messenger pop-up ads fix that works!

J

John Pearce

If your using windows XP,NT and 2000 and getting pop-up
ads here's
the fix to get rid of them from sending you Mafia type
ads
to pay them to stop sending them!

I tried the firewall fix but that didn't stop them so I
disabled the Messenger
be sure to read the caution if you do!

Hello John,

Thanks for the additional information we needed.

I understand you are receiving "Messenger Service" pop
ups.

Message windows that appear on your system with the
title "Messenger Service",
and containing an "OK" button, are not related to either
Windows Messenger, or
MSN Messenger.

They are generated by the Messenger Service that's built
into some Windows
operating systems (Windows NT, 2000, and XP). This
service is intended to be
used for network alerts and communications by system
administrators. It is a
tool that can only send messages one-way, unlike the two-
way conversations that
..NET Messenger services are designed to allow.

It's possible for unsolicited messages to be sent across
a home or corporate
network, as well as the Internet, to any system that has
not
blocked or disabled this service. Although you may have
received a message
through this service, it does not mean that the person
sending has in any way
compromised your system. These messages can be sent
out "blindly", so that any
computer that has not blocked or disabled the service
will receive them.

You can see how this service works by performing the
following test:

1. Click "Start" and then click "Run"
2. Type "cmd" (without quotes) and click "OK".
3. In the command window that has opens, type "net send
127.0.0.1 This is how it
works" (Without quotes) and "Enter" on your keyboard.
4. The IP address 127.0.0.1 always represents the local
machine (the one you are
working on), so this will cause a Messenger Service
dialog to appear on your
screen.

To prevent these messages from appearing by turning on
the Windows XP built-in
firewall:

1. Click "Start", and select "Help & Support" from the
menu.
2. Search for "enable firewall" (no quotes).

Or, if you wish, you can disable this service:

* Windows XP
1) Click on your "Start" button and go to the "Control
Panel" menu.
2) Click "Performance and Maintenance".
3) Click "Administrative Tools".
4) Double-click "Services".
5) Scroll down and highlight "Messenger".
6) Right-click the highlighted line and
choose "Properties".
7) Click the "STOP" button.
8) Select "Disable" in the "Startup type" menu.
9) Click "OK".

If you choose to disable this service please be aware of
the following:

* You will no longer be able to receive network
notifications. We recommend you
contact your system administrator (if you are on a
network) before changing any
settings.
* You may no longer receive error reports relative to
networked printers.
* This may prevent messages from 3rd party software from
being displayed.
* Disabling this service will not affect your .NET
Messenger Instant Messaging
service in any way.

For additional online help, please go to:
http://messenger.microsoft.com/support/helphome.asp

Sincerely,

Dennis
MSN Messenger Support
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Greetings --

Disabling the messenger service 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 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 1: Somewhere in a house, a small fire starts,
and sets off the smoke alarm. The home-owner, not immediately seeing
any fire/smoke, complains about the noise of the smoke detector, so
you tell him to remove the smoke detector's battery and go back to
sleep, or whatever else he was doing.

Equivalent Scenario 2: 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 is to *properly* configure the
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:
 
J

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

John;
You are right in that just because you get the messages your computer
is not necessarily compromised.
However the fact you do get the messages means the computer is not
protected.
Disabling messenger Service does nothing to protect the computer.
All you have done is cover the symptom so the existence of the
vulnerability is not as visible.
If the firewall is ineffective in this area, are you sure it is
effective in other areas? Have you checked your firewall?
If the messages are getting through your firewall, the firewall needs
to be reconfigured.
 

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