How do I stop the Pop ups

[Pam]

HI, I have windows xp, I downloaded the latest patch, I
have my internet firewall enabled. I am directly
connected to the internet via a cable line. The pop ups
stopped for about a week after I installed the latest
patches but they came back. What do I need to do, it is
not recommended to turn off the messenger service? THX

 

[Janice]

-----Original Message-----
HI, I have windows xp, I downloaded the latest patch, I
have my internet firewall enabled. I am directly
connected to the internet via a cable line. The pop ups
stopped for about a week after I installed the latest
patches but they came back. What do I need to do, it is
not recommended to turn off the messenger service? THX
.
I want the same answer. I keep getting Messenger Service

pop ups that drive me crazy. And I close one pop up just
to receive another. Did you get an answer?

 

[Miles]

Hi,
turning of the messenger service is not a problem. A swit
and easy way to do it is to go to
http://grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm and download the
handy utility found there.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

This type of spam has become quite common over the past several
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, 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
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

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Please stop posting potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service is a "head in the sand" approach
to computer security that leaves the PC vulnerable to threats such as
the W32.Blaster.Worm.

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're only
advice, however well-intended, was to turn off the warnings. How is
this helpful?

Equivalent Scenario: 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 you are, replies, "Well,
don't do that."

The only true way to secure the PC, short of disconnecting it from
the Internet, is to install and *properly* configure a firewall; just
installing one and letting it's default settings handle things is no
good. Unfortunately, this does require one to learn a little bit more
about using a computer than used to be necessary.


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

 

[Ron]

It's a nasty business. Companies are adding patches and
programs to you machine without your permission. Best
advice? do a websearch for "AD-AWARE 6.0" and download
it. IT's FREE - it will search your system and will find
most if not all of these annoying programs. A search on
mine found over 200 of them. Then it deletes them. I
then stay away from the types of sights that spread these
viruses.
There is another one called ADSGONE - I think it's
commercial.

 

[Pam]

OK, I really want an answer on how to stop these pop ups,
I have the latest patches installed with the firewall
turned on and I still get these messages. I KNOW not to
disable the messenger service but I need to know what I
need to upgrade to get rid of them. THX Pam