It is reported that MSN Windows Live mail registrations have been hit by spam bots as much as 30% to 35%. This is a serious security issue for Microsoft.

The bot acquires the CAPTCHA on the MSN server, takes it back to the spammers server and is read using spam servers technologies. After successful reading, the text match is sent back to MSN registration form and the registration is done successfully.

Vice President of Security Research, Dan Hubbard stated that this is the first time that we have seen bots like this. He also mentioned that some of the account creation scan is still murky and stated that the team is yet to find out what is happening in the spammers server. He also mentioned that spammers use these addresses for a day and then dispose them. These spamming addresses are quickly shut down by MSN and get listed in spam filtering products.

This huge success rate by spammer bots has started an debate if CAPTCHA is secure. This has lead to rethink CAPTCHA potential. It should also be noted that few months back a Russian programmer stated that he was able to crack Yahoo’s CAPTCHA system 35 percent of the time.

Microsoft failed to make the acquisition deal with Yahoo on Saturday. This has resulted in Microsoft to decide if it wishes to takeover Yahoo on a hostile way through a proxy fight or to bid and seek other alternatives.

Though Microsoft had been informing Yahoo through various means that they would pursue acquiring Yahoo using all available options, Yahoo has been ignoring Microsoft’s threats. Read More »

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Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, Steve Ballmer mentioned that Yahoo’s rejection to embrace his $44.6 billion offer was a mistake and that he would go ahead with all necessary steps to see to that Yahoo’s shareholders are given the opportunity to realize the value inherent in Microsoft’s proposal. However, Yahoo on other hand, is restarting its talks with America Online.
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Yahoo CFO, Chris Liddell stated that Microsoft may have to borrow money to finance its deal tagging Yahoo for a proposed $44.6 billion purchase.

Microsoft may use its available savings and its stock to pay the share of $31 which it had offered for Yahoo! Inc. The rest of the amount that Microsoft has to pay would be acquired from the capital markets which would be the first ever in the history of Internet.

Investors are requesting Microsoft to go for a debt for some time. Before the proposed deal, Microsoft’s shares raised to $30.51 a 6 cent increase in the Nasdaq Stock Market trading. However, on Feburary 1st, the day of the deal announcement, the shares had a dip of 6.6 per cent which was the largest fall since April 2006.

With Yahoo hitting a four year low, Microsoft has eyed on the search engine giant and one of the early pioneers of Internet search, Yahoo Inc. Sources estimate a whooping $50 billion price tag on this weakening Giant.

It should be noted that Microsoft had once negotiated and this is not the first time. Microsoft is now more willing and ready to pay more for this deal. Read More »