This first special issue of A Malware Retrospective recall a tool that shaped an entire generation during the MSN Messenger era. Known as IceCold, this infamous software was what we referred to as an "account freezer", a tool designed to block a target user’s access to services like chat applications or online games.

Though often used as a prank to get friends or rivals angry, IceCold also had an even more darker side. With some ingenuity and social engineering, it evolved into a powerful weapon for stealing MSN accounts without ever needing direct access to the target's computer. Its reputation secured its place in digital history as one of the most notorious MSN hack-tool.