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Microsoft Blocks Messenger In Five Embargoed Countries
Spooky McSpookster writes "Microsoft has turned off its Windows Live Messenger service for five countries: Cuba, Syria, Iran, Sudan, and North Korea. Users in these countries trying to log in get the following error: '810003c1: We were unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service.' Why now, since this flies in the face of the Obama administration's softening stance on Cuba? This isn't the first time the US trade embargo has had questionable outcomes. US-based Syrian political activist George Ajjan created a web site promoting democracy in Syria, only to find GoDaddy blocked anyone inside Syria from seeing it. The article argues, 'Messenger is a medium for communication, and the citizens of these countries should not be punished from such a basic tool because the US has problems with their governments' policies.' What does this say for the wisdom of non-US citizens relying on US companies for their business or communication?"
Simple. They were using the "block country" wizard 4 years ago to do this change, but whomever was doing the blocking, accidentally pressed cancel on the last sheet. Until now, no-one noticed that those countries weren't blocked.
There are no atheists when recovering from tape backup.
This reply reminds me of something one my really dumb bosses said to me one time when I was trying to fix a problem I was having in my linux instation.
"Can't you just call Linux and have them fix it?"
Like everything we use has to be centered at some big corporation somewhere...
Jihabber
So the only way to prevent that damn thing from starting every time you even look at any MS app is to be designated part of the "Axis of Evil"? Seems worth it.
sic transit gloria mundi
Why do Cuba, North Korea and all get better security due to a lack of access to one of the biggest malware outlets on the planet and we don't?
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I'm not a lover or hater of MS, but I know when a article is biased.
Are you new here? Either you are with us or against us when it comes to MS terrorist business.
Please make up your mind quickly or we will preemptively send you to Gitmo.
(I'm a buddhist by the way, posting AC for patriotic Americans with mod points)
How funny! A Buddhist trying to skirt around karma! You should know better.
No comprende? Let me type that a little slower for you...
Why stop there? I'd love Microsoft to block Messenger in Australia, too.
I am a member of the Lunar embassy to Earth and even we have MS products (legal and all of course, at least based on lunar law). They are not localised yet so in the mean time we use the Earth time zone and settings. Annoying but until there's more of us, they wont add a lunatic locale.
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