Microsoft purges Scroogle from MSN messenger

Update
Turns out Microsoft may not only have a problem with Scroogle in this instance. Messenger simply chooses to block any references to ".scr". So any URLs beginning www.scr will fall into this category, it seems.

AN INQUIRER READER says he discovered that Microsoft's MSN Messenger won't let users send a message containing the word www.scroogle.org to anyone.

If you try, he says, "the message just gets deleted and never reaches the other person - it still appears in the messages you've sent, though."

We had a bash and, spookily enough, experienced the same thing.

Scroogle is the website that lets you do Google searches without having everything you search for permanently recorded.

As our reader notes, the phenomenon is notable "because Microsoft doesn't block messages containing pr0n websites, or known websites that distribute spyware/viruses, or even technically (as far as Americans are concerned) illegal ones like allofmp3.com. It doesn't even block Mac website.

As our reader, John, says: "All Scroogle does is prevent grubby companies from permanently recording everything you look at on the internet..." Quite. µ

L'INQ
Scroogle