Windows Live Messenger - do I need to change my email address? - Computing and Networks

lil_me · 08-04-2009, 00:20

When I logged on today, I got a messenger chat window from Windows Live Messenger Service Staff telling me that, due to recent upgrades, I will need to change my email address in order to log in to the service. It all looks legit, but it just seems a bit weird that I would need to change my address when the Messenger service can be used by other email addresses such as Yahoo. There's a link to a Microsoft support page, but I was a bit wary of clicking on it, and when I went direct to the support site I couldn't find anything saying addresses need to be changed. Am I just being too cautious and do I need to get a new address, or is this chat window dodgy? TIA

Analysethis · 08-04-2009, 00:34

Bollocks, it's a scam. The 'link' is a virus that harvests your account and uses it to send the same thing to your friends (in the 'oh look I saw a picture of you' style), and spreads like that, collecting a nice chain of WLM accounts.
Very very clever virus, do NOT click on it. Block the address too.

o dot t · 08-04-2009, 00:41

opps i clicked the link

but i didnt change anything.
do i have a virus now

lil_me · 08-04-2009, 00:47

Thanks, that's what I figured.
For info, it shows the originating ID as messenger@microsoft.com and the name as Windows Live (TM) Messenger Service Staff. The message reads

Windows Live(TM) Messenger Service Staff says:
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(TM) Messenger Service.

To ensure that your access is not blocked and to learn more, go to http://support..microsoft.com/gp/Messenger/en

(the additional . after support is mine, in case this posts as a link and someone clicks it by accident!)

max99 · 08-04-2009, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by o dot t

opps i clicked the link

but i didnt change anything.
do i have a virus now

I received the same. The link was actually genuine and took you to the following page on Microsoft's site:

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/Messenger/en

So don't worry, you don't have a virus from it. If it is a scam, it's a rather dumb one. There's other discussions online about it right now, but there'll be more info in the morning.

lil_me · 08-04-2009, 01:05

Hmmm, still seems unlikely to me but will wait to see what transpires. I had a scam IM from a friend the other day, which makes me extra suspicious. It was from someone on my contact list, but we never IM, and the message was something like 'I never saw anything so awesome!' and a load of tosh about some weight loss program, which is something my friend would never endorse. I messaged her on facebook rather than using her email address, and she of course confirmed that she never sent the IM. I was wondering if her ID had been compromised and was where this latest IM originated, but maybe it's a genuine thing. Time will tell!...

paddysu · 08-04-2009, 01:11

The only reason I could see that it might be you might have to change your email address is going to be if they're going to restrict it just to their own email address's but to also introduce another extension as well.
If everyone who has an account with them has to change their email address then what on earth would they change them to. Did anyone get their first choice when trying to register initially.

max99 · 08-04-2009, 01:20

I think it's actually going to turn out to be a screw-up from someone at Microsoft.

amiga · 08-04-2009, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by max99

I think it's actually going to turn out to be a screw-up from someone at Microsoft.

Looks like it was http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/blog/

max99 · 09-04-2009, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by amiga

Looks like it was http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/blog/

I knew it wasn't a scam and even less likely that MS would force so many people to change their email address, so this was the only logical conclusion.

08-04-2009, 00:20	#1
lil_me Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Windows Live Messenger - do I need to change my email address? When I logged on today, I got a messenger chat window from Windows Live Messenger Service Staff telling me that, due to recent upgrades, I will need to change my email address in order to log in to the service. It all looks legit, but it just seems a bit weird that I would need to change my address when the Messenger service can be used by other email addresses such as Yahoo. There's a link to a Microsoft support page, but I was a bit wary of clicking on it, and when I went direct to the support site I couldn't find anything saying addresses need to be changed. Am I just being too cautious and do I need to get a new address, or is this chat window dodgy? TIA

08-04-2009, 00:34	#2
Analysethis Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Location: Location. Posts: 1,362	Bollocks, it's a scam. The 'link' is a virus that harvests your account and uses it to send the same thing to your friends (in the 'oh look I saw a picture of you' style), and spreads like that, collecting a nice chain of WLM accounts. Very very clever virus, do NOT click on it. Block the address too.

08-04-2009, 00:41	#3
o dot t Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: claw HQ Posts: 4,052	opps i clicked the link but i didnt change anything. do i have a virus now

08-04-2009, 00:47	#4
lil_me Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Thanks, that's what I figured. For info, it shows the originating ID as messenger@microsoft.com and the name as Windows Live (TM) Messenger Service Staff. The message reads Windows Live(TM) Messenger Service Staff says: 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(TM) Messenger Service. To ensure that your access is not blocked and to learn more, go to http://support..microsoft.com/gp/Messenger/en (the additional . after support is mine, in case this posts as a link and someone clicks it by accident!)

08-04-2009, 01:05	#6
lil_me Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Hmmm, still seems unlikely to me but will wait to see what transpires. I had a scam IM from a friend the other day, which makes me extra suspicious. It was from someone on my contact list, but we never IM, and the message was something like 'I never saw anything so awesome!' and a load of tosh about some weight loss program, which is something my friend would never endorse. I messaged her on facebook rather than using her email address, and she of course confirmed that she never sent the IM. I was wondering if her ID had been compromised and was where this latest IM originated, but maybe it's a genuine thing. Time will tell!...

08-04-2009, 01:11	#7
paddysu Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brighton Services: Freeview Posts: 4,796 Blog Entries: 57	The only reason I could see that it might be you might have to change your email address is going to be if they're going to restrict it just to their own email address's but to also introduce another extension as well. If everyone who has an account with them has to change their email address then what on earth would they change them to. Did anyone get their first choice when trying to register initially.

08-04-2009, 01:20	#8
max99 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,742	I think it's actually going to turn out to be a screw-up from someone at Microsoft.