"HiMan" said:
if you don't need the messenger service running, you might consider
disabling it. You can either do that via services and gpedit or check out
this tool
http://grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm
As with most of Steve Gibson's "security" advice, this is really not worth
the amount you pay for it (and it's free).
The OP's problem is malicious packets arriving at his system. Only a few of
those packets cause Messenger Service to display a message. All of those
packets are an attempt to do something nasty to his system.
If we follow Gibson's crap advice, what happens? The messages go away,
sure, but absolutely none of the malicious packets are stopped, and as a
result, your system gets infected by Blaster and whatever the next worm is
that makes use of those packets to distribute itself.
Instead, let's install a firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp
Wow. That was easy, wasn't it? Just a few clicks, you don't have to
download anyone's crappy program, and you're protected from malicious
packets coming down that network connection. You don't even need to disable
the Messenger Service - which is good, because there are applications (virus
scanners, for instance) that use the Messenger Service to communicate with
you.
Even better, by leaving the Messenger Service on, you'll be notified
immediately the firewall goes down, because all those popups will be back.
The old advice - don't shoot the messenger - is still the best.
Alun.
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