Annoying pop-ups

[Sandy Rogers]

I have the professional version of Microsoft XP. I am
bombarded with these pop-ups that are from Microsoft or
at least that Microsoft is allowing in. I am not talking
about the pop-ups you often get when you are accessing
the internet. These pop ups happen when I turn my
computer on and Windows XP comes up. What is the deal? I
was not aware of this problem. I have Windows XP at work
and we have never had these problems. HELP!!

 

[Gordon Burgess-Parker]

I have the professional version of Microsoft XP. I am
bombarded with these pop-ups that are from Microsoft or
at least that Microsoft is allowing in. I am not talking
about the pop-ups you often get when you are accessing
the internet. These pop ups happen when I turn my
computer on and Windows XP comes up. What is the deal? I
was not aware of this problem. I have Windows XP at work
and we have never had these problems. HELP!!

You've probably got some spyware on your pc.
Download, update and run Adaware and Spybot.

 

[Ramesh [MS-MVP]]

Hi Sandy,

If the title bar reads as MESSENGER SERVICE, then it the world famous
Messenger SPAM. Install a Firewall to prevent the pop-ups. Enable the
Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP:

1. Open Network Connections
2. Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to
protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this
connection.
3. On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select the
Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this
computer from the Internet check box.

This blocks the TCP ports responsible for Messenger data tranmissions and
prevents Pop-ups.

More Reading:
===========

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

--
Regards,
Ramesh [MS-MVP]
AIM: SRamesh2k


~ Please reply to newsgroup ~


I have the professional version of Microsoft XP. I am
bombarded with these pop-ups that are from Microsoft or
at least that Microsoft is allowing in. I am not talking
about the pop-ups you often get when you are accessing
the internet. These pop ups happen when I turn my
computer on and Windows XP comes up. What is the deal? I
was not aware of this problem. I have Windows XP at work
and we have never had these problems. HELP!!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"

This type of spam has become quite common over the past year, and
unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It demonstrates
that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while connected to
the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised by these
specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit, you may
well be open to other threats, such as the Blaster and Welchia worms
that recently swept cross the Internet. Install and use a decent,
properly configured firewall. (Merely disabling the messenger
service, as some people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does
absolutely nothing to truly secure your machine.) And ignoring or
just "putting up with" the security gap represented by these messages
is particularly foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service, by itself, 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, if annoying, service by acting as
a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
helpful?


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

 

[Wesley VogelX]

Sandy;
Turn on your Firewall.
Wes

 

[Fei]

try this software to find out what problem it is:

http://www.SeeMeMe.com