stopping unsolicited instant messages

[jon]

I am tired of receiving these unsolicited messages-Not
one person in my family uses the Messenger function-can
anyone tell me how to disable Messenger so that I can
stop being bombarded by spam messages?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Jon,


What you're seeing is the Messenger service built-in to Windows, *not* Windows Messenger
(which are two different things) which spammers are exploiting -- this is not Microsoft, nor
can Microsoft control them anymore then they can control spam to your e-mail inbox.

To get rid of these pop ups, you'll need to disable the "Messenger Service", click Start,
then Run, enter "services.msc" and click OK. Scroll down to "Messenger", select it,
right-click and then choose Properties. Under startup type, choose 'Disabled' and then
choose the 'Stop' button. After the service is stopped, click OK. Nothing in Windows or any
real third-party applications should be effected by this.

Just as a little reminder, make sure you've protected yourself against the latest security
issues by visiting WindowsUpdate and installing the security patches:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
(This isn't related to the Messenger Service in any way, just a reminder)
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Guest]

I think he means messages in WINDOWS messenger, that comes from somebody he
don't know or have approved to accept instant messages from. How do spammers
get around that?

¢

 

[Jay]

This is from two messages above. Sorry to cut and paste!
But I had the same problem. Thought the problem layed in
not having a firewall. Boy was I wrong


Jay


. Reply (E-mail) Forward (E-mail)

Subject: Re: Messenger spam
From: "Jonathan Kay [MVP]"
<[email protected]> Sent: 8/29/2003 6:44:23
PM




Greetings,

Does this "spam" that is appearing have "Messenger
Service" in its titlebar? If so, what
you're seeing is the Messenger service built-in to
Windows, *not* Windows Messenger (which
are two different things) which spammers are exploiting --
this is not Microsoft, nor can
Microsoft control them anymore then they can control spam
to your e-mail inbox.

To get rid of these pop ups, you'll need to disable
the "Messenger Service", click Start,
then Run, enter "services.msc" and click OK. Scroll down
to "Messenger", select it,
right-click and then choose Properties. Under startup
type, choose 'Disabled' and then
choose the 'Stop' button. After the service is stopped,
click OK. Nothing in Windows or any
real third-party applications should be effected by this.

Just as a little reminder, make sure you've protected
yourself against the latest security
issues by visiting WindowsUpdate and installing the
security patches:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
(This isn't related to the Messenger Service in any way,
just a reminder)
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com