Note: Disabling the service itself will stop the spam, but it will not fix
the problem. The problem is that your system is not secure and you have
much more to worry about than the spam messages. As someone else pointed
out, stopping the messenger service is like stopping a fire alarm and going
back to sleep becuase the noise was bothering you.
You need to either activate the built in firewall as Chris pointed out or
use another firewall package that's out there that will protect your system
even better.
--
Posted 'as is'. If there are any spelling and/or grammar mistakes, they
were a direct result of my fingers and brain not being synchronized or my
lack of caffeine.
Mike Brearley