Is This Warning Legitimate?

[Gail]

I would like to know if this warning is actually from
Microsoft. I would also like to know how to contact
Mircosoft in the future to find out if such information
is legitimate.

I received a dialog box with this in the tital bar:
"Warning: Important Message!!! Microsoft Internet
Explorer

The message read:
Warning. Important Message!!!

You are seeing this message, because we have detected
that you have tracking software installed in your
machine. (more info)


This is not a virus, but a program in your machine that
monitors and transmits all of your online activities, and
is a serious violation of
your privacy.


Below is a link to a free scanner to download that will
find and remove all spyware programs on your machine:
Get the scanner

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

No, its simply a pop-up from a company trying to sell you something.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Other than this being a glaringly obvious scam (the site is not a
valid Microsoft URL), it's a warning that your PC is very unsecure.

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

This type of spam has become quite common over the year or so, 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

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

HOW TO Enable or Disable Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q283673

If you decide on a 3rd party firewall product, 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?

For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
from http://www.panicware.com/, or the Google Toolbar from
http://toolbar.google.com/, which is what I use.


Bruce Chambers
--
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