messenger service

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

How do I stop the constant bombardment of these grey messages from messenger service didnt get with win98 just when i switched to win 2000 pro ?
Thanks Tom
would like them to stop without loading extra software
 
Greetings --

Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"

This type of spam has become quite common over the past several
months, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
you may well be open to other threats, such as the Blaster Worm that
recently swept cross the Internet. Install and use a decent,
properly configured firewall. (Merely disabling the messenger
service, as some people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does
little or nothing to truly secure your machine.) And ignoring or just
"putting up with" the security gap represented by these messages is
particularly foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
security. The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups;
they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
helpful?


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


tomed said:
How do I stop the constant bombardment of these grey messages from
Click to expand...
messenger service didnt get with win98 just when i switched to win
2000 pro ?
 
Hi Tomed,

You can do this without installing new software, but read on after I tell how to
temorarily stop the messenger popups.


REMOVING "Messenger Service" POPUPS (immediate Temporary fix)


=========================
Note: This DOES NOT take the place of a good firewall like Zone Alarm Pro. You
need it. Get one; you are vulnerable. Learn the easy way or the hard way. A
hardware firewall is great like a Cayman or SoHoware Router, and of course virus
protection is an absolute must (updated every day).


REMOVING "Messenger Service" POPUPS (immediate Temporary fix)



Recently some smart programmers came up with a way to send SPAM through the
network messaging system provided in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. What happens is
for no reason, without Internet Explorer or Outlook Express open, a PopUp shows up
on the desktop with SPAM (some common ones are offering a college diploma based on
your life experiences). Using Outlook will not prevent this from happening. To
stop this from happening do the following:

Note: This feature is normally available to administrators to send messages over a
network(s), and those with authority to send popups concerning corporate events,
schedules etcetra.
Note: This generally happens to broad band internet connections that stay open,
but may be sent to anyone while online with Windows 2000 and Windows XP (all
versions).

Start >Settings >Control Panel >Administrative Tools >Services >double-click
Messenger >Startup dropdown set to Manual >OK >restart



Note: There is a freeware download that will toggle messenger service "on" and
"off" at http://grc.com/freepopular.htm

IMPORTANT: By doing only that, the computer will STILL be open to the Internet and
be pretty unsecured. The Messenger Service messages is only the symptom, and not
the cause. This type of spam is just a sign that you are exposing NETBIOS ports to
the Internet, this you should block with a firewall.



=========================
Note: This DOES NOT take the place of a good firewall like Zone Alarm Pro. You
need it. Get one; you are vulnerable. Learn the easy way or the hard way. A
hardware firewall is great like a Lynksys Router, and of course virus protection
is an absolute must (updated every day).
=========================
Microsoft link concerning "Messenger service"
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904
=========================
"For this reason, Microsoft recommends that you install a firewall and configure
it to block NetBIOS traffic instead of merely just turning off the Messenger
service."

That means blocking internet access to ports 135, 137-139 and 445 with a firewall.

As I stated, you need a firewall and AVP.
Also you would do well to have Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D
Here is a website that can direct you both and many more.

www.spychecker.com


good computing,
don
---------


*END*
How do I stop the constant bombardment of these grey messages from messenger
service didnt get with win98 just when i switched to win 2000 pro ?
Thanks Tom
would like them to stop without loading extra software
 
Control panel->Management Tools->Services->Service(local)->messenger(right
console)choose stop and REBOOT
 
Greetings --

Please stop deliberately posting potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service is a "head in the sand" approach
to computer security that leaves the PC vulnerable to threats such as
the W32.Blaster.Worm.

The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups; they're
actually providing a useful service by acting as a security alert. The
true problem is the unsecured computer, and you're only
advice, however well-intended, was to turn off the warnings. How is
this helpful?

Equivalent Scenario: You over-exert your shoulder at work or
play, causing bursitis. After weeks of annoying and sometimes
excruciating pain whenever you try to reach over your head, you go to
a doctor and say, while demonstrating the motion, "Doc, it hurts when
I do this." The doctor, being as helpful as you are, replies, "Well,
don't do that."

The only true way to secure the PC, short of disconnecting it from
the Internet, is to install and *properly* configure a firewall; just
installing one and letting it's default settings handle things is no
good. Unfortunately, this does require one to learn a little bit more
about using a computer than used to be necessary.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
Greetings --

Recommending "Shoot the Messenger" as a "fix" is an awfully
misleading thing to do. All it does is hide the symptoms of the
problem.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
Back
Top