MSNMSGR...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Howard Woodard
  • Start date Start date
H

Howard Woodard

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything seems to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
 
You should upgrade the firmware on your WRT54G and possibly your
version of Messenger. The newer versions should not leave all the
ports open indefinitely. (UPnP)

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything seems to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
 
Thanks Barb. I'm running v4.21.1 of the router firmware which is the latest
version that they list on their web site and v 2008 (Build 8.5.1302.1018) of
MSN Messenger which, I think, is also the most current version.

Any other things that I should look at?

Howard
=============================

Barb Bowman said:
You should upgrade the firmware on your WRT54G and possibly your
version of Messenger. The newer versions should not leave all the
ports open indefinitely. (UPnP)

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys
WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys
router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I
don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything seems
to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
 
do the msnmgr entries ever disappear on their own?

Thanks Barb. I'm running v4.21.1 of the router firmware which is the latest
version that they list on their web site and v 2008 (Build 8.5.1302.1018) of
MSN Messenger which, I think, is also the most current version.

Any other things that I should look at?

Howard
=============================

Barb Bowman said:
You should upgrade the firmware on your WRT54G and possibly your
version of Messenger. The newer versions should not leave all the
ports open indefinitely. (UPnP)

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys
WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys
router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I
don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything seems
to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
 
Not that I'm aware of. But they occasionally are lower case with a specific
IP address (from the router) next to them.

Howard
================================

Barb Bowman said:
do the msnmgr entries ever disappear on their own?

Thanks Barb. I'm running v4.21.1 of the router firmware which is the
latest
version that they list on their web site and v 2008 (Build 8.5.1302.1018)
of
MSN Messenger which, I think, is also the most current version.

Any other things that I should look at?

Howard
=============================

Barb Bowman said:
You should upgrade the firmware on your WRT54G and possibly your
version of Messenger. The newer versions should not leave all the
ports open indefinitely. (UPnP)

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:51:42 -0800, "Howard Woodard"

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys
WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running
XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When
I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys
router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I
don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries
of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything
seems
to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
 
My router reports open and closed UPnP session (in fact reports
various states). Not sure how much detail the Linksys reports. I'm
wondering if it reports everything, regardless if the session is
active/established, closed, waiting for a connection, etc. If this
isn't clear in the status page, it might be a good question for the
folks at Linksys or the Linksys forum on DSLReports.com

Thanks Barb. I'm running v4.21.1 of the router firmware which is the latest
version that they list on their web site and v 2008 (Build 8.5.1302.1018) of
MSN Messenger which, I think, is also the most current version.

Any other things that I should look at?

Howard
=============================

Barb Bowman said:
You should upgrade the firmware on your WRT54G and possibly your
version of Messenger. The newer versions should not leave all the
ports open indefinitely. (UPnP)

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys
WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys
router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I
don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything seems
to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
 
I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything seems to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?
Click to expand...

Yes. Every computer connecting to your router, and running 'msnmsgr.exe',
will use UPnP to configure ports on the router; assuming you have allowed
UPnP to be active on the router (usually the default state). Normally, there
can only be a single instance of 'msmsgr.exe' running per computer, so, with
only two computers on your router, you should never see more than two
messenger entries in the UPnP table. Seeing more means you have neighbors
piggybacking on your wireless connection; which is a very serious security
issue.

You should be using WPA security; and, at the least, TKIP, with a strong key
using the full 63 characters for that key. Randomized as much as possible. A
real PITA, I know; but the alternative is giving away your Comcast bandwidth
to any passers by.

You could, of course, disable UPnP on the router, at the loss of some
messenger functionality; but that would not address the issue of allowing
access to people outside of your home. Securing the WLAN is the best option.

--
Norman
~Shine, bright morning light,
~now in the air the spring is coming.
~Sweet, blowing wind,
~singing down the hills and valleys.
 
If you power cycle the router, do the entries disappear or not?

Not that I'm aware of. But they occasionally are lower case with a specific
IP address (from the router) next to them.

Howard
================================

Barb Bowman said:
do the msnmgr entries ever disappear on their own?

Thanks Barb. I'm running v4.21.1 of the router firmware which is the
latest
version that they list on their web site and v 2008 (Build 8.5.1302.1018)
of
MSN Messenger which, I think, is also the most current version.

Any other things that I should look at?

Howard
=============================

You should upgrade the firmware on your WRT54G and possibly your
version of Messenger. The newer versions should not leave all the
ports open indefinitely. (UPnP)

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:51:42 -0800, "Howard Woodard"

I have a cable (Comcast) modem and access it via a cable to a Linksys
WRT54G
router from a PC running Vista Ultimate. I have one other PC, running
XP
Home, that accesses it via a wireless connection. When I look at the
network there is a device icon called Residential Gateway Device. When
I
click on the properties for this device I see that it is the Linksys
router
device. When I click on settings for the router I get a list of devices
that can be accessed by other internet users. My assumption is that I
don't
want anyone on the internet using services on my machine. However,
occasionally I will notice that there are multiple [identical] entries
of
MSNMSGR and each entry has its box checked. Over time there will be
multiple pages of this entry. I can delete them all and everything
seems
to
continue to work just fine but over time they will reappear.

Does anyone know what causes this and whether I should care or not?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
 
On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:06:47 -0800, "N. Miller"
Click to expand...

If that is the only problem, then the router is FUBAR. Disable UPnP.

--
Norman
~Shine, bright morning light,
~now in the air the spring is coming.
~Sweet, blowing wind,
~singing down the hills and valleys.
 
which will impact Messenger itself..
Click to expand...

The router is FUBAR. Disable UPnP, update the firmware, or trash the router.

I am not sure what will break if UPnP is disabled on the router. But, if you
don't want a bunch of ports hanging open after 'msmsgr.exe' is finished, you
have to do *something*. Doing nothing changes nothing.

--
Norman
~Shine, bright morning light,
~now in the air the spring is coming.
~Sweet, blowing wind,
~singing down the hills and valleys.
 
Hi, i have a LinkSys router and dd-wrt (lastest stable version) firmware
i have 1 computer with vista and another with xp.
every single program that uses upnp (except messenger) works fine with the
router, when i close them they unmap the port they were using, but the ports
used by messenger don't unmap when i close msn, they just stay there and when
i open msn again it maps another port.
I believe its a messenger issue because all the other programs unmap the
ports right away when i close them.
btw wireless is DISABLED.
 
Messenger Bug?

Messenger should unmap the ports upon exiting, like other programs do. It is maxing out the no. of ports in the mapping table, thus making further attempts to map ports via uPnP impossible.

However, restarting the router should clear the mapping table. You can also try to delete the mappings manually.
 
Back
Top