Messenger spyes my mouse and kb

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phillips
  • Start date Start date
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Phillips

Hi,
I'm testing the ZA 6.0 Beta and it notifies me that Messenger 7.0 wants to
monitor my mouse movements and keyboard strokes!
Here's from ZA site:
"MSN Messenger is potentially malicious. It may be attempting to affect
other programs and cause them to do things that they would not normally not
do." End quote.

My Messenger is open, minimized and connected to MSN site but I am not using
it to communicate with anyone at the time of the incident.
Unless ZA generates false alarms (it's a Beta :), I do not see why MSN
Messenger would need to monitor my computer activity - i.e. mouse and
keyboard usage - while I am not using it directly.
I posted this just to make MSN Messenger users aware of the issue.
Michael
 
Greetings Michael,

I'm not running any ZA beta here to check this for you, but Messenger does make use of this
information to determine if you are idle. Although I'm not sure if this will actually remove
the "alarm" for you-- if you click the Tools menu, then Options, under My Status uncheck
'Show me as 'Away' when I'm inactive...' option and then click OK.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
Yeah,
I did that already and ZA still shows same warning message.
I understand the concept for polling input devices (mouse, kboard) for some
functions such as "Away" or "Busy" (this needs to get WindowSize).
But, while MSN Mesenger is minimized to tray and not used effectively, I
would expect it to suspend that type of behavior - or at least to have a
clearly defined option to disable such function other than "uncheckig"
"Away" etc.
Thx. for answer.
Michael
 
Hi Michael,

I hope ZoneLabs will iron this out before they release it; I really doubt Microsoft will
change the behavior.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
I do not run MSN Messenger, but I just installed version 6. I tells me
that 'Windows Messenfer' is spying on keyboard and mouse.

I wonder what MS is up to????
 
Hi,

It sounds like you're using one of the newer ZoneAlarm beta's. Messenger has a function that
checks to see if you're idle and if you are, it sets you to away. This functionality causes
the latest ZA to alarm you of this. Unfortunately even turning off this feature in Messenger
still causes the alarm; it's safe to ignore it.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
I have been experiencing my system locking up most all the time when th
screen saver kicks in (WXP). I also use ZA and noted the warnings abou
keyboard/mouse being monitored. I disabled it, too. Still, the syste
would lock up. I decided to remove IM and have had no problems since.
can live without it. I don't particularly care that it monitors fo
activity and consider it malicious. Now happy without it and my syste
hasn't locked up yet.

Rick J.
Boeing sys admin


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