Please note that this article has been updated and replaced by MUST I upgrade MSN Messenger to Windows Live Messenger?
[This article courtesy of Leo's friend Aunty Spam.]
The security hole on which Aunty reported last week, in the processing of PNG graphic files by MSN Messenger and other Windows programs, has moved Microsoft to require that users of their MSN Messenger upgrade before being allowed back on to the Messenger network.
•
According to a report on CNET's News.com, on Friday Microsoft began requiring that users download the new, secured version of MSN Messenger, following the announcement by a security company not only of the discovery of the security hole, but of instructions as to how to exploit the vulnerability.
According to a Microsoft spokesperson, "Microsoft was planning on asking Messenger users to upgrade over a longer period of time, but once the security posting went public the company decided to upgrade all users at once".
So, be forewarned, if you want to log in to the MSN Messenger network, you'll need to download the upgrade first. You can download the upgrade here.
Related:
Aunty-Spam - Windows Users Must Upgrade Messenger or Lose Access
Ask Leo! - Articles about MSN Instant Messenger
Thank Aunty-Spam by sending Aunty some flowers!
Article C2283 - February 15, 2005
my msn is sooooo old i think its something like 4.7 and i want to upgrade it as it wont let me log on!!!! i've visited the msn website but its wont show me how to upgrade! please help!!!!
Posted by: stephanie at September 19, 2006 2:40 AMWhen im about to upgrade to the latest msn version: msn live : Do i have to delete my old version.
Posted by: Braden at October 4, 2006 10:56 PMNo. It installs on top of the old version.
Posted by: Leo Notenboom at October 4, 2006 11:00 PMWhat do I do to upgrade to 8.0 I want to be able to leave IM's when people are off line rather than send and email.
Posted by: sarah at November 2, 2006 2:54 PMhow do upgrade my messenger i have 7.0 and i can't upgrade to windows live please help me i'm running windows ME
Posted by: michael at November 27, 2006 12:24 PMI am trying to upgrade and the website keeps telling me it cannot be displayed for 3 days now. I have checked my internet settings and it still shows cannot be displayed. How do I upgrade?
Posted by: Anita at November 29, 2006 5:41 AMIt's true that MSN messager is now only for pay users and others have to use Windows Live Messager? That's what an agent from the technical support by phone told me. So there is no way to still using MSN 7.5?
Posted by: maria at September 20, 2007 9:52 PMOk, so I get how to upgrade and when to click "run" or "save" So I wait the entire time for the upload to come in, and then that's it... it didn't work. I have VISTA and it seems it is not compatible with MSN LIVE, HELP ME!!
Posted by: Sheri at September 21, 2007 11:40 AMError comes up, windows is searching for a problem, I didn't have a problem until I had to upgrade. I already had 8.0 and now I need what 8.1, 9.0?? Anybody know what to do?
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
Maria:
That sound bogus - I don't think paid versus non-paid has anything to do with
this. (And I know of no paid version of MSN Messenger.)
As far as I know *everyone* has to upgrade. See this newer article:
http://ask-leo.com/must_i_upgrade_msn_messenger_to_windows_live_messenger.html
Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
iD8DBQFG9BbbCMEe9B/8oqERAgwwAJ4kXSC41b8YhmMqE4MHdAP8nEydRgCfVc0J
Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at September 21, 2007 12:09 PM/BAdO4Cm9CtKTW2ZSboc2Eo=
=vElo
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
Sheri:
Sounds like you just have a corrupt download. Try clearing your browser's cache
and downloading again.
Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
iD8DBQFG9BcJCMEe9B/8oqERAl/gAKCAfYrVSKETWpHXOWBqxyZN5CTIOACeKmWb
Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at September 21, 2007 12:09 PMJK05nseM6LMxlKYPcFRzCRM=
=O34U
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----