|
Home »
Instant Messaging
» MSN Instant Messenger
Summary: MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger users are being told they must upgrade. We'll look at why, and what some alternatives might be.
There isn't. And you don't really want there to be, for reasons I'll explain in a moment. The bottom line is that if you're running MSN Messenger or even an older version of Windows Live Messenger itself, you must upgrade. There's no avoiding that. Now, as to what you upgrade to, well, there's a little wiggle room. • The reason you must upgrade is simple: as reported in the infopackets windows newsletter there's a vulnerability in the older Messenger programs that can be exploited by a malicious attacker and can be used, in the worst case, to take over your machine. Microsoft has fixed this in the latest Windows Live Messenger and is now requiring that you upgrade to squash the vulnerability. Much like the forced upgrade from MSN Hotmail to MSN Live Hotmail there's no alternative; you must upgrade. The old versions are no longer supported and will soon simply not work, if they haven't stopped working already. "'Windows Live Messenger' isn't a new program, it's just
the latest version of MSN Messenger with a new name."
Could they have fixed the older versions? Perhaps. But I'm not at all surprised that Microsoft would also use this as an opportunity to also help push the migration to "Windows Live" along. And particularly when it comes to free software and services, it just makes sense to support one and only one version of the software rather than trying to keep old versions working as well. Remember, "Windows Live Messenger" isn't a new program, it's just the latest version of MSN Messenger with a new name. So my first recommendation is to simply upgrade and give Windows Live Messenger a chance. You may be surprised. But what if you still don't like Windows Live Messenger? There are two basic approaches:
Switching services is a big deal. All of your contacts now are on MSN/Windows Live Messenger, and if you switch to one of the other services such as AIM, Yahoo, Google Talk or others, then all your contacts would need to move as well. It may be easier than you think - you might want to check with your contacts and see if they already have accounts on those other services. But of course you'll want to check out the client programs that work with those other services to make sure that they work and don't irritate you in the same way that Windows Live Messenger apparently does. The second alternative is actually what I do. Run a third party IM client program. In my case I run Trillian. Trillian is a single program that allows you to IM with MSN/Windows Live Messenger contacts as well as AIM, Yahoo and others. You'd install and use it instead of Windows Live Messenger, but you're able to IM with all your Windows Live Messenger contacts. Another alternative is Pidgin, an open source equivalent to Trillian. Same idea: you install Pidgin and use it instead of Windows Live Messenger to communicate to the same buddies you had before. A third and completely different alternative is to use a web based IM service such as Meebo. You can IM through several different services via the Meebo website. (Caveat: while I've used both Trillian and Pidgin, I've not played with Meebo at all. Readers have reported good things about it, however.) Related:
Article 11863 | Posted September 20, 2007 |
Stay Informed Archives Advertisers |
|
•
why cant i down load windows live messenger on my computer...if all it is, is a name change...it simpley wont let me dl the new version and my old one doesnt work.. i feel its unfair.
Posted by: mezzy at November 24, 2007 08:36 PMI want to Upgrade my MSN.pls let me know for Upgrade my MSN
Posted by: pieter at December 27, 2007 08:18 PMit says that i have to log on as computer admistrotor and im useing the old one!
Posted by: emily at February 2, 2008 11:47 AMLeo,I not only upgraded the messenger but mail also.I've tried to find a way to contact them,but no luck.Ever since I upgraded from MSN to Windows Live Hotmail,whenever I read one piece of mail and go to delete it,it freezes on me and I have to re-enter site again.This is the only site it happens on.Can you help me?Please!!!
Posted by: charlotte at February 3, 2008 08:49 PMProblem is that the 8.XX wont support my camcorder as a webcam, something i could do in the past.
http://www.pana3ccduser.com/showthread.php?t=1695
Posted by: Jetjoc at March 1, 2008 07:42 AMI hate windows live messenger very much ... sorry
Posted by: Danny at March 7, 2008 11:05 AMthe new design is so lame, i don't even feel like talking to my contacts
Posted by: nuno at April 18, 2008 04:31 PMThanks for setting up this site! I use Trillian and since I switched from Hotmail/MSN Messenger to Windows Live Messenger a while back, Messenger shows as being logged off. When I click on the icon, I am brought to the Windows Live login page, where my login name is set but I am asked for my password. I use XP sp2 and Firefox. Same issue on both PCs. I have never used Trillian on the PC I am typing this message on.
Posted by: Will at May 13, 2008 09:08 AMi cant logon by Windows Live Messenger code 8100036
Posted by: GoodLuck at July 1, 2008 03:18 PMYou can actually still use MSN Messenger 7.5. There is a trick. First install MSN MEssenger 7.5. After insallation, shut down the program, browse to msnmsgr.exe (usually under C: -> Program Files -> MSN MESSENGER -> msnmsgr.exe) Then right click on the file and chose Properties -> Compatibility -> Chose "Run this program in compatibility mode for" Windows 2000. Then start up msnmsgr.exe again and it will "rebuild" and not ask to download new version again.
There might be some vulnerabilities in MSN Messenger, but I have not noticed anything yet and I chose to take the chance, as I'm very carefull with what I do.
Posted by: PTK at July 31, 2008 09:31 AM