popups

  • Thread starter Thread starter WILLANA BROWN
  • Start date Start date
Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330904

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

Visit the following web site for instructions on downloading
a FREE firewall program for your computer.

Ref: http://www.updatexp.com/free.html


To secure your computer and prevent possible future security breeches,
consider installing a first-rate, comprehensive, internet security program:

Norton Internet Security 2004
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/

-- Includes Norton AntiVirus 2004
-- Includes Norton Personal Firewall
-- Includes prevention of annoying web pop-ups
-- Includes Parental Controls
-- All in one, easy-to-install package

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
 
-----Original Message-----
I get popups even when my browser is closed!
Please help.


.
you got spyware,get rid of it.If you don't have spyware
Click to expand...
removale tool,get one from
http://www.webattack.com/get/adaware.shtml
it's called ad aware,download it and run it,your probably
loaded with spyware,It's inside of your computer sending
out to other web site telling them to send the popups in
cuz your computer is on.Also a good firewall will help.
 
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. A free good firewall you can get is
ZoneAlarm.

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/communic
ate/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 (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?

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/. Also a good firewall can stop
these(such as nortons internet security).

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
www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's
even
possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your
system
against most future intrusions. Use both and generally
perform
manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.
 
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. A free good firewall you can get is
ZoneAlarm.

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/communic
ate/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 (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?

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/. Also a good firewall can stop
these(such as nortons internet security).

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
www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's
even
possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your
system
against most future intrusions. Use both and generally
perform
manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.
Click to expand...

And are you going to credit Bruce for using his work?
 
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?
Click to expand...

Oh, and don't forget that the Messenger Service would also provide a
useful service to hackers if it is not patched:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-043.asp

Setup a firewall first, but if you don't need the Messenger Service,
turn it off. If you need it, patch it. You would also be well
advised to spend $50 and buy a home router.

Be especially wary of people who would insist on having you keep the
Messenger Service on as a "helpful feature" and conveniently
forgetting to inform you that it has a very serious vulnerability that
needs to be patched immediately.

And of particular interest is that Microsoft itself and security
experts are seriously reconsidering the role of the Messenger service:

http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/10/28/HNmessengeroff_1.html

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,113321,tk,dn110703X,00.asp

http://news.com.com/2100-7355_3-5095935.html

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/11/07/microsoft.popup.reut/index.html


Here's a link where Microsoft actually outright advises the user to
turn off the Messenger Service:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp


Those who would advise not to turn off the Messenger Service for the
less than trivial unintended side benefit of being a warning is
dispensing advice which contradicts the advice of many real security
professionals.
 
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