Error found in registry

[Glenys H]

I have reloaded windows onto my computer because it was repeatedly
showing messages saying there was a problem with my reistry and giving
different website address's e.g WWW.RegScan.net. But these messages are
still appearing can anyone advise me please.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

It's a scam.

Scammers can display a window, while you're surfing the internet, that warns
you of all kinds of dire consequences and makes it seem like they know
what's on your computer, etc. etc. Don't fall for it. The message is phoney.
Don't believe it and by all means don't click anywhere in that message. The
scammer wants to sell you overpriced, worthless software (if you're lucky)
or to infect your computer with some form of virus or spyware (if you're not
lucky.)

Here's what to do when you see a message like that:
1. Laugh out loud, because you know you're too smart to fall for it.
2. Open Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del) and select the Applications tab. Select
the name of the window and click on 'End task'. That's the safest way to get
rid of it.

Pop-up blocking software can prevent those windows from displaying. If you
have service pack 2 (and you should), you can turn on Internet Explorer's
pop-up blocker.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Glenys

In Internet Explorer select Tools, Internet Options, Privacy and check
box before Block Popups. The Settings button allows you to permit PopUps
whilst you are on sites you specify.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Woody]

You should also turn off XP Messenger as that is where most of the pop ups
come from. 'Start/Run/services.msc/messenger/disable/reboot' should do it.

 

[Sharon F]

I have reloaded windows onto my computer because it was repeatedly
showing messages saying there was a problem with my reistry and giving
different website address's e.g WWW.RegScan.net. But these messages are
still appearing can anyone advise me please.

These are not messages from Windows.

Possibly they are coming in via the "messenger service" (not the same thing
as Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger!). If the windows are grey and say
"messenger service" in the title bar, you are operating without a firewall
and letting in spam that exploits the built in messenger service in XP. In
original versions of Windows XP, this service was on by default. Turn it
off in Administrative Tools> Services to block this spam. Also install and
use a firewall to prevent other intrusions.

The other possibility is that you have resident spyware that loads at
startup or whenever an internet connection is detected. Scan the system
with an up to date anti-spyware product such as AdAware found at
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ There are two versions of this program. The
basic free program (which is very effective) and a pay version that has
more features (don't need this unless you want the extra protections
offered by the program).

I've had good luck with Microsoft's Anti-Spyware program even though it's
in beta. Not everyone has been lucky though so think long and hard when
making the decision to install this or not:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/default.mspx

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have reloaded windows onto my computer because it was repeatedly
showing messages saying there was a problem with my reistry and giving
different website address's e.g WWW.RegScan.net. But these messages are
still appearing can anyone advise me please.

It's a scam, plain and simple. It's from a very unscrupulous
"business." They're trying to sell you patches that Microsoft provides
free-of-charge, and using a very intrusive means of advertising. It's
also demonstrating that your PC is very unsecure.

This type of spam has become quite common over the past couple of
years, 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 most definitely open to other threats, such as the Blaster,
Welchia, and Sasser Worms that still haunt 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 little or 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

Whichever firewall you decide upon, be sure to ensure UDP ports 135,
137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445 are all blocked. You
may also disable Inbound NetBIOS over TCP/IP). You'll have
to follow the instructions from firewall's manufacturer for the
specific steps.

You can test your firewall at:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/vr_main.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=GPVHGBYNCJEIMXQKCDT

Security Scan - Sygate Online Services
http://www.sygatetech.com/

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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