A few months ago MSN Messenger started censoring and blocking messages including links to .info domains because "They're potentially unsafe". A few days after it happened Microsoft has removed this limit. There are many .info domains which are completely safe, such as clickteam.info and google.info.
However, today they've introduced this censorship system again with .ath.cx domains for the very same reason. As with .info domains, there are many safe .ath.cx domains such as my own websites, neatwares.ath.cx and its subdomains, and many (safe) home-servers using the free .ath.cx domains to have a static address. Since the MSN file transfer system is quite horrible, it's quite common for users to transfer files with the http protocol on their .ath.cx domains.
Now that we see Microsoft have no problem censoring complete TLDs, nothing can stop them from blocking messages including words such as "Linux", "Mac", "Apple", "Firefox", "Opera" and "Open Source".
Don't let Microsoft control what you want to say. Trash the MSN protocol and get AIM or Google Talk.
Note to Adam and his friends: Do not start your daily MS fan-topic here. Find somewhere else to do it.
I've had no problems with msn filtering out messages or file transfers when using a different client.
I've never really liked MSN messenger, but all my friends use it, so I decided to get rid of "windows live messenger" as they now call it, and got an alternative that uses the msn protocol.
I confirmed it with other people, they have the same problem. For the record, I use Pidgin.
Note that you have to include either http:// or www. for Microsoft's Censorship system to consider it as a URL.
So bah.ath.cx is working yet www.bah.ath.cx and http://bah.ath.cx will never arrive their destinations. (Some clients may not report at error when the message transfer fails)
The Mac messenger version seems to display the links just fine. And without adverts, yey.
Seriously it's mega weak that they should force you into updating. All I want is MSN without adverts, nudges, animated doowackys and all that.
Microsoft aren't bad, but their bullying of the rest of the market is.
They insist on charging £50 + for the basic operating system, which is then forced upon you whenever you buy a PC. And then they charge about the same for programs.
Not to mention the fact that their software is very suceptable to viruses, spyware and adware.
They don't necessarily have to go open source (although I believe they have been forced recently into releasing source code for some things) but they need to dramatically lower their prices.
I don't like the way they shove adverts at cha. That irritating MSN Live window popped up with an article that interested me. So I clicked it and was taken to a poorly designed page that forces you to sit through a flash video advert and *then* lets you click on the article. FFS. You'd think Microsoft were poor little news sites trying to scrape together moneys. Also adverts on Xbox Live? A service you pay for too!
Maybe us Brits are spoiled with the BBC (pay=don't get ads) and phone networks (Blyk).
I never used MSN, it was too clunky and requires a buncha hoop-jumpin'. I use Skype, AIM, and Miranda. Aim has recently gotten bloated and annoying though... I alway hate it when people rag on Microsoft. I'm not an overlarge fan or anything, but people just go overboard with it. The main reason that their software is so susceptible is because it's what hackers target because of its numbers. If Mozilla suddenly became the most used browser, it would have the same problems. @joe H.: That's like saying it's ridiculous that furniture salesman charge you money to buy new furniture if yours looks 60's or your house burns down.
But then, it doesn't really matter does it? I've got my microsoft complaints too.
Originally Posted by -Slink- I like Microsoft. I like Apple.
Edit: I've never tried Linux.
Edited by the Author.
Edited by the Author.
It's quite a bit overrated. It may be efficient, but it's a tad useless. Professionalism is achieved through windows virtualization and API emulation, very slowly.
Originally Posted by Dr. James The Mac messenger version seems to display the links just fine. And without adverts, yey.
Seriously it's mega weak that they should force you into updating. All I want is MSN without adverts, nudges, animated doowackys and all that.
Not really. This is server side censorship and not client side censor ship. You can send http://bah.ath.cx to someone from your Mac Messenger, and it will show on your side without any problem. However, the message will never arrive its destination. Simply send someone a link (Don't forget http:// or www.!) to a censored URL and ask him if he received the URL, you'll see the answer would be no.
I love how you just have to spread propaganda and how yet you know that the people who uses MSN won't trash the MSN protocol no matter how many times you proclaim it but still can't let go of it. I am not going to argue which side's the best, it just feels like these type of posts are like trying to make football fans to switch side by pointing out that the other team really DID lose the last 2 games.
I don't mind the actual post in itself because it can be interesting to know that MSN doesn't allow people to post messages that includes certain text, but the "Don't let Microsoft control what you want to say. Trash the MSN protocol and get AIM or Google Talk" is just an invitation for "Adam and his friends" to start their daily MS fan-topic. No hard feelings.
Originally Posted by Johan Hargne (Wartagon) I love how you just have to spread propaganda and how yet you know that the people who uses MSN won't trash the MSN protocol no matter how many times you proclaim it but still can't let go of it. I am not going to argue which side's the best, it just feels like these type of posts are like trying to make football fans to switch side by pointing out that the other team really DID lose the last 2 games.
I don't mind the actual post in itself because it can be interesting to know that MSN doesn't allow people to post messages that includes certain text, but the "Don't let Microsoft control what you want to say. Trash the MSN protocol and get AIM or Google Talk" is just an invitation for "Adam and his friends" to start their daily MS fan-topic. No hard feelings.
Pointing a fact about Microsoft so now considered anti-MS-fan-boy-ish? cool.
I only added that note because I had to delete this topic and post it again because Adam and Codemonkey filled it with 4 "Microsoft PWNS!!!!11111 " posts.
I posted one comment in your previous little rant-thread, which was something like "I like Microsoft". To this, you responded by calling me a retard. Grow up, Lior.
Anyway if they want to filter unsafe domain, they should just block ALL links, because any site is potentially unsafe. (or they could tell users switch to FireFox )
- Ok, you must admit that was the most creative cussing this site have ever seen -
"Grow Up"
Hearing it from you after responding "But Microsoft is awesome. Best company ever" to a topic like this, the most immature respond possible to this topic, is quite hilarious.
Originally Posted by Phizzy Adam, don't compliment LIJI like that, he doesn't deserve it.
I'd rather say the opposite.
n/a
Peblo Custom ratings must be 50 characters or less
Registered 05/07/2002
Points 185
30th June, 2008 at 07:07:30 -
MSN has kicked me off a few times for posting links in chats or private conversations. I don't remember what domain they were under but they didn't just block the address, they kicked me off msn for a minute or so.
"Isn't it always amazing how we characterize a person's intelligence by how closely their thinking matches ours?"
~Belgarath
Originally Posted by Peblo MSN has kicked me off a few times for posting links in chats or private conversations. I don't remember what domain they were under but they didn't just block the address, they kicked me off msn for a minute or so.
You're actually right!
(5:03:37 PM) LIJI (Address 1) entered the room.
(5:03:39 PM) SomeoneElse entered the room.
(5:04:01 PM) LIJI (Address 2) entered the room.
(5:04:09 PM) SomeoneElse : sucks
(5:04:13 PM) LIJI (Address 2): Checking something in the MSN censorship system
(5:04:13 PM) SomeoneElse : balls
(5:04:20 PM) SomeoneElse : hf
(5:04:20 PM) LIJI (Address 1): http://google.ath.cx
(5:04:21 PM) Message may have not been sent because an unknown error occurred:
http://google.ath.cx
(5:05:24 PM) Unable to send message.
On account 2 it appeared as:
(5:04:01 PM) LIJI (Address 1) entered the room.
(5:04:01 PM) LIJI (Address 2) entered the room.
(5:04:01 PM) SomeoneElse entered the room.
(5:04:09 PM) SomeoneElse: sucks
(5:04:13 PM) SomeoneElse: balls
(5:04:14 PM) LIJI (Address 2): Checking something in the MSN censorship system
(5:04:20 PM) SomeoneElse: hf
(5:04:21 PM) LIJI (Address 1) left the room.
lol i had that discussion with Fallen fox earlier. Pictures of cats are rarely funny no matter what the caption underneath it is.
typing it out in moron speak just makes them worse.
@Hayo and James:
It has nothing to do with the client, it's a server side issue.
I use Pidgin with MSN's server/protocol and my messages still gets censored.
I'm not speaking against the MSN Client here, because using one client does not effect others, but I'm speaking against the service in general which censors messages in a very useless, annoying and stupid way.
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Edited by the Author.
@joe H.: That's like saying it's ridiculous that furniture salesman charge you money to buy new furniture if yours looks 60's or your house burns down. 
I've got my microsoft complaints too.
)
Isn't that the sign of the apocalypse?
