Greetings,
The 'msmsgs' entries are actually Windows Messenger automatically opening and forwarding the
ports, this is not a virus, this is by design. However, if you're not using Windows
Messenger, you can simply disable it (which will prevent it from adding these ports).
To do so, open Windows Messenger (click Start, then Run, type "msmsgs" and click OK), click
Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this Program when Windows starts' or 'Run
Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on version). As well, you can disable it
further by going to Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows
Components on the left, uncheck Windows Messenger in the components list and click Next >.
Note: this is only available if you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 1 -- if you haven't,
visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This won't remove Windows Messenger completely,
but it will let it stay out of your way.
Also, do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging
scanning" feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause some
of this behavior. To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon
in the System Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click
Options, then Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources -
http://messenger.jonathankay.com