Neowin.net - Live Messenger 9.0 will feature SPIM

Live Messenger 9.0 will feature SPIM

Posted by Steven Parker on 27 November 2007 - 09:55 · 9 comments & 5646 views

Microsoft's next version of its instant messenger application will have a new security feature to report users who send unsolicited messages, known as SPIM (spam over IM).That's one of several new features in Windows Live Messenger 9.0, which was released to some private beta testers on Tuesday, according to Liveside.net, a site that focuses on Microsoft's Live brand of Web-based applications.

The problem with SPIM is that it's annoying and, at worst, dangerous. The tricky part is that the hacker may have obtained someone's IM account details, so it appears that a genuine contact is sending the messages.

After compiling a list of IM contacts, hackers try to trick users into clicking links. Those links can often launch an unwanted installation of spyware or other malware via a browser vulnerability or other security hole.

Further details on Microsoft's reporting tool were not available. However, other IM products on the market use reporting tools to compile blacklists of known IM spammers in order to block them. Liveside published other new details of Messenger 9.0 on Wednesday but then deleted the post on Thursday. It wasn't entirely clear why the site decided to delete the post, but it could be retrieved via Google's cache.

Liveside said other new features include the ability to stay signed into the application from several computers, called Multiple Points of Presence Support. In the previous 8.5 version, users are automatically signed out of the application if they log in to the application on a new machine.

Other new features Liveside said will be in version 9.0 include:

Animated .GIF files can be used in the display photo area.
Allows users to associate a specific sound with an action performed by one of their contacts.
URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) can be clicked on in the status area.

News source: InfoWorld

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#1 Posted by skiver on 27 Nov 2007 - 10:07: Does this mean those who are being accepted have already been accepted?

(3 replies) #2 Posted by williamhook on 27 Nov 2007 - 10:35: "Animated .GIF files can be used in the display photo area."

Oh, god, no, please, no, do not make us suffer the pain of n00bs who have flashing avatars.

If they do that, I might </life>.

(1 reply) #3 Posted by Gilly on 27 Nov 2007 - 14:48: Bit of a misleading title . Shouldn't it be something like "...will feature SPIM protection" rather than just "...will feature SPIM"?. There was me thinking SPIM stood for Super Powered Instant Messaging or something .

#4 Posted by TRC on 27 Nov 2007 - 15:04: SPIM? Honestly, did we really need to make a new word for spam? Such a stupid sounding one too. What does it matter how you get it, it's still spam.

#5 Posted by Hell-In-A-Handbasket on 27 Nov 2007 - 20:33: hopefully there will be a option to disable animated gifs

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