Users of Microsoft’s email programs, Entourage or Outlook, that have Hotmail accounts had a rude awakening this morning when they tried to access mail from the online service.
When attempting to send or retrieve e-mail from a Hotmail account or configure a new Hotmail account in Entourage or Outlook Express for the Mac the following behaviors may occur:
Apparently, the MSN Hotmail servers were updated yesterday to provide increased security via centralized Passport authentication. These security updates disabled the ability for Microsoft’s Mac e-mail applications to access or send e-mail from Hotmail.
Microsoft told MacCentral this afternoon that they are currently working on this issue. Until it is fixed, Microsoft advises email from a Hotmail account must be done through the Hotmail web site.