Unwanted Messenger Service popups

[Alex]

Hello,

I keep seeing a popup box on my machine from Messenger
Service saying...

*************************
***SECURITY WARNING***
The receipt of this message confirms a possible *Security
Risk* on your computer. Your Messenger Service is open
to Internet Attackers! To stop these Messenger PopUps
and protect yourself please go to
www.MessengerDestroyer.com Pressing OK will not take you
to www.DESTROYADS.com so write down the website before
pressing OK. www.MESSENGERDESTROYER.com
*************************

The problem is it's this ad that is always popping up and
annoying me trying to extort me into buying their crap.
I've removed Windows Messenger through the windows
components wizard so why am I still receiving messages?

How can I stop getting windows messenger ads?

Alex

 

[Shenan T. Stanley]

I keep seeing a popup box on my machine from Messenger
Service...

The problem is it's this ad that is always popping up and
annoying me trying to extort me into buying their crap.
I've removed Windows Messenger through the windows
components wizard so why am I still receiving messages?

Enable the built in Windows XP firewall or download and configure another
one.
It's that simple. The popups are a warning you have an open port on your
machine. The firewall will.. well, put a firewall between you and the
world, preventing much incoming traffic.

Since you have this problem, might I suggest the following as well..

-- a trip to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ to scan your machine for
updates and install all critical updates.
-- update your antivirus software. don't have any, GET SOME!
-- download and install/update/scan with Lavasoft's AdAware package for
spyware/adware.

 

[phoenix]

Hello,

I keep seeing a popup box on my machine from Messenger
Service saying...

*************************
***SECURITY WARNING***
The receipt of this message confirms a possible *Security
Risk* on your computer. Your Messenger Service is open
to Internet Attackers! To stop these Messenger PopUps
and protect yourself please go to
www.MessengerDestroyer.com Pressing OK will not take you
to www.DESTROYADS.com so write down the website before
pressing OK. www.MESSENGERDESTROYER.com
*************************

The problem is it's this ad that is always popping up and
annoying me trying to extort me into buying their crap.
I've removed Windows Messenger through the windows
components wizard so why am I still receiving messages?

How can I stop getting windows messenger ads?

Alex

Hi

It's not Windows Messenger that's allowing these ads to pop-up it's the
Messenger *service* - they're two different things. Have a look at this
http://tinyurl.com/74vw and a quick search on google would have found this
http://tinyurl.com/oxgn

Make sure you install a firewall and set it up to block unwanted access to
your PC, this problem is caused by a security hole that *you* have left
open.

Regards

Bill

 

[Deb]

To stop those unwanted popups;
go to Control Panel click Adminstrative Tools (in Classic
View); Click on Component Services; click on Services
(local) scroll down and find Messenger double click; look
for start up type; change to disable; under that look for
Start Type and click Stop; then OK.....That'll do it!
Next go get your updates from Microsoft and install a
firewall; these pop ups are not legit, nor are they from
Microsoft;----- Virus and other Nasties...Later!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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

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