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Windows Messenger upgrades to fix security flaw

Microsoft forces instant messaging users to upgrade to a new version of Windows Messenger, due to a security issue.

By Asavin Wattanajantra, 2 Sep 2009 at 13:10

Microsoft will force users to update versions of Windows Messenger, to fix vulnerabilities it found with the service.

In the last couple of months, Microsoft investigated vulnerabilities in its Active Template Library (ATL), which exposed users to remote code execution attacks, leaving their systems open to hackers.

Microsoft decided that it needed to address this with an updated version of Windows Live Messenger, as vulnerabilities connected to the ATL issue existed in previous versions.

Starting mid-September, it will be mandatory for all customers using Messenger 8.1 or 8.5 to upgrade to the latest version. From mid-October, customers using Messenger 14.0 will also be made to upgrade.

Microsoft said that, to protect customers, those who don't administer the upgrade would not be allowed to sign in after those dates have passed.

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