Messenger Popups

[Newbie]

Hi,

I have been running a computer with windows 2000 Pro and a Norton Personal
Firewall with a broadband connection to the internet for the last 12 months
without any problems. However, this past week I am getting hundreds of
messenger service popups.
If I stop the messenger service from the Manage Computer Services section
will this cause any problems.

I use the computer to link to my work via a VPN

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Sounds like there are holes in your firewall, if this traffic is coming
through. What ports are open?

 

[Steve Parry]

Hi,

I have been running a computer with windows 2000 Pro and a Norton Personal
Firewall with a broadband connection to the internet for the last 12 months
without any problems. However, this past week I am getting hundreds of
messenger service popups.
If I stop the messenger service from the Manage Computer Services section
will this cause any problems.

I use the computer to link to my work via a VPN

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330904&Product=win2000

Sounds like your firewall maybe misconfigured?

If you stop the service it will stop the pop ups but they are just an
indication of greater weakness's

 

[Kerodo]

Hi,

I have been running a computer with windows 2000 Pro and a Norton
Personal Firewall with a broadband connection to the internet for the
last 12 months without any problems. However, this past week I am
getting hundreds of messenger service popups.
If I stop the messenger service from the Manage Computer Services
section will this cause any problems.

I use the computer to link to my work via a VPN

You may have to play with Norton's rules a little bit to get it stopped.
Now the Messenger spammers are using remote port 53 trying to get thru
various firewalls' DNS rules. Your DNS rule must include your ISP's DNS
Servers addresses to be effective. Only permit remote port 53 traffic
from your DNS servers. The spammers are using remote port 53 and trying to
hit your local port 1026/1027 that way. I see tons of this every day
here...