| Revision as of 12:15, 12 September 2008 edit79.73.190.51 (talk) →MSN Web Messenger← Previous edit |
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#REDIRECT ] |
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{{articleissues|cleanup=May 2008|NPOV=May 2008|unreferenced=May 2008|criticisms = May 2008}} |
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{{two other uses||the current instant messaging client for Microsoft Windows|Windows Live Messenger|the current instant messaging client for Mac OS X|Microsoft Messenger for Mac}} |
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{{Infobox Software |
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| name = ]|thumb|{{deletable image-caption}} |
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| caption = MSN Messenger 7.5 login screen. |
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| developer = ] |
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| released = 1999 |
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| latest_release_version = 7.0.0820 |
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| latest_release_date = ], ] |
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| operating_system = ] |
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| genre = ] ] |
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| license = ] |
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| website = http://messenger.msn.com |
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}} |
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'''MSN Messenger''', now called ], is a freeware ] client that was developed and distributed by ] in 1999 to 2005 and in 2007 for computers running the ] ] (except ]), and aimed towards home users. It was renamed ] in February 2006 as part of Microsoft's ] series of online services and software. |
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{{Redirect category shell|1= |
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MSN Messenger is often used to refer to the ] (the protocols and server that allow the system to operate) rather than any particular client. |
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{{R from former name}} |
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{{R from move}} |
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== Version Overview == |
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{{R printworthy}} |
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=== MSN Messenger 1 (1.0.0863) === |
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{{R with Wikidata item}} |
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{{R with history}} |
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The first product release, released ], ]. It included only basic features, such as plain text messaging and a simplistic contact list. |
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}} |
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When MSN Messenger was first released it featured support for access to ] ]. America Online continually tried to block Microsoft from having access to their service until eventually the feature was removed, and has not re-surfaced in any later versions of the software.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com/2100-1023-228960.html|title=AOL blocks Microsoft Net messaging|publisher=CNET News.com}}</ref> Now the software only allows connections to the .NET Messenger Service, requiring a ] account to connect, as well as limited contact with ]. |
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=== MSN Messenger 2 (2.0.0083)=== |
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] |
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Released ], ]. Included a rotating advertising banner and the ability to slightly customize the appearance of the chat window. It came as an install option for ]. |
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=== MSN Messenger 3 (3.0.0080) === |
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Released ], ]. Included file transfers, PC to PC and PC to phone audio capabilities with ], one of the first ] providers. |
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=== MSN Messenger 4.6 === |
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Released ], ]. Included major changes to the user interface, ability to group contacts and support for voice conversations. In this version it was renamed from the old "MSN Messenger Service" to just "MSN Messenger". |
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MSN Messenger 4.6 was based on ] and ran only on Windows 9x, ME, NT and 2000. Windows Messenger was provided for Windows XP. |
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=== MSN Messenger 5 === |
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Released ], ]. Included ] (Universal Plug and Play) based file transfers and minor changes to the ] artwork. This was the first version that was allowed to run alongside Windows Messenger on Windows XP, also Windows Media Player interface plug-in. MSN Messenger 5 no longer works on operating systems earlier than Windows 95. |
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=== MSN Messenger 6 === |
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Released ], ]. MSN Messenger 6 was a major overhaul of the whole platform, upgradings its simple text-based interface to include customizable elements such as emoticons, personalized avatars and backgrounds. |
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=== MSN Messenger 6.1 === |
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This version focused on the conversation window, enabling users to hide the window frame and menu bar, and also the ability to change the theme colour. The theme colour can be set differently for each user. The protocol version was also updated to ] version 10. |
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=== MSN Messenger 6.2 === |
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Released ], ]. This was the last version of the MSN Messenger 6 series, most notable changes were contacts with mobile capabilities were more distinguishable (including a dedicated ''Mobile'' group), a connection trouble-shooter and the Launch Site feature was renamed to ''Fun & Games''.. |
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=== MSN Messenger 7.0 === |
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Released ], ]. Brought along the ] features, which was previously only available in ]. This version also advertises items to sell to you including ] ], ] and backgrounds. The contact list window style was also updated to match instant message windows. This version also introduced the ] Integration feature. This is the last major MSN Messenger version for ] and ]. This version also introduced digital ink and handwriting recognition support. |
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===MSN Messenger 7.5 === |
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Released ], ]. Introduced an updated Passport credentials system. New features are the Dynamic Backgrounds feature, Voice Clips and the msnim protocol handler, allowing Web sites to |
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provide links which automatically add a contact or start conversations (for example clicking on link msnim:chat?contact=login@passport.net will start chat conversation with user login@passport.net). The Voice |
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Clip feature lets you hold down F2 and record a message for a maximum of 15 seconds and send it to the recipient. The window for conversations changed slightly with a Video button and a different position for the webcam icon (under the display picture). This version runs on ] and later. |
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With the release of version 7.5, MSN Messenger started using Windows Installer for its auto-update feature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/setup/patching.asp|title=Patching|publisher=Microsoft Developer Network}}</ref> When a user selects yes to an update prompt upon sign in, the application will download an MSP file |
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specific to updating that version to the latest and execute in the background. The largest patch thus far is 1.5MB, relatively smaller than downloading the entire MSI installation package. |
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This version is no longer available for use, as when the user attempts to sign in, they are prompted with a message which forces them to download Windows Live Messenger, as a result of a security vulnerability. |
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However, users who don't want to change to Windows Live Messenger can set the compatibility mode of the msnmsgr.exe file (which can usually be found in C:\Programs\MSN Messenger) to "Windows 2000", and MSN 7.5 can still be used with Windows XP.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} |
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=== MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 === |
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Released ], ]. The release was MSN MESSENGER lates version was designed for Windows 3.1, microsoft are releasing Windows 3.1 in the october of 2008 period. this will provide new productivity and enhance your windows experiencerl=http://messengersays.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!5B410F7FD930829E!29966.entry|title=MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 now available for Windows XP}}</ref> |
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Version 7.0.0820 is the only version of MSN Messenger that cannot be officially downloadable from Microsoft now. Because of the above mentioned vulnerability, version 7.5 is no longer available. MS are going to obselete windows xp and vista to make way for their new remake of windows 3.1 |
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=== Windows Live Messenger === |
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<!--PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS SECTION! This section serves to remind contributors that information relating to Windows Live Messenger should be put in the Windows Live Messenger article. Thank you. ~~~~ --> |
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{{main|Windows Live Messenger}} |
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MSN Messenger was renamed to ] upon its eighth version release in February 2006. |
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=== MSN Web Messenger === |
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MSN Web Messenger is a ]-based messaging program that allows MSN users to instant-message people on their contact list, from computers that do not or cannot have the program installed (i.e. public computers). Web Messenger was launched in August 2004, and is convenient for people who are using the internet away from home, or own computers that are some way incompatible with the MSN program. On the contact list for MSN Messenger users, the status of somebody using Web messenger is either displayed as a globe, or by appending the word ''(Web)'' after their name, depending on the version of MSN Messenger used. |
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ben_fass@hotmail.com |
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== Protocol == |
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MSN Messenger uses the ] (MSNP) over ] (and optionally over ] to deal with ]) to connect to the .NET Messenger Service — a service offered on ] 1863 of messenger.hotmail.com. Its current version is 13 (MSNP13), used by MSN Messenger version 7.5 and other third-party clients. The protocol is not completely secret; Microsoft disclosed version 2 (MSNP2) to developers in 1999 in an ], but never released versions 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 to the public. .NET Messenger Service servers currently only accept protocol versions from 8 and on, so the syntax of new commands from versions 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 is only known by using ]s like ]. MSNP13 will be the protocol used in Windows Live Messenger. This program is still not compatible with Mac OS X's browser as of yet. |
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== Xbox Live integration == |
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As of MSN Messenger 7.0, the client now offers a level of integration with Microsoft's ] Internet Gaming service. Users of MSN Messenger can go to the and link their ] |
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to Microsoft's ] network. This will allow MSN Messenger to report the user's Xbox Live friends list, as well as allow them to send game invitations to players, so that the user does not have to be on Xbox Live in order to arrange games. This feature goes along with Microsoft's continuing goal to place integration between their various services. After ], Xbox Live Integration had temporarily malfunctioned. This was due to the change in hardware and protocol brought with the release of the Xbox 360. The error was soon corrected. The Spring 2007 Update for Xbox 360 allowed MSN users and 360 users to chat simultaneously, and even lists what game is being played by an Xbox Live user to their MSN Messenger friends. This functionality does not include video or audio chat between Xbox live users and MSN users. |
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<!-- PLEASE CORRECT AS IS POSSIBLE FOR AUDIO COMMUNICATION AFTER JAN. 1, 2008 --> |
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== Games and Applications == |
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{{main|Games and applications for Windows Live Messenger}} |
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MSN Messenger shares the same games and applications as ]. |
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== Competition == |
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The most significant rivals of MSN Messenger are ] and ] (both from ]), ], ] (previously known as ]), and ] including ].{{Fact|date=July 2008}} |
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In China the predominant instant messenger is ]. Although little used outside China, its domestic users number as high as 300 million.<ref>{{cite news |author=Benjamin |title=Inside QQ report is out! |publisher=www.plu8star.com |date=2008-01-07 |url=http://www.plus8star.com/?p=99 |accessdate=2008-04-09}}</ref> |
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On ], ], Yahoo! and Microsoft announced plans to introduce interoperability between their two messengers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2143773/yahoo-msn-marry-messengers |title=Yahoo and MSN marry IM services |publisher=vnunet.com |date=], ]}}</ref> creating the second largest instant messenger user base worldwide: 40% of all users (AIM currently held 56%). The announcement comes after years of 3rd party interoperability success (most notably, ], ]) and criticisms from ] that the major instant messengers were locking their networks. This interoperability became available in the next version of MSN Messenger, which was renamed ]. |
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== Malware == |
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{{Original research|date=July 2008}} |
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MSN Messenger (along with other networks such as its successor Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger) is often used as a conduit or "vector" for delivering malicious software such as spyware, viruses, worms, and trojans to unsuspecting computer users. The two methods used by hackers to deliver malware over the IM vector are (1) sending a file transfer with a virus-infected file, and (2) delivering a message with socially engineered content containing a web address (URL) containing active malicious code. Viruses and worms with colorful names such as W32.Yalove or Troj/Msnfake-L have been identified as targeting users of the MSN Messenger network over the past few years. |
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The threat of infection by these two methods is substantial and growing. The IM Security Center, a collaboration between security companies and corporations, has tracked attacks over IM since 2003 and shows well over 1000 distinct attacks over the public IM networks. The first half of 2007 saw an 84% increase in IM attacks over the first half of 2006, and over 80 distinct IM attacks were recorded in the first half of 2008. While IM-specific attacks remain a small percentage of overall virus and malware threats, the continued growth in usage of IM, along with the rapid adoption of IM in the workplace (See ]) make IM an attractive vector for malicious hackers, and both individuals and companies must take precautions to avoid infection. |
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The most common method of delivering a malicious payload is the use of social engineering to construct a message that appears to be coming from a contact on the recipient's contact list. A socially engineered message is one that is written in a friendly, informal manner, that could easily be mistaken as coming from a friend. The message usually will say something like "Click here to see pics of me from vacation!" or "Is this you?" with a web address -- known as a "poison URL" -- for the recipient to click. Upon clicking the web address, the recipient is connected to a website containing active content, which is immediately downloaded to the recipient's computer. In most cases, the payload contains an installer, a number of hidden files containing text, and code which causes the same socially engineered message with poison URL to be sent to every contact on the contact list. When the message is sent to all contacts, the cycle starts again, as each contact believes they are receiving a message from a trusted friend. In this manner, IM-borne malware is capable of propagating very rapidly through company and external networks. |
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Worms and viruses are discovered on a regular basis by security companies, particularly by the three companies with IM-specific security products, Akonix Systems, FaceTime Communications, and Symantec. According to IM security researchers at Akonix and other security firms, the average number of new threats identified each month is 30 to 35, with a high of 88 in October, 2006. |
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== See also == |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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{{IM clients}} |
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{{MSN services}} |
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