Is this a legitament Microsoft/windows add?

[J.D Hargrave]

I keep getting a message that tells me that all but
Millenium are affected by a breach and that I need to type
www.windowspatch.info. Click go and then click ok, to get
the pop up to disapear. It claims that a patch I need for
my computer is there to be downloaded. Is this real or
bogus

 

[Rob Schneider]

bogus.

 

[Andrew Z Carpenter [MVP:Windows:Security]]

I keep getting a message that tells me that all but
Millenium are affected by a breach and that I need to type
www.windowspatch.info. Click go and then click ok, to get
the pop up to disapear. It claims that a patch I need for
my computer is there to be downloaded. Is this real or
bogus

The message you are receiving is genuine, but it is from a
bogus source.

Ironically, they are sending you the message using the very
same hole they claim to fix.

You don't need them, you can do it yourself, for free.

Simply visit http://www.microsoft.com/protect and read what
you need to do.

 

[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 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

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 (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

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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