deb