microsoft advertisement

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendi Ramlal
  • Start date Start date
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Wendi Ramlal

(e-mail address removed)

I recently received a message from Microsoft advising me
to purchase "Messageaway" in order to avoid popups and
possible damage to my computer. When I attempted to make
the purchase and submitted my credit information. My
info was accepted and I was directed to a web page no
longer in service for the download.

I am using Windows XP.

Please assist, thank you.
 
* Wendi Ramlal said:
(e-mail address removed)

I recently received a message from Microsoft advising me
to purchase "Messageaway" in order to avoid popups and
possible damage to my computer. When I attempted to make
the purchase and submitted my credit information. My
info was accepted and I was directed to a web page no
longer in service for the download.

I am using Windows XP.

Please assist, thank you.
Click to expand...

Well for starters the message most likely wasn't from ms but a scum
sucking spammer exploiting a windows service.

Install a firewall and set it to block the ports that the messenger
service uses. And CALL NOW your credit card company and cancell that
purchase before its too late, that and keep an eye on your cc bill for
the next while. Any company that stoops to the scare tactics like that I
wouldn't put past stealing your card info.


And last but by no means the least stop believing everything you see on
the net be it on a webpage or an email.

Jason
 
Greetings --

Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"
These advertisements most definitely are _not_ from Microsoft.

This type of spam has become quite common over the past several
months, 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

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

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