Microsoft IM Blocking YouTube Links 364
A number of readers are sending word that the blogosphere and Twittersphere are alight with reports of Microsoft's new block on messages containing YouTube URLs. Both MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger reportedly implement the block. One blogger sniffed the network to discover that such messages receive a NAK from Microsoft's servers. Microsoft has been blocking messages by keyword, as an anti-phishing measure, for some time, but *.youtube.com would not seem to provoke much worry about phishing. Instead, as B.E.T.A Daily speculates, "This block seems to be related to the recent launch of Messenger TV in 20 countries which allows for sharing video clips from MSN Video on Messenger." Hard to get away with in an arena where you don't enjoy a monopoly.
Re:First (Score:5, Informative)
In all seriousness, I've been sending YouTube links around (and receiving them) just fine. Dunno where the problem is.
Well, I tried both Adium and the official Messenger for Mac, and YouTube links got blocked on both of them.
Re:I call BS (Score:5, Informative)
If I remove the http and www it works, it also works if I change the youtube domain name...
Re:I call BS (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I call BS (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I call BS (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Just use a different IM client... (Score:5, Informative)
The thing is, this isn't being blocked at the client level. Its the servers that are blocking these links. Even if you switch to a different client, like Adium, or Pidgin, these links will be filtered.
More sites appear blocked as well (Score:5, Informative)
googlepages.com
mediafire.com
ebuddy.com
xanga.com
Workaround: don't add the "http://" in front of the address.
Re:Um, they don't have an IM monopoly! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Um, they don't have an IM monopoly! (Score:4, Informative)
Re:from RFC 4824 : NAK is (Score:5, Informative)
Correction, addendum (Score:2, Informative)
www.youtube.com/: blocked
youtube.com/: not blocked
http://www.youtube.com/ [youtube.com]: blocked
http://youtube.com/ [youtube.com]: blocked
Re:Um, they don't have an IM monopoly! (Score:3, Informative)
Here in Sweden everyone use MSN aswell, which suck.
I think ICQ was quite large in Germany still, Poland have their own IM-client and ICQ are still biggest in Russia aswell. So it all depends on where you live.
I guess people switched because of Hotmail being bought by Microsoft, included Messenger in the OS and the webcam support.
Put tinfoil hats back in drawer... (Score:3, Informative)
Friend in Belgium alerted me to the issue, as trying to send a link across the room to her friend would even fail.
After some investigation...
It looks like it was a temporary error in the server response, so instead of saying yes, it would just deny the link out of default, suspecting an attack or a bot.
The server responses are now working correctly and so are the links.
Back to your tinfoil and OFFICIAL MS IS ALWAYS EVIL CLUB of the insane...
PS - How come when Google/Firefox re-routes or blocks URLs, (in error or for questionable reasonss) it never makes it to the front of SlashDot?
Get over MS, they dumped you or you them, they are your ex girlfriend, you have a new girlfirend(OS), quit stalking her... (Wait, bad analogy in a geek forum.)
Star Wars Episode III screwed you, get over it... (Better analogy?)
Re:Its not censorship (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Its not censorship (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Threadjack - M$ Blocks Political Email. Re:Firs (Score:4, Informative)
They've been convicted of monopolistic practices. They keep up at them. They get fined for each time they do, but the fines never address the problem.
I would see one solution: if their online services get caught trying to participate in monopolistic practices, make sure the court orders them to sell the online service to a hostile party. Not just a third party, it has to be someone who has a fiduciary responsability to make microsoft shares worth zero. Tell them right now that's the next penalty for this, and we'll see if they do it again.
I can just imagine msn being owned by a consortium of ibm and aol(ok ok I need a better example...)
Moderators: Please note (Score:2, Informative)
Re:They are gonna regret this (Score:2, Informative)