Latest Windows Live Messenger filtering SNAFU: “Setup.exe”

committed to database on June 9, 2008 at 10:55 pm Eastern Standard Time 6 comments digg this

A month ago, Windows Live Messenger began blocking legitimate URLs from being transmitted to other users. As pointed out by Dharmesh Mehta, Windows Live Messenger product management lead, this process is actually handled outside of Microsoft, by a 3rd party (whom remains a mystery).

Today, I tried pasting an error message to a colleague of mine, Chris Holmes. No luck. The chat text would appear as if it was transmitted but no feedback was given in the UI. Poof. It was gone. Never touched the intertubes.

After a simple process of elimination, it was determined that having the string setup.exe anywhere within your message triggers the deletion behavior.

I am neither amused or surprised. I am, however, waiting for a reply to my inquiry regarding this issue. Psst Microsoft, this may help.

  1. Ashley Graham June 20, 2008 at 2:31 am

    I think the URL blocker is getting out of hand, they are even blocking ligitimate websites, so its nearly impossible to share links with your freinds.

    Somthing should be done about it, its getting outer hand

    Reguards
    Ashley

  2. carl June 21, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    setup.exe are they insane? if i want to be stupid enough to click on one of these links i should be able to. MSN should stop blocking shit and try and educate its users on why they might not want to click it.

  3. raylo June 23, 2008 at 11:23 am

    i think all link cant be sent now…//
    even http://www.xanga.com/Private/SubsMain.aspx,,,,,,, i cant send tonight…

  4. raylo June 24, 2008 at 5:47 am

    and now link can be sent…strange

  5. Isa Sorensen November 2, 2008 at 3:01 am

    Tried to send my wife the URL to download aMSN so she could get around the filtering of Microsoft, and guess what.
    It’s a blocked URL.Go figure

  6. abir March 28, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    i need the latest version of windows live messenger.pls send me the url where can i download easily .