Re: ICQ99 crash

[Stefano_Canu () NAI COM (Canu, Stefano)]

ICQ 99 is not a public beta.
ICQ 98a is the widely used public beta.. ICQ 99 is a closed beta which has
not been released to the public.. any bugs found only pertaining to icq98a
should be listed on bugtraq.. but bugs found in icq99 or 99a should be
reported to mirabilis.
SC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Stevens [SMTP:ejsteven () CS MILLERSV EDU]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 7:59 PM
> To:   BUGTRAQ () netspace org
> Subject:      Re: ICQ99 crash
>
> 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