Main/News >> News Archives > The week of February 15 (2004) (you are here)

 Follow-up on the Plus! community hack

dwergs says ( 21 Feb 2004 ):

I got word from sock that their IRC channel #msgplus should be safe now, but still most users are vulnerable to identity theft and abuse until they all change their nick passwords.

 DestructiveChild, after a long fought battle, self-destructed

dwergs says ( 21 Feb 2004 ):

The bot that made its way into over 11000 of our contact lists has gone for good. "The odds were always against DestructiveChild", says V3NaT0R, "from server problems to the Big Bad Microsoft blocking its email address". British Nimrod decided to end the life of his A.I. child. Its many features will be sorely missed on many a list. But not by everyone apparently, as Crusader reports one of "rival" Lucida bot's latest display names: "Lucida :: DestructiveChild is dead! :: pwned". For the fans, DC's owner has posted a few display pictures on the official homepage for you to use in memory of the child. Farewell Destructivechild! [Reported by: Skot, Crusader, V3NaT0R]

 Buy your personalized MSN Messenger contact cards

dwergs says ( 20 Feb 2004 ):

MSN Netherlands has launched a service called TamTamCards where (Dutch) people can create their personal contact cards based on different designs, including six with MSN Messenger emoticons. TamTam contact cards cost 9,95 euro per 40, 11,95 euro per 60 or 13,95 euro per set of 80 cards. Add 1,99 euro shipping and you get an idea of the total price. Be aware that this service is available to Dutch users only, but you might try to get them shipped internationally via via (Dutch MSN buddies)? >> Create your own TamTamCards.

 Updated: Easy DP

dwergs says ( 19 Feb 2004 ):

Easy DP by Sk3tch is an image editor specifically designed for creating display pictures. This latest version comes with a lot of bug fixes! Download Easy DP... [Submitted by: Huuf]

 Closing of MSN Chat pushing pedophiles to MSN Messenger?

dwergs says ( 19 Feb 2004 ):

A University of Montana student was denied release into the custody of a friend in federal court Tuesday after he was charged with using the Internet to entice illegal sexual activity from a minor. FBI agents arrested Schlake after he allegedly tried to meet with an FBI officer posing as the 15-year-old girl with whom Schlake had initiated MSN Messenger conversations in January. She reportedly was using MSN messenger when a man who identified himself as “G” contacted her. “G” pointed out that he knew she was 15 from reading her public MSN member profile and had seen her photo. The girl informed a friend at UM identified as “DL,” who began chatting with “G” after receiving the girl’s permission. “DL” asked “G” a few questions, according to court documents. One said, "What are you lookin for? A friend, a relationship, a sexual relationship, what?" “G” said that "if we were to hook up there would be a condition. That anything we did behind closed doors would remain between us." The female and her mother then reported the case to the Missoula Police Department, who identified “G” as Schlake by tracing his cell phone number. [Source: Montana Kaimin Online]

 Tsunami will be hitting the Xbox landscape

dwergs says ( 19 Feb 2004 ):

Microsoft today did not quite announce a new update to the features of its Xbox Live online gaming service. Rather, it carefully tiptoed around properly announcing something it calls Tsunami, a suite of development tools it soon plans to roll out that will enable new community and content sharing features for Xbox Live gamers (some 750,000 as of the end of last year). Tsunami encompasses MSN Messenger integration, in-game competitions, online storage for customized stuff, team dynamics and a clan system. [Source: 1UP]

 Updated: a whole new MyEmo.com!

dwergs says ( 18 Feb 2004 ):

MyEmo has changed its approach: you can now get 9 different emoticon packs at £1,50 or about $2,80 US (or 2,22 EURO) per pack of +20 emoticons. You can order by text message (UK only), phonecall (USA, Canada , UK & Sweden only), credit or debit card. If you are paying for emoticons, MyEmo is totally worth it! Click My Picture on their site and check out the free display picture face generator (a Greenboy favorite :p). You can also earn $$$ by promoting Myemo emoticons on your own website!

 New Address for DestructiveChild

dwergs says ( 18 Feb 2004 ):

The DestructiveChild bot, now counting over 10,000 users, changes his address more than Lil' Kim talks dirty. The bot can now be reached at dc_bothotmail.com. The creators are "hoping this will be the last". We at Mess.be as well ;) [Reported by: SSJNeT]

 Plus! forums back on track...

dwergs says ( 18 Feb 2004 ):

Today the MsgPlus! forums and the official Messenger Plus! IRC channels were hacked and thus unavailable for over 10 hours (Mess.be still holds the record ;)). Thanks to wj and Laslo the forums are almost entirely back, but the services on IRC are still gone until further notice. Good luck to the Plus! community dusting it all up! [Reported by: zigomar10]

 New Custom MSN Messenger game: Hangman

dwergs says ( 17 Feb 2004 ):

Guess your opponent's word or be hanged! Hangman by JimmyL is the latest addition to the custom launch menu brought to you by games.mess.be! Install the custom games patch to enjoy many extra games you can play with your friends on MSN Messenger! If you already patched your MSN Messenger, the new Hangman game is automatically listed. It all started in July 2003 with the first custom game Reversi. Today, games.mess.be has grown into a popular service used by over 100.000 people every day from all over the world. Koen and the gang would like to thank you all for making this such a success! >> Add custom MSN Messenger games now!

 Emopanel and Messenger Plus! conflict

dwergs says ( 17 Feb 2004 ):

Many people have reported the conflict between last weeks hot addon EmoPanel and Messenger Plus! (a Share Files menu item is added everytime you select Insert Emoticons). It's keeping a lot of Plus! users from using EmoPanel, but both developers have assured the problem will be fixed in the next version. >> Download EmoPanel >> Download Messenger Plus!

 Speedy MSN, Messenger stripped down

dwergs says ( 17 Feb 2004 ):

This one's currently for Dutch people only: Speedy MSN is an altered version of MSN Messenger without some bells and whistles, like phone calls and video conferences. Check out a screenshot. You can download version 1.1 of Speedy MSN here. Again, you need the Dutch version of MSN Messenger 6.1.0207 to be able to install this.

 Microsoft inducing the extinction of web popups?

dwergs says ( 17 Feb 2004 ):

Microsoft decided to phase out popup ads across its MSN Internet units around the globe by summer. As a result, the company will no longer sell such ad formats to advertisers. The ban goes into effect shortly for MSN's media properties in the United Kingdom, the Nordic countries and Belgium, extending to all territories in the coming months, the firm said. As you can see here MSN is still selling banner ad space in the MSN Today popup, so they're probably not planning to remove it from MSN Messenger, but that's just my speculation. [Source: Reuters] [Reported by: Zbegra]

 A black page in Mess.be's history!

dwergs says ( 17 Feb 2004 ):

5 days of downtime... What a nightmare! Don't blame us, but ev1servers.net for some unacceptable errors when swapping several parts of the server's hardware. More on this later... It's 4 AM and I'm not in the mood to nag. Anyway, the custom MSN games, MSNfanatic and the TabMgr will soon return as well as our daily updates! We got some very nice things lined up for you to make up for our absence! :D (To get started I already approved a hundred display pictures and emoticons)

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