Skype or Snipe – Hunting For The Impossible Dream

Summary:

• Users are were experiencing problems (failure) signing on to Skype using a Microsoft Account username/password

Update: As of 13:50 GMT (10:50 a.m. EST, 7:50 a.m PST) Skype is reporting the problem has been resolved for the majority of users.

cf. http://heartbeat.skype.com/2013/04/problems_with_microsoft_accoun.html

“UPDATE Apr 25, 2013 13:50 GMT]:  We are still monitoring the situation but the majority of users should now be able to sign into Skype with their Microsoft Account.”

Details:

•  As of the evening of April 24, 2013  the ability to sign on to Skype with a Microsoft Account has been failing.
• Microsoft is currently upgrading (mandatory) Live Messenger accounts to Skype
• It is not known (at the time this article was written) whether the upgrade process is the cause of the Skype/Microsoft Account Sign-in failure nor when the problem will be resolved.
• The ability to continue to use Messenger is not a viable alternative since Messenger will prompt with a message stating that ‘A newer version is available’ – The ‘Newer’ version **is** Skype

Comments:

• If you’re familiar with the the term ‘hunting for snipe’ the parallel being drawn in the title of the article is that both are/were (during the outage) apparently impossible tasks
• Until this problem is resolved it might be prudent to delay upgrading Messenger to Skype (i.e. if one can’t sign on with a Messenger (Microsoft Account credentials) username/password to either Messenger or Skype then any attempt to use either would be fruitless. [Ed. - MSFT account signon and upgrade problems appear to be resolved. Verified on April 25, 2013 3 p.m. EST - successful upgrading from Messenger to Skype worked fine]
• Existing Skype accounts that were previously migrated from Messenger are were seeing the dialog box (below) when using their Microsoft Account credentials to sign-on to Skype
• Skype support is was providing this notice:
• Clicking on the link for ‘View blog reactions’ doesn’t provide any additional details (another snipe hunt?) only yielding the blog host (Technorati) service’s ‘No Results’ search finding:
• If Messenger is still installed (i.e. has not been upgraded to the somewhat misleading but planned and previously notified  **Newer version*** it is highly likely that will also be fruitless during this any temporary outage since Messenger is pre-programmed to prevent sign on until the mandatory upgrade to the ‘newer version’ [Skype] is completed.  
• Status updates on this outage can be monitored on the Skype ‘Heartbeat’ web site http://heartbeat.skype.com/

• During Skype outages, imo, doing nothing (not upgrading, attempting to access Skype with a Microsoft Account, remove and reinstall Skype, wait a few hours/days etc.) might be best since those choices might be more beneficial than tampering with your pc/system and installed software and always better than going snipe (Skype) hunting.

Revisions:

April 24, 2013: Original Draft Date

April 25, 2013: Original Publish Date; Content edited to reflect outage status/resolution including verb changes where applicable (current vs. past tense)

Microsoft Account – Optional Two-Step Verification

Summary:

• Microsoft will begin deploying a new, but optional, verification procedure requiring the user to provide two types of security information prior to accessing their Microsoft account.

Comments:

• This feature change is optional
• Microsoft accounts provide the ability to configure multiple types of security proofs
• Security proof types previously and currently available are – SMS capable phone number, Alternate E-mail address, Trusted PC, and Secret Question
• Multiple entries (more than one) of specific security proof types can be configured (e.g. two phone numbers, two alternate email address, two Trusted Pcs)
• Enabling two-step verification will ensure Microsoft verifies that at least two pieces of security information are on file for the respective Microsoft Account on the Microsoft servers and /or user provided during verification when signing on.
• Enabling two-step verification will also provide the option to opt-out of providing security codes after an initial two-step verification (per browser per device). Choosing this option will require using the device to sign on to the respective Microsoft account at least once every 60 days.
• Maintaining and updating your account security proofs will be important/necessary for any devices used to access Microsoft account services
• If your security information changes (e.g. Phone, Alternate Email) it should be considered mandatory to update your Microsoft account before wiping/deleting the old information.

Links:

1. Microsoft Account Gets More Secure
   – http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2013/04/17/microsoft-account-gets-more-secure.aspx

2. Microsoft Account Security Proofs (for configuring security proofs and Two-Step Verification)
   – https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage

Revisions:

April 17, 2013: Original Draft and Publish Date

Windows Live Messenger New Version Prompt Is *Skype*

 

Summary:

1. Windows Live Messenger program informs users that  ‘A new version of Messenger is available’

2. The new version of Messenger is Microsoft Skype

Comments:

• Effective April 8, 2013 Microsoft will start mandatory upgrading Windows Live Messenger users to Microsoft Skype
• Current users of Windows Live Messenger when opening the program will be presented with the following prompt -  ‘A new version of Messenger is available’:

 

• Clicking on ‘Get it now’ will generate the following dialog box

• Clicking ”OK’ with Yes’ enabled **will not** install ‘A newer version of Messenger’ but will initiate the download and subsequent installation of Skype
• Clicking on ‘What’s New’ will redirect to a Skype url (web page) with additional details on upgrading Messenger to Skype and an option to download Skype

 

• The terminology that ‘A newer version of Messenger is available’ may be (is) a bit misleading but the requirement for Windows Live Messenger users to upgrade to Microsoft Skype is mandatory since the end of life (and ability to use) Messenger will start to occur globally (except mainland China) on April 8, 2013.
• If you wish to continue to use a Microsoft product to Instant Message, Share (Photos, Videos, Files), Group Chat, and Video calls with your Messenger contacts then installation of Microsoft Skype is necessary.

Links:

Skype Home Page – http://www.skype.com/en/

What is Skype – http://www.skype.com/en/what-is-skype/

Skype for Windows Desktop – http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/

Skype Support – https://support.skype.com/en/

Microsoft Answers Support (Messenger/Skype FAQs) – http://goo.gl/rQ69Q

 

Revisions:

April 1, 2013: Original Draft Date

April 2, 2013: Original Publish Date

Windows Live Messenger End of Service – Volume 2

 

Summary:

Effective April 8th, 2013 Microsoft will begin upgrading customers for Windows Live Messenger to Skype

Comments:

1. April 8, 2013 is the first day you may be required to update from Messenger to Skype
2. Microsoft previously announced that existing Messenger service globally (except mainland China) would be retired effective March 15, 2013. The April 8th date preempts the earlier March 15th date.
3. Upgrading to Skype using an existing Microsoft account (currently used for Windows Live Messenger) will migrate that same Microsoft account’s Messenger contacts into Skype.
4. Messenger contacts  ‘Categories and Groups’ ***Do Not*** migrate to Skype
5. Custom Emoticons (including animated gifs) are not supported in Skype
6. End of Service in the simplest terms means Windows Live Messenger will cease to function (sign-on with username/password will fail/no longer functions) – i.e. upgrading to Skype is mandatory!

Notices:

Two recent email notices (Feb 2013 and March 2013) are shown below. 

Note: If you’ve not seen these notices (more than two email reminders have been sent to all Messenger accounts) it might be prudent to look in your email client’s Junk Mail folder

Feb 2013 Notice:

March 2013 Notice:

Links:

• Messenger to Skype for Windows Desktop – https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12246/i-used-to-use-messenger-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-skype-for-windows-desktop
• From Messenger to Skype – http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/windows-live-messenger/
• Download Skype – http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-windows/downloading/wlm/

 

Revisions:

February 19, 2013: Original Publish Date

March 23, 2013: Updated (added additional email notice)

April 1, 2013: Updated (added Skype Download link)

Windows Live Messenger – End of Service

Summary:

  Windows Live Messenger will be retired on March 15th 2013 globally everywhere (except mainland China)

Comments:

1. Microsoft Skype is the client replacing Windows Live Messenger

2. Updating to Microsoft Skype will retain your Contacts and the ability to:

• Instant message
• Video call
• Call phones from your devices (PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, Android mobile, Kindle)
• Share your screen
• Video call and IM with Facebook friends
• Group video call with up to ten friends at once (requires a Skype Premium account)

Subscriber Notification:

• Email notice on January 8, 2013

Additional Information:

So, what’s happening between now and 15th March?

Messenger will continue to work as you know it today. If you are signed in with Messenger on your desktop** you will see a banner notification to upgrade. When you click on the banner, an installer window will open with the request to upgrade. This will take you through our installer flow to install Skype and automatically uninstall Messenger.

So, what’s happening after 15th March?

Messenger users on desktops** will not be able to sign in and will only be able to upgrade to Skype. If you attempt to sign in, a notification will appear, and if you continue, you will be taken through our installer flow to install Skype and automatically uninstall Messenger at the same time. ** Newer versions of Messenger will be able to receive the optional upgrade notifications. Older versions will not receive the notifications and you will have to download Skype manually.

Links:

• Update Now 
• Download (Latest version) – http://www.skype.com/go/getskype/wlm

Revisions:

Jan 8, 2013: Original Published Date

Microsoft Services Agreement Updated

 

Summary:

Microsoft Services Agreement updated and effective October 19, 2012

Comments:

1. The Microsoft Services Agreement was updated on August 27, 2012 to coincide with the upcoming release of Windows 8 and its integrated used of a ‘Microsoft Account’.
2. Microsoft Account is the current term replacing/rebranding a Live ID account.
3. Notification of the change was deployed via an email to existing Microsoft Account (fka Live ID) holders
4. Additional detail (e.g. binding arbitration and class action waiver) is included in the text of the notice(below) 

Notice:

Email Notice: August 31, 2012

Links:

• Microsoft Services Agreement

  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/microsoft-services-agreement

Revisions:

August 31, 2012: Original Draft Date

September 2, 2012: Original Publish Date

October 2, 2012: Revision in ‘Comments’ section to reflect rename of ‘Live ID’ to ‘Microsoft Account’

Phishing in the Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail Pond

Summary:

A variety of email phishing methods are employed in an attempt to harvest Hotmail usernames and  passwords. Phishing attempts may give the impression that the source of the email actually originated from Microsoft.

Background:

A phishing attempt is a form of identity theft (an attempt to obtain *your* personal information). The example below shows a fake email message attempt to obtain (phish) your Hotmail username and password.

The message may have been delivered through the Hotmail servers (arriving in your Inbox) but not actually originating from Hotmail or Microsoft.

Inspection of the message’s headers often provides many clues on the source and location of the fake message. The example below highlights (within red triangle)  a few of these clues.

Also of importance the message header’s content may be falsified by the originating phishing source.

How To:

 To view the message source/headers of a message received  in your Hotmail account in the Hotmail web user interface.

• Single or Double Click on the message (to display it)
• Look in the upper right of the message for the ‘Reply’ option
• Click on the downward arrow adjacent and to the right of the ‘Reply’ option
• Scroll down and select ‘View Message Source’

Comments:

1. First and foremost – Be careful out there!  If uncertain, be suspicious.
2. For additional knowledge and information see these Microsoft articles.

Email and Web Scams: How to help protect yourself

http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-scams.aspx

Win the Battle against email fraud

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/securitytipstalk/archive/2012/03/20/win-the-battle-against-email-fraud.aspx

How to recognize phishing email messages, links or phone calls

http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-symptoms.aspx

Revisions:

May 15, 2012:  Draft version

May 21, 2012: Original Publish Date

June 8, 2012: Added comments and ‘view message source’ instructions for the Hotmail web interface