Important message to Windows Live Messenger customers

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As some of you have noted on our forum, yesterday an important service announcement accidentally went out to a large audience of Windows Live Messenger users with the following message:

"Important service announcement: As part of a recent system enhancement, we need you to change your e-mail address to continue signing in to the Windows Live™ Messenger Service. To ensure that your access is not blocked and to learn more, go to http://support.microsoft.com/gp/Messenger/en"

The message was sent from "messenger@microsoft.com" and was actually legitimate. However was not intended to go out to the people that received the Instant Message yesterday. The Windows Live Messenger team has posted a alert for customers to please disregard the message.

The team admits that these service notifications are only used for urgent issues and that someone made an internal error that caused the message to be sent out. "We will definitely be reviewing our process to make sure we avoid such mistakes in the future" the Windows Live Team noted.

#1 sim0n on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:12

How come?

(3 replies) #2 Julius Caro on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:12

one thing is that the message gets sent out by mistake, but they surely didnt write that mess by mistake. for what scenario would that message be?

#2.1 Tom W on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:16

I would have ignored it as spam personally, lol.

#2.2 Sean Bradford on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:21

Julius Caro said,

As far as I can tell from internal discussions it is used when people's account have been spread through spam networks. Like per say that your account's password is leaked, and it gets spread. Then you will be required to change your e-mail address to prevent further spreading of the spam, so your account can be closed.

#2.3 +Tony. on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:21

Could of been a pre-configured message. It does seem pretty generic.

#3 lylesback2 on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:18

I didn't get the message. Looks like spam, and I would be VERY shocked if they actually forced people to upgrade to a new email address

#4 King Mustard on 08 Apr 2009 - 20:39

I got it but discarded it. Sounded suspicious at the time. Would have been an impressive fake, though!

#5 Hidr0 on 08 Apr 2009 - 21:26

Well i got the same message but in SPANISH, not really sure why.... either way i just ignore

#6 timmmay on 08 Apr 2009 - 21:43

I knew it was legit however I still ignored it lol

#7 Sam Symons Live on 08 Apr 2009 - 23:10

"We will definitely be reviewing our process to make sure we avoid such mistakes in the future" -- that tells me the person who made the mistake is in a bit of trouble

#8 zeta_immersion on 08 Apr 2009 - 23:40

i ignored it as spam anyway .. no biggie

#9 SQ1 on 09 Apr 2009 - 00:14

That message exists for companies that install Office Communicator. It integrates with exchange, and if you have an ID in Office Communicator you can't have the same address for Live Messenger.

When a company installs Office Communicator, those messages are sent to the accounts that are active in Live Messenger.

(1 reply) #10 acido00 on 09 Apr 2009 - 01:26

good bye @hotmail
Welcome @live

#10.1 Stetson on 09 Apr 2009 - 02:25

huh?

#11 Examinus on 09 Apr 2009 - 22:21

What a useless "enhancement". Most people considered it spam!

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