Shoutbox

I think I've found a bug in MSN 7.5.0322. As Patchou has some communication with Microsoft's MSN development department, I thought I might get an answer (and/or a solution) here.

THE STORY

I was talking with some friends in a multiple conversation and I wanted them to check one of my site's sections which url is http://ingosranch.gameshunters.com/staff.php so I did what I wanted, I sent them the link... but what's that? One of my friends got booted from the conversation because she had "Network problems".

We thought "Hey, it happens" so I just re-added her and sent the link again. This time, my other friend got disconnected. Ok, MSN is having some problems, right? Added her again, tried sending the link again. This time it was me who got disconnected. Hold on a second. I believe I saw a pattern here! Yes, the url!

I created another multiple conversation and waited for 5 minutes, then sent the link again. Inmediatly after the disconnection happenned again. Ok, so if I type "http://ingosranch.gameshunters.com/staff.php", they'll get out. Let's try to get rid of the http protocol...

"ingosranch.gameshunters.com/staff.php"

*POOF*, the disconneciton happens again. Well, perhaps it's the resource. Let's get rid of it.

"http://ingosranch.gameshunters.com"

Hmm.. nothing. Let's try writing "staff.php". Yeah, there it is; good ol' friend "Network problems". Now I know what the problem is. The question now is WHY. Let's ask xxxx! He knows about computers, he might know.

"Hey xxxx, do you know why my friends get disconnected when I type "staff.php"?"

.... 10 minutes

"Well, do you?"
"- Uh?"

So, he didn't get the message... let's type it again. No, he didn't get it... Ok, you should have got it by now, don't you?


IN RESUME

If you ever try to use the word "staff.php", the message won't arrive at all. If you send "bla bla bla staff.php bla bla bla" it won't arrive either. If you ever try to use the "staff.php" word in a multiple conversation, the conversation will end (or one of the participants will be disconnected for having "network problems"). I've been testing for a while, and after 2 hours, this is what I've came up with:

THE CHART

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---- Case ------- Plugins Comp A ----- Plugins Comp B ---- Result -----
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---- A to B ----- MsgPlus!, Apatch ------ MsgPlus! ---------- Error ------
---- B to A ----- MsgPlus!, Apatch ------ MsgPlus! ---------- Error ------
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---- A to B ----- MsgPlus!, Apatch --------- Nothing --------- Error ------
---- B to A ----- MsgPlus!, Apatch --------- Nothing --------- Error ------
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---- A to B ----------- Nothing -------------- Nothing ---------- Error ------
---- B to A ----------- Nothing -------------- Nothing ---------- Error ------
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---- A to B ---------- Trillian -------- MsgPlus!, Apatch ------- Error ------
---- B to A ---------- Trillian -------- MsgPlus!, Apatch ------- Error ------
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

THE CONCLUSION

So I conclude that the problem is in MSN and not in a plugin (Haven't tried with Trillian to Trillian though). I'm asking you to test this with as many variations as you can to see what comes up and, if something is indeed wrong, try to fix it.

THE PROOF (You can try it yourself too)

Here's a picture of a conversation I had with a friend, testing the staff.php:



THE POSSIBLE REASON

And finally, I don't know wether if this has something to do with it or not, but after a quick search I found about the "pearl jam tribute" virus, which uses an url that includes the word "staff.php" to spread. Perhaps it's a "security response" from Microsoft (a very dumb one, if you ask me) or perhaps not.

THE UPDATES

UPDATE MSN for MAC has the same problem.

UPDATE Word in uppercase (STAFF.PHP) has no problems. Same goes for STAFF.php and staff.PHP or any middle uppercase like stAff.php or staff.pHp

UPDATE Word has no effect if on Nickname.

UPDATE E-messenger has the problem too.

UPDTATE download.php has the same effect as staff.php....