Grey Popup SPAM messages on desktop w/ cable internet connection

  • Thread starter Thread starter David O'Niell
  • Start date Start date
D

David O'Niell

I successfully configured XP to stop these in the past
but have been getting them again recently. They are
annoying and completely unsolicited/ popping up on my
idle desktop (supposedly spammers exploit a networking
feature on XP intended for use by sys administrators to
give wide notice to users ).
I don't know what changes I have made to reconfigure/
hope thay haven't figured out how to get around it-
Any ideas? I lost the issue of Computer Shopper that I
learned about it from and it has been some time. Thanks!!
 
The service that is being exploited is called Messenger. To disable it, go
to Start - Settings - control panel - administrative tools - services.
Double click the service name (Messenger), and set to disable, and stop the
service.

If you are running a cable modem for your internet, and you don't have a
router or firewall, you are seriously exposed to all sorts of bad things -
for instance, there's a new Microsoft flaw (the one that has been in the
news the last few days) that you will be vulnerable to (if you don't install
the patch).

You best bet is to buy a small router - the Linksys ones work really well.
There are also ones by Netgear, and a whole host of other companies.

They are easy to setup and configure, require practically no maintenance,
and will protect you from most hacker exploits out there. They range in
price anywhere from $50-$150. Money well spent.

Hope this helps.

Patrick Pitre
 
Thanks for the replies/ Messenger was re- enabled
somehow. I also have a router and start of a wireless
network as we speak ready to install- this a great
motivation to do so- THANKS for the replies!!!
 
Hey, go to www.zonealarm.com and download their free
software firewall, it stops Messenger Ads among other
security threats. Takes a little while to tell it what
to allow and what not to, but only once.
 
Greetings --


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

This particular "sales method" is strikingly similar to the
"protection" rackets offered to small businesses by organized
criminals. Yes, it's a scam; no reputable business would need to
resort to extortion. Particularly since they're trying to sell you a
type of protection that is already available to you free of charge.

This type of spam has become quite common over the past few
months, 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. Install and use a decent,
properly configured firewall. (Disabling the messenger service, as
some people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does nothing to
secure your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" these
messages and the problem they represent 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 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 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?

Equivalent Scenario 1: Somewhere in a house, a small fire starts,
and sets off the smoke alarm. You, not immediately seeing any
fire/smoke, complain about the noise of the smoke detector, and are
advised to remove the smoke detector's battery and go back to sleep.

Equivalent Scenario 2: You over-exert your shoulder at work or
play, causing bursitis. After weeks of annoying and sometimes
excruciating pain whenever you try to reach over your head, you go to
a doctor and say, while demonstrating the motion, "Doc, it hurts when
I do this." The doctor, being as helpful as some of your respondents,
replies, "Well, don't do that."

I'm beginning to think that the people deliberately posting such
bad advice are hacker-wannabes who have no true interest in helping
you secure your system, but would rather give you a false sense of
security while ensuring that your computer is still open to
exploitation.



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
 
Bruce is correct, you should be wary of taking bad
advice. Fortunately, you got good advice in this thread,
as you seemed to acknowledge in your reply. Looking back
through the posts, all four (4) replies offered solutions
beyond merely turning off the messenger service.

After answering the question at face value (which is
kinda the point, yes?? - We would be remiss if we didn't
at least explain the source of the problem) we had
suggestions for 1) a router, 2) enabling the xp firewall,
3) using zonealarm, 4) and a handy link to a page that
explained the problem in more detail and even specified
the ports that needed to be blocked.

I can't find the post that mentioned JUST turning off
Messenger service, and leaving it at that. I can't find
the specific words "putting up with it", as indicated by
the quotes. Perhaps I'm missing something??

As far as I can tell, no hackers or script-kiddies here.
Just IT professionals and enthusiasts trying to help each
other out.

David, have fun with the wireless, be wary of security,
and keep on posting. Always glad to help.

Patrick Pitre
 
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