Messenger Service.

[Guest]

What is Messenger Service? I am being sent regular messages from it/them and
don't know whether I should take them seriously or ignore them. The warnings
they give sound very serious.

So far, I have not 'OK'd' any of them.

Cheers and thanks to anyone who can advise me.

 

[Guest]

What do the messages say? Please post the exact wording.

 

[Jone Doe]

Unless you are in a domain where you have someone who might need to send you
messages using Messenger Service, you don't need it turned on.

Look here for more:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q330904

 

[Don MI]

What is Messenger Service? I am being sent regular messages from it/them
and
don't know whether I should take them seriously or ignore them. The
warnings
they give sound very serious.

So far, I have not 'OK'd' any of them.

Cheers and thanks to anyone who can advise me.

In Windows XP Help and Support enter: Messenger Service --in the search
box. Select the article on how to disable pop-up ads opening in a Messenger
Service window.

Messenger Service is a way to send messaged between computers. Messenger
Service is not either Windows Messenger or Microsoft Messenger.

That you are receiving pop-up ads in a Messenger Service window indicates
security problem.

Don

 

[Nepatsfan]

What is Messenger Service? I am being sent regular messages
from it/them and don't know whether I should take them
seriously or ignore them. The warnings they give sound very
serious.

So far, I have not 'OK'd' any of them.

Cheers and thanks to anyone who can advise me.

Either install Service Pack 2 or start using a firewall. What
you're receiving is commonly referred to as Messenger Spam. You
can disable the Messenger Service as others have suggested but
that's just hiding the symptom instead of curing the problem.

Run a Google search for Messenger Spam if you want more info on
this issue.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[frodo]

basically, you need to be running a firewall. you could disable the
messenger service, but that would just mask the problem that your machine
is accessable to the outside world.

you should update to SP2, AFTER you've learned the ins and outs so you
won't have any major problems. good luck.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

What is Messenger Service? I am being sent regular messages
from
it/them and don't know whether I should take them seriously or
ignore
them. The warnings they give sound very serious.

The messages don't come *from* Messenger Service. They are coming
over the internet and are using Messenger Service as the tool for
sending them.

You are apparently running without using a firewall, which is a
*very* dangerous thing to do, These spurious messages are the
least of your problems.

 

[Guest]

In


The messages don't come *from* Messenger Service. They are coming
over the internet and are using Messenger Service as the tool for
sending them.

You are apparently running without using a firewall, which is a
*very* dangerous thing to do, These spurious messages are the
least of your problems.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


Thanks to you all for the info. There's quite a lot to take in so I'm busy going through it.

Some points.
A new mesage from Messenger Service this evening.
"STOP. WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

Windows has found CRITICAL SYSTEM ERRORS. To fix the errors please do the
following:
1. Download Registry Repairs from WWW.FIXWINREG.com
2. Install Registry Repairs.
3. Run Registry epairs.
4. Reboot your computer.
FAILURE TO ACT NOW MAY LEAD TO DATA LOSS AND CORRUPTION.

(THE CAPITAL LETTERSE ARE AS RECEIVED).

Firewall was ticked on my PC in Internet Connection Firewall - that I think
would apply to Internet Explorer. Just days ago I switch to Firefox but the
messages from Messenger Service were coming through before the change fron
I.E and since.

H

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Some points.
A new mesage from Messenger Service this evening.
"STOP. WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

Windows has found CRITICAL SYSTEM ERRORS. To fix the errors
please do
the following:
1. Download Registry Repairs from WWW.FIXWINREG.com
2. Install Registry Repairs.
3. Run Registry epairs.
4. Reboot your computer.
FAILURE TO ACT NOW MAY LEAD TO DATA LOSS AND CORRUPTION.

(THE CAPITAL LETTERSE ARE AS RECEIVED).

This nothing but an ad for WWW.FIXWINREG.com. Windows hasn't
found any errors at all. Again, note that the message is not
*from* Messenger Service, it's from the people at
WWW.FIXWINREG.com. It's coming to you *via* Messenger Service.
Ignore all such messages.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

What is Messenger Service? I am being sent regular messages from it/them and
don't know whether I should take them seriously or ignore them. The warnings
they give sound very serious.

So far, I have not 'OK'd' any of them.

Cheers and thanks to anyone who can advise me.

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?

There are several essential components to computer security: a
knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.

The weakest link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer
user. No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected
to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. All too many people
have bought into the various PC/software manufacturers marketing
claims of easy computing. They believe that their computer should be
no harder to use than a toaster oven; they have neither the
inclination or desire to learn how to safely use their computer. All
too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches
in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link
they're about to click.

Firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used
and should always be running, are important components of "safe hex,"
but they cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer
user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and
every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer.


To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/

List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500

Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/

Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/


--

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

 

[Lil' Dave]

Am real careful on the internet, haven't noted what you're stating. If
you're referring to msmsgs.exe, its been an irk to me. Yes, I've got SP2
installed. Yes, I've got all security related updates since installed.
Yes, I've got my own firewall, ZA Pro latest set to ask me anytime ANYTHING
attempts access to any network. Yes, I've got an AV, NAV 2003 current AV
definitions. No, there is no mention of msmgs.exe in any run= part of the
registry. No MS messenger is not installed, nor was it ever installed on
this PC. Yes, I've made sure its disabled.

ZA Pro notifies me that msmsgs.exe is trying to access the internet, which
of course I deny access. Scoured the registry. Found NAV is using this in
some way for its update process. Also found that NAV's update works fine
without it, as I deleted the registry entry. My feeling afterwards is that
if NAV can do it, so can some other internet intruder. So I deleted all
references so msmsgs.exe in the registry, including file associations like
some related dlls. I also renamed msmsgs.exe after a reboot.

The crap finally stopped. And, thanks for all those who attempted to help
on this related question in the past.

 

[Guest]

Am real careful on the internet, haven't noted what you're stating. If
you're referring to msmsgs.exe, its been an irk to me. Yes, I've got SP2
installed. Yes, I've got all security related updates since installed.
Yes, I've got my own firewall, ZA Pro latest set to ask me anytime ANYTHING
attempts access to any network. Yes, I've got an AV, NAV 2003 current AV
definitions. No, there is no mention of msmgs.exe in any run= part of the
registry. No MS messenger is not installed, nor was it ever installed on
this PC. Yes, I've made sure its disabled.

ZA Pro notifies me that msmsgs.exe is trying to access the internet, which
of course I deny access. Scoured the registry. Found NAV is using this in
some way for its update process. Also found that NAV's update works fine
without it, as I deleted the registry entry. My feeling afterwards is that
if NAV can do it, so can some other internet intruder. So I deleted all
references so msmsgs.exe in the registry, including file associations like
some related dlls. I also renamed msmsgs.exe after a reboot.

The crap finally stopped. And, thanks for all those who attempted to help
on this related question in the past.










Thanks to everyone who chipped in with advice and comments. The problem is cured now by installing Zone Alarm.

Very grateful.

H