Stopping Pop Ups

[Jeremy]

I have recently been getting dozens of Pop up ads on my
screen which freezes my computer. How do I stop this from
happening. I would really appreciate it if someone could
help me out.

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

[Bob I]

Install a firewall. ZoneAlarm is one.

 

[Steve Parry [MVP]]

Install a firewall. ZoneAlarm is one.

also run some spyware detection software like Ad-Aware

 

[Tim Newton [MSFT]]

This depends on which type of popup these are. If they are popups coming
from navigating to a web page, there are plenty of popup blockers out there
to choose from. If these are not Internet Explorer related, they may be
coming from the Messenger service, unrelated to MSN Messenger. This is how
to disable this service and prevent this:

1.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and
then click Control Panel).
2.. Double-click Administrative Tools.
3.. Double-click Services.
4.. Double-click Messenger.
5.. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
6.. Click Stop, and then click OK.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]
(e-mail address removed)

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and opinions
expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily express
or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.

 

[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/, which is what I use.

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 deliberately posting potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service, as you suggest, 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

This depends on which type of popup these are. If they are popups coming
from navigating to a web page, there are plenty of popup blockers out there
to choose from. If these are not Internet Explorer related, they may be
coming from the Messenger service, unrelated to MSN Messenger. This is how
to disable this service and prevent this:

1.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and
then click Control Panel).
2.. Double-click Administrative Tools.
3.. Double-click Services.
4.. Double-click Messenger.
5.. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
6.. Click Stop, and then click OK.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]
(e-mail address removed)

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and opinions
expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily express
or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.

 

[shawn modersohn]

I understand that a properly configured firewall can prevent messenger
popups from outside a local area network, but disabling the service in and
of itself does not leave an open windows for exploits. Also, how does the
worm use this exploit?

Greetings --

Please stop deliberately posting potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service, as you suggest, 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

This depends on which type of popup these are. If they are popups coming
from navigating to a web page, there are plenty of popup blockers out there
to choose from. If these are not Internet Explorer related, they may be
coming from the Messenger service, unrelated to MSN Messenger. This is how
to disable this service and prevent this:

1.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and
then click Control Panel).
2.. Double-click Administrative Tools.
3.. Double-click Services.
4.. Double-click Messenger.
5.. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
6.. Click Stop, and then click OK.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]
(e-mail address removed)

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps to ensure a
more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views and opinions
expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not necessarily express
or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You're very much mistaken. Disabling messenger service does _not_
close UDP ports 135, 137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445.
They remain wide open unless additional steps are taken.

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-39
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=824146

What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp



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

I understand that a properly configured firewall can prevent messenger
popups from outside a local area network, but disabling the service in and
of itself does not leave an open windows for exploits. Also, how does the
worm use this exploit?

Greetings --

Please stop deliberately posting potentially harmful advice.

Disabling the messenger service, as you suggest, 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

This depends on which type of popup these are. If they are

popups
coming

from navigating to a web page, there are plenty of popup

blockers
out there

to choose from. If these are not Internet Explorer related, they

may
be

coming from the Messenger service, unrelated to MSN Messenger.

This
is how

to disable this service and prevent this:

1.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and
then click Control Panel).
2.. Double-click Administrative Tools.
3.. Double-click Services.
4.. Double-click Messenger.
5.. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
6.. Click Stop, and then click OK.

--
Tim Newton [MSFT]
(e-mail address removed)

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
others to add to and benefit from these threads and also helps

to
ensure a

more timely response. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty either

expressed
or

implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The views

and
opinions

expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do not

necessarily
express

or reflect the views and / or opinions of Microsoft.

 

[William Plummer]

We have a LinkSys router that claims to be a firewall, also. How do I
configure it to stiffle the pop-ups? Thanks.

 

[JR K Yoshikawa]

Here is easy one
Install Google Toolbar or Askjeeves Toolbar.

they have pop up blocker, and easy to use.

http://toolbar.google.com/

http://sp.ask.com/docs/toolbar/