Java updated - Hotmail to drop Outlook Express support
I have a couple of new items to alert my readers about today. First, Sun Corporation has just updated their Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to version 6, Update15 (build 1.6.0_15-b03), fixing vulnerabilities announced by Microsoft in ATL components of Visual Studio. Apparently, Java itself used some of the vulnerable ATL modules and had to re-code the JVM to prevent it from being exploited in drive-by attacks against these components. Go to www.java.com to download and install the current version of Java from your browser. You can also manually choose an online or offline setup version for various operating systems, from this page.
As of today, updating the Java VM does not automatically uninstall older versions of Java. This is by an executive decision made by Sun Corp. They are afraid of breaking existing programs that depend on certain versions of Java. However, cyber-criminals are known to write codes pointing to the default installation paths of vulnerable versions of Java. If you leave an exploitable Java executable on your computer, then accidentally surf to, or get redirected to a hostile website, that version of Java can be used against you! If at all possible, if you aren't running a critical application that depends on an older version of Java, uninstall older versions after you update to a new version. You must close all browsers for the updates to take effect. If an application stops working properly after you update the Java VM, go to the manufacturer's website or look for a built-in check for updates link, to see if they have released a patched version to work with the new JVM.
The second matter affects Windows PC users who download Hotmail messages to their desktops, via Microsoft's Outlook, Outlook Express or Entourage programs. Microsoft has decided to make code changes to the way the Hotmail email servers work and these changes will cause Outlook and Outlook Express to stop sending and receiving Hotmail messages on September 1, 2009. Hotmail is now called "Windows Live Hotmail."
To continue to receive e-mail from your Hotmail account, you will have to select one of the alternative solutions below before September 1, 2009. After that day, new Hotmail e-mail can only be delivered to, or sent from your mail programs through the following alternative solutions. However you can continue to view and send your Hotmail messages via your web browsers.
If you use Microsoft Office Outlook to view Hotmail, you can download the free Office Outlook Connector to continue accessing your Windows Live Hotmail within Outlook 2003 or 2007. If you run an older version, read this information.
If you use Outlook Express (OE) to view Hotmail, you can choose to download the free Windows Live Mail (WLM), which resembles Outlook Express, but is much more powerful, less prone to crashes and contains a junk filter. You can import all of your saved .eml messages and accounts from OE into WLM (via Export/Import, or drag and drop between email clients). You can also import your personal folders from OE. The view is a little different, but you'll get used to it. You can find help on this page with exporting messages from Outlook Express into WLM.
If you are using Entourage to send and receive Hotmail, read these instructions to continue connecting to the new servers.
Why did this change happen? Because Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, and Entourage use a legacy communications method, known as the DAV protocol, to access Hotmail. Because the DAV protocol is not optimally suited for programs to access large inboxes such as Hotmail which now provides users ever-growing storage*, new alternatives have been built. Microsoft postponed their initial plans to retire the DAV protocol until more options were available. Now that these options (including the POP3 protocol) are available, they are ready to retire the DAV protocol, on September 1, 2009.
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