pop up hell

[chris]

2 days ago my computer started getting inundated with pop ups
I have DSL so it happens even when i'm not connected to the
internet via a browser!

I found and removed n-case ad delivery and pad look ups but
it's still happening

help what to do?

chrisD

 

[Willit]

Get a fire wall or turn on the built-in one.

or

If They say "Messenger Service" in the top frame. There
are Several ways to do it.

Disable Method: Start > Run > Type "services.msc" >ok ,
on the services and applications find "Messenger" and
right click on it and choose properties choose "Disable"
in the middle Apply > ok.

or

Start Method : goto Start > Run > Type "msconfig" on the
Start Config. Menu go to Services Tab , go down the list
to "Messenger" uncheck, apply> ok re-boot. you will get a
warning when you re-boot >ok Done.

or

If you don't want it or need it or the Alerter Service
Delete it. Most don't, unless you are on a network, other
than your own. The Alerter Service is used on a network to
send virus alerts. You have to be on a network before
either have any use.

To Delete the Messenger Service:

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: sc delete messenger.
Reboot.

or

Or go to Start/Run/Regedit and go to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Messengerservice Delete Key. You can export it in case you
want it again,
then delete. Reboot

 

[Guest]

Turn off the messenger service. Right click My Computer,
click manage, click services and applications, double-
click services, double-click messenger and change to
disable. that should help. Then check for and remove
all spyware/adware.

 

[Mack]

Install a Firewall.

Turning off the Messenger service DOES NOT cure the
problem, just because you can't see the popups anymore
doesn't mean you have stopped the chance of your computer
being attacked.

Mack

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There are at least three varieties of pop-ups, and the solutions
vary accordingly. Which specific type(s) is troubling you?

1) Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"

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?

2) For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
from http://www.panicware.com/, or the Google Toolbar from
http://toolbar.google.com/. Myself, I use Norton Internet Security,
which, in addition to containing Norton Anti-Virus and Personal
Firewall, also blocks many of the pop-up adds on the Internet.

3) To deal with pop-ups caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or
KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without
understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are
quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are
Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from
http://security.kolla.de/. Both have free versions. It's even
possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system
against most future intrusions. I use both and generally perform
manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.


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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Please stop posting potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service is a "head in the sand" approach
to computer security that leaves the PC vulnerable to threats such as
the W32.Blaster.Worm.

The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups; they're
actually providing a useful service by acting as a security alert. The
true problem is the unsecured computer, and you're only
advice, however well-intended, was to turn off the warnings. How is
this helpful?

Equivalent Scenario: You over-exert your shoulder at work or
play, causing bursitis. After weeks of annoying and sometimes
excruciating pain whenever you try to reach over your head, you go to
a doctor and say, while demonstrating the motion, "Doc, it hurts when
I do this." The doctor, being as helpful as you are, replies, "Well,
don't do that."

The only true way to secure the PC, short of disconnecting it from
the Internet, is to install and *properly* configure a firewall; just
installing one and letting it's default settings handle things is no
good. Unfortunately, this does require one to learn a little bit more
about using a computer than used to be necessary.


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

 

[Barry R. Ford]

There are two ways to handle this problem (there are probably more than
two, but stay with me).

1. Do Start, Run, and type "services.msc". Find Messenger and double
click it. Find Startup type: and change it to 'Disabled'.

2. Turn on the Internet Connection Firewall. Just go to Start, Help and
Support, and type 'icf' in the search box. Follow instructions.

I used the second method, which works well and has the advantage of
offering a wider range of protection. Also, if you are new to
computing, obtain and use an antivirus program NOW, before your system
gets infected. You can get a free one at www.grisoft.com (AVG). I
recommend Norton Antivirus 2002 or 2003. You have to pay for those;
they are worth every penny. Don't mess with Norton Internet Security;
it can cause problems.

 

[Plato]

2 days ago my computer started getting inundated with pop ups
I have DSL so it happens even when i'm not connected to the
internet via a browser!

Even if your browser is not running you are still connected.

http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop5.htm#3

 

[dhansel]

-----Original Message-----
2 days ago my computer started getting inundated with pop ups
I have DSL so it happens even when i'm not connected to the
internet via a browser!

I found and removed n-case ad delivery and pad look ups but
it's still happening

help what to do?

chrisD
.
I found a browser that is called "Crazy Browser" It

looks like IE, but it has a built in pop up killer and
great features not in IE.
Go to google.com and do a search on crazy browser and dl
it.
It uses the same bookmarks (favorites) that IE uses.

Another good program is "Spy Bot" it will go through your
comptuer and look for spyware. I ran it on a friend's
computer and it showed 168 spyware programs.
Good Luck..

DH