CSRSS Pop ups

[Gregory]

I get pop ups on my screen when I'm not on the internet.
These are pop ups adds for programs on how to get rid of
pop ups. When I check to see what process they are
attached to it is in the winnt/system32 folder. The file
is csrss.exe I'm running XP. How do I get rid of this?
Thanks.

 

[ceedee]

csrss.exe is a windows system file responsible for
drawing windows and graphics

you need to find out the actual process reponsible for the pop ups
it is not csrss.exe that is at fault

it is probably connected to some software/spyware you have
installed which are known to do this like new dot net etc

ceedee

 

[Travis]

Where can I find these processes? How can I distinguish
between what program is running and its corresponding
process, or can you?

 

[ceedee]

could you paste here the contents of your ctrl alt del
process list and applications at the time one of these popups
occurs.
that might help track it down

 

[Matt]

This is a spyware problem, try Spybot search and destroy.
or ad-aware from lavasoft.com

 

[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 Worm 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 almost 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

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