messenger popups

[Guest]

I just reformatted and reinstalled windows due to a virus . now I am getting
those bloody windows messenger popups .. can someone tell me how to block
them?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Install Service Pack 2 immediately:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Direct Download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

3 Steps to Help Insure Your PC is Protected:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I just reformatted and reinstalled windows due to a virus . now I am getting
| those bloody windows messenger popups .. can someone tell me how to block
| them?

 

[damian]

block the messenger in the services (from admin tools)

 

[David H. Lipman]

If you are on Broadband, get a Cable/DSL Router such as the Linksys BEFSR41. It will act as
a simplistic FireWall and block those messages w/o altering the PC.

--
Dave




| I just reformatted and reinstalled windows due to a virus . now I am getting
| those bloody windows messenger popups .. can someone tell me how to block
| them?

 

[Guest]

Donna:
Donna:
There is frequently confusion between "Windows Messenger" (instant messenger
program built into Windows XP and similar to MSN Messenger) And the
Messenger Service which allows for messeges to pop up on your screen that
look very similar to system type prompts. If you are dealing with the
instant messenger program and would like to prevent it from running, in
windows XP Professional, close the windows messenger program and go to the
command prompt and type in "gpedit.msc" Once the group policy editor opens,
go to "User configuration" then "Administrative Templates" and select the
"Windows Messenger" folder. now in the right hand view, double click "do not
allow windows messenger to run" and select the "Enable" radio button. Close
GPEDIT. the windows messenger program will no longer start at system startup
or ever, for that matter, unless you go back into GPEDIT and disable the
option you just set.

As for the other type of messenger windows (the type that look like system
prompts, right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage".. Once computer
manageement opens, expand Services on the left. Locate the messenger service
on the right hand side in the list of services, right click on it and select
"Properties" Stop the service. In the drop down list for startup type,
select "Disabled" Close all dialogs. You will no longer revice messenger
type pop ups. However, disabling this service is one of many new security
features in Windows XP service pack 2, and it would be advisable to download
and install it from windows update as soon as possible, especially since you
just re-installed your operating system.

Regards,
Geoff Fleming
Microsoft Certified Professional

 

[CS]

I just reformatted and reinstalled windows due to a virus . now I am getting
those bloody windows messenger popups .. can someone tell me how to block
them?

Download and install SP2.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I just reformatted and reinstalled windows due to a virus . now I am getting
those bloody windows messenger popups .. can someone tell me how to block
them?

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

This type of spam has become quite common over the couple of
years, 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
swept across the Internet last year and the currently active Sasser
Worm. 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]

block the messenger in the services (from admin tools)

I realize that you're trying to help, and that such an intent is
commendable, but please don't post potentially harmful advice.

Merely disabling the messenger service, as you suggest, is a
dangerous "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 your only advice, however
well-intended, was to turn off the warnings. Was this truly 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've been, 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