First:
We are not trying to train Hackers of voilence and illegality ;) We are just a "project"
that tries to teach you, the readers how Security holes work. The first Tuts will go
around the rootes (read them to understand everything) further then we'll discuss the
more complex topics. As soon as you see "Word(1/2/3 /....)" you will find a explenation
at the end of the text.

Disclaimer: These informations are for legal use only. They are for the educational
use and explain how things work they don't tell/ask you to do this!! We take no
responsibility for any illegal activities!

So if you want to learn and don't want illegal activities you are welcome to read and
understand!

Introduction:
What to say about MSN well its a Chat tool of Microsoft! You can use it form many things.
But actually its a typically chat client like icq, aim,...! Well first these clients are
not as secure as you might think but we will talk about that now!

1) MSN - HOTMAIL? or vice versa
2) MSN? So what is it actually?
3) Security?
4) Functions
5) How to retrieve the IP
6) Where is the password stored?
7) Social engineering possability with msn
8) Securing?
9) Other Interesting Keys

1) MSN - HOTMAIL? or vice versa
Well hotmail is a firm and branch of Microsoft! It is a free web based email service.
They have added this so called Microsoft Network that thought of developing a chat
system - then next hotmail took this idea msn(the network) closed down and a client
called Messanger (MSN) was developed! This a chat client used by many people! A wide
spread network as you see. This makes things interesting!

2) MSN? So what is it actually?
A gui(Graphical User Interface) chat system. It connects you to a server which knows
the other connections established and thus can forward your messages to any user! A
quite good idea - course it actually doesn't use direct connections and there for you
wouldn't see the IP with a normal "netstat -a". But there is of course a way to get
the IP which I will tell you of course!

3) Security?
As I told you the security aspect of anonymity in connotation to IP's is ok! But the
password encryption is very bad! And the storage place is the registry and there for
not very secret! And the problem is that there is no real ssl(shouldn't you understand
this "ssl" its secure socket layer and I really don't want to explain this here course
its a own protokoll and I really don't want to explain so much in this text its pure
little msn article but you can find more information on the net!) and there for anybody
could "hash" data! And you can easily fake messages or answers...

4) Functions
Well you can chat, send files, send sms, telefon, check your email, visit hole chat-rooms
and other things its a quite compact little application! What else shall I say? Download
it if you want and check it... ;>

5) How to retrieve the IP
Well you can the IP with a normal direct connection and overlook it with "netstat -a" but
you have to - as I said - establish a DIRECT CONNECTION! This can be done by send a file!
So send a file and if he acknowledges the file and its exchanged you can quick check the
active connection tables with "netstat -a" just open command.com and type "netstat -a".

6) Where is the password stored?
In the registry key called:
"Hkey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\MessengerService\PasswordMSN Messenger Service"
It is ALWAYS the password of your email account and your username is the email adress!
So if your email is "bg@hotmail.com" your username is "bg@hotmail.com"! So if you have
cracked the password you of course have the control of the email account and the chat
system! http://newdata.box.sk/2001/jan/win/MSDecripter.exe Find the pwcracker here.

7) Social engineering possability with msn
Well I just thouhgt about what could be done via social engineering!? Well this is what
I developed: When a new update of the messanger is available you recieve an email which
tells you all about the new things! Well so what I thought of is actually that you fake
this email make it look professional spoof it from "support@hotmail.com" or something
and add a trojan to it! Even viruses could be added everything a own chat client that logs
all text send or something! Well the possabillities are endless... Enjoy it!

8) Securing?
Well first of course you could send an email to hotmail that anounces your feelings about
the security on hotmail! But I doubt they will read it!! So these are the things you
should/nt do:
1) Don't store the password
2) Don't accept any file from users you DON'T KNOW!
3) Use hotmail just as spam account DON'T GET DEPENDENT FROM HOTMAIL!

These are the only things I can think of! Yeah perhaps use other clients and proxy your connection!
Well anyway enjoy!

9) Other Interesting Keys
Well like have a look at this:
'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MessengerService\ListCache\.NET Messenger Service'

and from here just have a browse through some of the strings. The 'Allow' and 'block' strings look like they are encrypted (i.e. stored in un-readable format). This is not the case. Just double click any of them and you'll be able to make out the contacts e-mail address on the right side. From here you can see who the person has allowed to message him, and who he's blocked. ;)

Ok, now say you have NETBIOS or some other sort of access to someones computer that you don't like very much. And you want to spread information about them. They may have their telephone number available to people on their msn contact list. You can extract this info from their comp. It's under the same registry entry, i.e.

'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MessengerService\ListCache\.NET Messenger Service'

Now, from here you just look for any of these three strings:

PHH (home telephone number)
PHM (mobile telephone number)
PHW (work telephone number)

These strings will be in PLAIN TEXT! Way-to-go-microsoft!!

Anyway I'm out...have fun! ;)