Re: spam messages

larry lipman wrote:
> Ever since I got a computer with XP, I've been getting
> these unwanted spam messages on Windows Messenger. About
> 95 percent of them are messages urging me to buy some
> program to stop getting these unwanted messages.
>
> Is there any way to TURN OFF Windows messenger? I never
> knowingly signed on. I do not use MNS or whatever the
> Microsoft network is called.
>
> I'd really like to stop these annoying messages which
> keep telling me the can stop thsee annoying messages.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

Jonathan is giving everyone who asks this question
misinformation and I am going to post the correct reply until he updates his
stock response.

You need a firewall. You can either turn on the native one or - for complete
all-round protection - you need to purchase third party protection (I use
Zone Alarm Pro - they have a cut down freeware version which can be
downloaded from www.zonelabs.com). Some folk will tell you to turn off the
Messenger Service (nothing to do with Windows/MSN Messenger) but this is
like sweeping your bills under the rug. You will forget about them (out of
sight is out of mind) but they are still there and the consequences could be
serious if you don't deal with them. Buy a third party firewall (it is more
flexible as it can be configured) and set it to block ports 137-139 and 245
(there may be others, but I don't know of them). This will also prevent
spyware from 'phoning home'.

Just because someone has the letters 'MVP' after their name doesn't make
them anymore 'right' (despite Mr Kay's protestations to the contrary) than
someone who doesn't. Jonathan's answer does nothing whatsoever to cure the
problem, it merely masks the symptoms, like covering up shingles spots with
concealer.


--
Cassandra
Card carrying member of the Fresh Start Club 'The Undead Are People Too!'

Reply address is fake. Please send all praise, abuse, insults, bequests
of £1million to cassandra (at) craigy34 (dot) freeserve (dot) co (dot)
uk. Change the obvious to the obvious.
Private requests for assistance will not be acknowledged. Please post all
correspondence to the group so that all may benefit. Thank you.