SPAM

  • Thread starter Thread starter LJ
  • Start date Start date
L

LJ

I'm running Windows XP Pro! And I keep getting a popup
spam that I can't block!! It is getting in
through "csrss.exe" in %\windows\system32. I tryed to
delete it and it crashed my computer. Please help me kill
these spams. I have pictures of the spam if you would
like to see them! Thank you!!
 
I am also getting these SPAM pop-ups. They keep telling
me that I have a potential security risk related to the
messenger services and Windows XP. They don't appear to
open anything, but they are annoyances. Also, they ALL
refer me to the same website soliciting "help" in
preventing these types of pop-ups. Seems like they are
the only ones doing it, though. The website these pop-
ups refer me to is www.destroyads.com
 
It's definitely not getting in through csrss.exe - you should get a clue
before trying to delete system files.
 
It is coming throught the messenger service.
Not to be confused with Intsant Messenger/windows/messenger/msn messenger

TO stop it,
Right Click, My Computer, select Manage
Expand Services and Applications, select Services
Browse in the right hand pane until you see Messenger
Right click it select Properties
Change Startup type to Disabled
right click it again and select stop.

It is turned off and won't turn on again at startup.
You will not notice it is gone as the only service it has likley been
providing is the popup adds.

Regards
Mark Dormer



O
 
Greetings --

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?


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
 
Greetings --

Please stop deliberately 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
 
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