Re: ICQ99 crash

[ejsteven () CS MILLERSV EDU (Eric Stevens)]

Having received a series of flames for the message I sent earlier, I believe
that I will address this on Bugtraq.  ICQ99 is actually ICQ99a or ICQ99
alpha.  Since ICQ has never released a non-beta version of its popular
program, this should probably be considered a beta.  I've heard by rumor
that the only reason ICQ99 is released at this time is that the source code
was stolen, so ICQ decided to release it as an alpha release (although I'm
not certain how reliable that source is, perhpas someone can enlighten me
further on that privately).  If every release of a program is termed a
public beta, then it follows that an alpha is really a beta, someone just
has their naming conventions messed up at ICQ, plus the fact that the
download page that I read when I originally downloaded the program put forth
terms of use as reporting bugs to ICQ.  Incidentally, I've tried the same
exact bug that was reported, and it was unsuccessful.  I've already sent a
private apology to the original message author for what I later realized may
have seemed an overly rude message.


> On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 08:06:47 -0500, you wrote:
>
> > I think you should be aware that ICQ99 is a BETA release.  IT IS NOT
> > INTENDED FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.  Do not report the bug to Bugtraq,
> > but instead, do what you agreed to when downloading ICQ99, report it to
> > ICQ so that they can fix the bug in the general release.  That's the
> > purpose of BETA.
>
> Ordinarily I'd say that's a good rule, but ICQ is an exception to the rule
IMHO.
> Let's not kid ourselves, ICQ _is_ in widespread use by the general public.
It's
> been in a perpetual beta stage since its release and there doesn't seem to
be a
> commercial release in sight. This is not your average beta program.
>
> Security flaws and bugs in this program can affect millions of users, and I
> think that deserves to be addressed on Bugtraq.
>
> -Joe