Microsoft Security Center Warning?

[Sandman]

I do not have SP2 installed yet I am getting a popup message, often, that
sez MSC and the Windows Firewall (which I also do NOT have enabled) has
detected i might have suspicous activity on my computer.. Do I want to learn
how i can protect my PC blah blah blah.. This seems to be a part of a Hotfix
that is intended to go along with SP2 install somehow.. Anyone know how to
find the sucker and disable or delete it??
Thanks...

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Hopefully you have another firewall installed.

Open Security Center.
On the left side click "Change the way..."
Make selections as desired.

 

[Greg Burns]

Is there a Security Center on Pre SP2 XP machines???

 

[Sandman]

No. He didn't read my email. I do not have SP2 installed (nor will I ever)
therfore there is no applet for security Center in Control Panel.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

I was sidetracked on my first post.
If you do not have SP-2,you do not have the Security Center.

What is MSC?
Do you have another program monitoring your security, such as Norton
internet Security and others?

What is the exact message?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

I read it, just misread it.
Also it is not Email in the newsgroups although a newsreader can make it
seem as Email.

See my follow-up post for questions.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

If it's a popup, it may have nothing to do with XP. Perhaps it's coming
from the outside. Do you have any firewall installed on your system. Many
companies use this trick to get people to think a message is coming from the
OS when it is actually coming from the outside. Did the popup message tell
you to click a link to take you to some website. Microsoft does not do that
and blah, blah, blah is not very descriptive with regard to the message you
did receive.

 

[Sandman]

Of course I have a firewall installed. ZoneAlarm and a hardware firewall as
well... Yes, the popup directs me to a listing of Microsoft security
suggestions which do, in fact, appear to be legitimate...The next time it
'pops' I will send it along.

 

[Sandman]

Actually, excuse my mistake.. It is called Windows Security Center (NOT
Microsoft secuiryt) and is part and parcel of SP2.. There is a
Website........

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Security Center
Is it there?

 

[Greg Burns]

I do not have SP2 installed (nor will I ever)

What's the beef with SP2 if you don't mind me asking? I've installed it on
many, many computers at work have not run into a problem yet. (I say that
with a grain of salt. We currently leave the firewall disabled.)

Greg

 

[Ad]

What's the beef with SP2 if you don't mind me asking? I've installed it on
many, many computers at work have not run into a problem yet. (I say that
with a grain of salt. We currently leave the firewall disabled.)

Maybe he had the same problem as me and found some software will not
work with SP2. that is the reason why I will not install it either.

 

[Sandman]

Regardless of my error in calling it 'microsoft' and not 'windows security',
it remains, non existent since i stated in my original posting I do NOT have
SP2 installed. It follows that I do NOT have Security Center on my machine
so I will leave this thread and try to quell my frustration. Read here for
an explanation http://www.theeldergeek.com/security_center.htm

 

[Greg Burns]

Not trying to start a flame war or anything, but what software doesn't work
with the firewall disabled? I thought most off the issues were firewall
related?

I sure this has been discussed to death in this group... (I'm new here)

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Yes, I'm very interested in the popup and the site.

I have had SP2 installed since it was in beta. Hence, it's never appeared
on my system and I can't say for certain this message is not some auto-alert
as they have really been pushing the security center and that is a part of
SP2. However, this is highly unusual.

You certainly are entitled not to install SP2 and your firewall should be
preventing any such popups. You might want to check your ZoneAlarm logs.
If the message is coming from outside your system, there should be some
record of it there.

The messages similar to this that I've seen in the past have usually led to
some third party software or worse, a cloned site that tries to get the user
to install something which is either a virus or uses the same subterfuge to
get a user to download and purchase their antivirus software.

 

[Ad]

Not trying to start a flame war or anything, but what software doesn't work
with the firewall disabled? I thought most off the issues were firewall
related?

I sure this has been discussed to death in this group... (I'm new here)

My PDA software will not work, Cakewalk 9 seems to have a problem
communicating to the midi port

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Sandman;
Now it is more clear since you posted the exact message.
If you press yes, you are taken:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

That can appear if you have a problem with your firewall.
Check your firewall settings.
It may be misconfigured or disabled.
Install all the Critical Updates.
Also verify your anti virus is up to date and run in the last few days.
Between those three the messages should stop.

 

[Sandman]

Thanks, but no Thanks. If you read my post clearly I said I do not have SP2
installed nor do I intend, any time soon to install it.. This 'message' must
be a result of a Hotfix i installed thinking it was innocuous, obviously It
brought with it this message.. I have ZoneAlarm installed and DO NOT use XP
Firewall (but then again , you didn't really read my originial post or you
would know this) My AV is always up to date and I do NOT blindlt install
microsoft updates.. If I thought this would be ANY help I would but I know
better... Thanks anyway.... You may trust Microsoft, I do Not.........

 

[Sandman]

So even though this is part of Microsoft Security more than likely from SP2
and I don't have it installed, No ONE knows how to get rid of it.. All the
suggestions mean nothing since they don't apply XP firewall etc etc etc..
Someone should just say; WE don't know how to get rid of it instead of
dancing around with all the irrelevant stuff. MS-MVP really.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

I did read your post Sandman.
And I do know you do not have SP-2 installed and do not want to install it.
I never said to blindly install anything, that is your idea.
But there was more to my post.
Why did you apparently not read the rest?
After all this you have said nothing about anti spyware tools or if you use
them.
Also it took you a long time to post the actual message you saw.

I learned along time ago not to assume.
You never stated you keep your AV up to date and regularly run it.
Most computers ship with AV applications of some type but many users never
run or update it.
When it is assumed the user uses or keeps up to date specific tools, the
assumption often is incorrect.

Since you feel the way you do, perhaps your best option is to take the
computer to a local shop.
That may be the only way for you to get the first hand personal help you
want.