Popups Internet Explorer

[Kevin]

I'm repeating a previous post because I did not include an
email:

My Internet Provider is Compuserve, so I mainly use the
browser they provide.
However, for some funtions, I have to use Internet
Explorer, so I open it separately. IE has worked fine for
the past year. In last two weeks, I receive about a dozen
popups thru IE every half hour or so. This happens even
when I have not opened up IE and am using my Compuserve
browser.
Is there any patch or any way to disable these popups.
Windows suggests not using a third party (Paid patch).
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article suggested "disabling
Active Scripting for all Internet Sites," as a solution.
But that process was an answer for my computer receiving
popups while visiting a web site. These popups, I believe,
appear even when not visiting. They appear when IE is not
on and I am simply on Compuserve site.
Thanks
Kevin

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A simple solution is to install the new Google Toolbar.
It has an anti-popup feature built in.

Install the free Google Toolbar:
http://toolbar.google.com/

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330904

Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

Visit the following web site for instructions on downloading
a FREE firewall program for your computer.

Ref: http://www.updatexp.com/free.html


To secure your computer and prevent possible future security breeches,
consider installing a first-rate, comprehensive, internet security program:

Norton Internet Security 2004
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/

-- Includes Norton AntiVirus 2004
-- Includes Norton Personal Firewall
-- Includes prevention of annoying web pop-ups
-- Includes Parental Controls
-- All in one, easy-to-install package

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------


| I'm repeating a previous post because I did not include an
| email:
|
| My Internet Provider is Compuserve, so I mainly use the
| browser they provide.
| However, for some funtions, I have to use Internet
| Explorer, so I open it separately. IE has worked fine for
| the past year. In last two weeks, I receive about a dozen
| popups thru IE every half hour or so. This happens even
| when I have not opened up IE and am using my Compuserve
| browser.
| Is there any patch or any way to disable these popups.
| Windows suggests not using a third party (Paid patch).
| Microsoft Knowledge Base Article suggested "disabling
| Active Scripting for all Internet Sites," as a solution.
| But that process was an answer for my computer receiving
| popups while visiting a web site. These popups, I believe,
| appear even when not visiting. They appear when IE is not
| on and I am simply on Compuserve site.
| Thanks
| Kevin
|

 

[Bubi Khan]

You haven't specified if these are Internet Explorer type pop-ups or maybe
Windows (Messenger) pop-ups. If Windows type, then a simple solution may be
to disable the 'Messenger' service in the services MMC
(Start>Run>Services.msc). This is a rarely used service meant for alerts
between severs and windows clients, and you can manage very well without it.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
from http://www.panicware.com/, or the Google Toolbar from
http://toolbar.google.com/, which is what I use.


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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I realize that you're trying to help, and that such an intent is
commendable, but please don't post potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service, you advised, is a "treat the
symptoms" approach to computer security that still 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 your only advice,
however well-intended, was to turn off the warnings.

Equivalent Scenario: Pulling the battery out of a noisy smoke
detector instead of seeking and eliminating the source of the smoke
that set it off.

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.


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

 

[Penna Elabi]

In last two weeks, I receive about a dozen popups thru
IE every half hour or so. This happens even when I have
not opened up IE

You have probably inadvertently downloaded and installed adware,
spyware, parasite, trojan or a browser hijacker from some web site:

http://www.geocities.com/googlepubsupgenfaq/#popups

 

[Kevin Davis³]

The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups; they're
actually providing a useful service by acting as a security alert.

Equivalent Scenario: Pulling the battery out of a noisy smoke
detector instead of seeking and eliminating the source of the smoke
that set it off.

Don't forget that the Messenger Service would also provide a useful
service to hackers if it is not patched:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-043.asp

Setup a firewall first, but if you don't need the Messenger Service,
turn it off. If you need it, patch it. You would also be well
advised to spend $50 and buy a home router.

Be especially wary of people who would insist on having you keep the
Messenger Service on as a "helpful feature" and conveniently
forgetting to inform you that it has a very serious vulnerability that
needs to be patched immediately.

And of particular interest is that Microsoft itself and security
experts are seriously reconsidering the role of the Messenger service:

http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/10/28/HNmessengeroff_1.html

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,113321,tk,dn110703X,00.asp

http://news.com.com/2100-7355_3-5095935.html

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/11/07/microsoft.popup.reut/index.html


Here's a link where Microsoft actually outright advises the user to
turn off the Messenger Service:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp


Those who would advise not to turn off the Messenger Service for the
less than trivial unintended side benefit of being a warning is
dispensing advice which contradicts the advice of many real security
professionals.


If you were protecting your house and you had one door that nobody
ever used and that door was really loud and squeaky, would you:

A: Keep the door unlocked all the time and actually depend on the
loud squeak of the door to be an integral part of your house alarm
system to alert you of an intruder?

or

B. Since no legitimate people would ever use the door, bar the door
shut so that there was no chance no-one could enter through it?