Skype pushes out Windows update following massive login glitch

Skype has published an update that provides an easy way for users to log back into the system following a software glitch that resulted in the VoIP service hanging up on users on Thursday.

The resulting flood of traffic from confused users also floored Skype's website. The VoIP firm, acquired by Microsoft for an eye-popping $8.5bn earlier this month, issued a detailed bulletin explaining how users could log back into the service soon after the outage.

This multi-step process involved deleting a file called "shared.xml" that had become corrupted as a result of the problem, a process even Skype admits is "fairly technical". Windows users can now avoid fiddling around with their system by applying an automated update, published late on Thursday. An update for Mac users is promised over forthcoming days. Linux users will have to tweak their systems for themselves.

Skype on mobiles, TVs or other device was immune from the glitch, the precise cause of which remains unclear. Previous outages involving Skype have also gone unexplained, a shortcoming that hardly builds confidence in the service.

The latest word from Skype on Thursday's outage can be found here. ®