Hotmail Goof Spooks MSN Subscribers

Microsoft is apologizing to MSN subscribers after accidentally sending them a test message with incomprehensible text that was meant to remain internal. Users encountered the notice after logging in to Hotmail following a system upgrade that boosted user storage space.

The seemingly random message worried some MSN users who feared their e-mail accounts may have been compromised, but Microsoft was quick to quell any speculation.

"This afternoon, some MSN subscribers signing in to Hotmail may have encountered a test page that was inadvertently posted to the service," a Microsoft spokesperson told BetaNews. "MSN has removed the page and Hotmail is functioning as usual. Anyone who encountered the page could click "continue" to go directly to their Hotmail inbox."

The message to users read: "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this lBurger? Now thats a fire! Ice cream!"

"The test page posted as result of an inadvertent action by MSN. The text on the test page was irreverent and was not meant for posting, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers," the spokesperson added.