Privacy? What is connecting me automatically?

G

Gary F

I recently updated Windows Messenger, because I was
constantly receiving .NET messages telling me that I was
running an insecure version of the program. The next day,
I connected to the internet via my dial-up connection and
checked my email using Eudora. I opened Internet Explorer.
Then I received a Messenger message from a friend. Problem
is, I never started Windows Messenger. And it wasn't on my
taskbar or system tray. There was no Windows Messenger
Window (no Actions menu, Tools menu, etc.), just the
Conversation window that opened when my friend sent the
message. This has happened for several days now. My
Processes list shows that MSMSGS.EXE is running. But what
is starting it? Neither "Run this program when Windows
starts" and "Allow this program to run in the background"
are checked off. I ran MsConfig and cleared the checkbox
for MSMSGS in Startup items, but that hasn't stopped it.
(I also cleared WkDetect, thinking maybe that somehow had
something to do with it, but when I ran MsConfig the next
day, WkDetect was checked off again. I cleared it again
but the next day, checked off again.) Killing the
MSMSGS.EXE task is the only way I can shut Windows
Messenger down. What the hell is going on here? Is this
how Microsoft shows its commitment to protecting my
privacy? Does anyone know what the upgrade process
changed, and how I can stop this automatic hidden
connection? (Sorry, but I am really pissed off.)
 
J

Jonathan Kay [MVP]

Greetings Gary,

Do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging scanning"
feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause this behavior.
To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon in the System
Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click Options, then
Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
G

Gary

Thanks, Jonathan. I do run Norton Antivirus 2003. I don't
understand how upgrading Messenger triggered this behavior
by Norton Antivirus, but you are right about it. I
followed your instructions and rebooted and reconnected to
the internet, and MSMSGS.EXE did not start in the
background.

Well, I'm not sure that I want to let Microsoft completely
off the hook on this one, but at least they have quite a
few good people working for them. Thanks again.

Gary

-----Original Message-----
Greetings Gary,

Do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added
a new "instant messaging scanning"
feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with
Messenger and cause this behavior.
To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the
Norton Antivirus icon in the System
Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open
Norton Antivirus'), click Options, then
 

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