Microsoft Agent 1.5: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox software|title=Microsoft Agent|software_name=Microsoft Agent 1.5|logo=AgentSvrIconEnlarged64px.png|developer=Microsoft|latest release date=February 20th, 1998 ({{time_ago|February 20th, 1998}})|latest version=1.5.2.416|released=September 8th, 1997 ({{time_ago|September 8th, 1997}})|programming language=C++|operating system=Microsoft Windows|discontinued=Yes|screenshot=MSAgent1.5PropertiesMenuScreenshot1.png|caption=Screenshot of the Properties menu in Microsoft Agent 1.5.}}
Microsoft Agent 1.5 is the first public release of [[Microsoft Agent]]. It is an upgrade to beta versions of [[Microsoft Agent]], and dropped compatibility for characters created in the beta version. It replaced using multiple files for a character with a single ACS file that would be used for characters. It also simplified the API for developers and changed all mentions of "AgentX" to "MSAgent" or "AgentSvr". Microsoft Agent 1.5 also installed itself in the Program Files/Program Files (x86) directory. It's character folder was also named "Characters" instead of "CHARS", which is the name of the character folder in [[Microsoft Agent 2.0]].
==Development==
Not much information is known about the development of Microsoft Agent 1.5, as Microsoft never included this version of Microsoft Agent in windows development builds at the time. The only two versions known to exist are build 232 and build 416. Build 232 is the earliest build of Microsoft Agent 1.5 compiled on August 20th, 1997, a few weeks before the initial public release. This version was included in the Microsoft Agent Development Kit to help developers at the time include Microsoft Agent in their software before the download went public and was also included in Internet Explorer 4 so that developers can already have it used as an ActiveX control on their website. Build 416 is the latest known build of Microsoft Agent 1.5 and fixes many bugs and exploits from the initial release while also updating the copyright date from 1996-97 to 1996-98.
 
== Exploits ==
Many exploits were discovered with Microsoft Agent 1.5 characters that allowed for remote code execution. Microsoft quickly fixed this with a patch in Microsoft Agent 2.0 and also warning users whenever a program or website was trying to load a Microsoft Agent 1.5 character. It is believed that this only applied to Microsoft Agent 1.5 build 232, which meant the latest build of Microsoft Agent 1.5 was unaffected by the exploit.
 
== Builds ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Build Number
!Earliest compilation date
!Source
!Notes/Issues
|-
|Microsoft Agent 1.5.0.232
| August 20th, 1997
|Internet Explorer 4 & Microsoft Agent Development Kit
|Earliest available build of Microsoft Agent 1.5
|-
|Microsoft Agent 1.5.2.416
|February 20th, 1998
|VB6 installer & Microsoft website
|Bug fixes, updates the copyright year
|}
 
==Trivia==
* Microsoft Agent 1.5 never came pre-installed with any version of Windows. However, it would be installed if the user installed Internet Explorer 4 manually.
* Not all Microsoft Agent builds are available in Windows betas as it appeared that Microsoft only occasionally updated the Microsoft Agent after each build. This is also why some builds may contain the same version of Microsoft Agent before the version number changes again.
* Unlike the 2.0 installer, the Microsoft Agent 1.5 installer has 2 known versions, therefore meaning the installer was updated at least once.
{{MSAgent namespace navbox}}
[[Category:Software]]

Revision as of 00:28, 7 April 2022

Microsoft Agent
Screenshot of the Properties menu in Microsoft Agent 1.5.
NameMicrosoft Agent 1.5
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseSeptember 8th, 1997 (26 years ago)
Latest version1.5.2.416
Latest version release dateFebruary 20th, 1998 (26 years ago)
Written inC++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
Discontinued?Yes

Microsoft Agent 1.5 is the first public release of Microsoft Agent. It is an upgrade to beta versions of Microsoft Agent, and dropped compatibility for characters created in the beta version. It replaced using multiple files for a character with a single ACS file that would be used for characters. It also simplified the API for developers and changed all mentions of "AgentX" to "MSAgent" or "AgentSvr". Microsoft Agent 1.5 also installed itself in the Program Files/Program Files (x86) directory. It's character folder was also named "Characters" instead of "CHARS", which is the name of the character folder in Microsoft Agent 2.0.

Development

Not much information is known about the development of Microsoft Agent 1.5, as Microsoft never included this version of Microsoft Agent in windows development builds at the time. The only two versions known to exist are build 232 and build 416. Build 232 is the earliest build of Microsoft Agent 1.5 compiled on August 20th, 1997, a few weeks before the initial public release. This version was included in the Microsoft Agent Development Kit to help developers at the time include Microsoft Agent in their software before the download went public and was also included in Internet Explorer 4 so that developers can already have it used as an ActiveX control on their website. Build 416 is the latest known build of Microsoft Agent 1.5 and fixes many bugs and exploits from the initial release while also updating the copyright date from 1996-97 to 1996-98.

Exploits

Many exploits were discovered with Microsoft Agent 1.5 characters that allowed for remote code execution. Microsoft quickly fixed this with a patch in Microsoft Agent 2.0 and also warning users whenever a program or website was trying to load a Microsoft Agent 1.5 character. It is believed that this only applied to Microsoft Agent 1.5 build 232, which meant the latest build of Microsoft Agent 1.5 was unaffected by the exploit.

Builds

Build Number Earliest compilation date Source Notes/Issues
Microsoft Agent 1.5.0.232 August 20th, 1997 Internet Explorer 4 & Microsoft Agent Development Kit Earliest available build of Microsoft Agent 1.5
Microsoft Agent 1.5.2.416 February 20th, 1998 VB6 installer & Microsoft website Bug fixes, updates the copyright year

Trivia

  • Microsoft Agent 1.5 never came pre-installed with any version of Windows. However, it would be installed if the user installed Internet Explorer 4 manually.
  • Not all Microsoft Agent builds are available in Windows betas as it appeared that Microsoft only occasionally updated the Microsoft Agent after each build. This is also why some builds may contain the same version of Microsoft Agent before the version number changes again.
  • Unlike the 2.0 installer, the Microsoft Agent 1.5 installer has 2 known versions, therefore meaning the installer was updated at least once.