patchwindows.org

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Is www.patchwindows.org a legitimate website? I keep getting this plain looking message that comes up on my screen wanting me to go to that website and download a patch of some sort affecting windows messenger. Thanks for any help!
 
The only truly legitimate source for critical updates for
Windows XP is the Microsoft Windows Update website.
Do not download any so-called patches from any third-party
websites!

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

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=827315

Download Ad-Aware 6.0 and scan your PC for the presence of spyware:
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button

Note: Be sure to click on the "Check for updates now" link before scanning.

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Is www.patchwindows.org a legitimate website? I keep getting this plain looking message that comes up on my
screen wanting me to go to that website and download a patch of some sort affecting windows messenger. Thanks
for any help!
 
Greetings,

If I were you don't download from any non-microsoft websites. Get the
security hotfix or update directly from Windows Update or
http://support.microsoft.com

Thanks and best of luck!

--
Jose Francisco
http://www.xpez.tk
Still got problems - Email me!
chicofar at onvol dot net

Justice P. said:
Is www.patchwindows.org a legitimate website? I keep getting this plain
looking message that comes up on my screen wanting me to go to that website
and download a patch of some sort affecting windows messenger. Thanks for
any help!
 
In addition to Cary's reply- the fact that you're getting this popup (I
presume it says Messenger Service in the title bar) indicates that you
aren't behind a properly configured firewall - either enable your XP
firewall or get a third party hardware or software firewall.
 
Justice said:
Is www.patchwindows.org a legitimate website? I keep getting this
plain looking message that comes up on my screen wanting me to go to
that website and download a patch of some sort affecting windows
messenger. Thanks for any help!

No, it is not legitimate.

They are using the Messenger Service to spam you and telling you that this
service allows people to spam you. You can stop these messages by simply
turning on the Firewall in XP.

Open Control Panel / Network Connections. Right click the default connection
that you use and select Properties / Advanced Tab. Place a check mark in the
Internet Connection Firewall box.



--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://www.mvps.org
 
Greetings --

It's a scam, plain and simple. It's from a very unscrupulous
"business." They're trying to sell you patches that Microsoft
provides free-of-charge, and using a very intrusive means of
advertising. It's also demonstrating that your PC is very unsecure.

This type of spam has become quite common over the past year or
so, 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 most definitely open to other threats, such as the Blaster,
Welchia, and Sasser Worms that still haunt 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

Whichever firewall you decide upon, be sure to ensure UDP ports 135,
137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445 are _all_ blocked. You
may also disable Inbound NetBIOS over TCP/IP). You'll have
to follow the instructions from firewall's manufacturer for the
specific steps.

You can test your firewall at:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/vr_main.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=GPVHGBYNCJEIMXQKCDT

Security Scan - Sygate Online Services
http://www.sygatetech.com/

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


Justice P. said:
Is www.patchwindows.org a legitimate website? I keep getting this
plain looking message that comes up on my screen wanting me to go to
that website and download a patch of some sort affecting windows
messenger. Thanks for any help!
 
Thanks so much Carey, and to all the other folks who replied. It's nice to know you can still trust some people....
 

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