Windows Messenging SPAM

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some1

i have recently installed XP and now keep getting windows
Messenging window with varrious commercials, even when i
down brows the web. I have a firewall and a spyware on
but it still pops up and spams me. How do i get rid of it?
 
If you are getting Messenger Service ads with a firewall, four
firewall is either misconfigured or broken.

No need to pay for the fix.
For Messenger Service ads:
You need to install or enable a firewall:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330904
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp
Disabling Messenger Service can be a good idea, but it does not solve
the real problem.
The ads are not the real problem, the ads are only a symptom.
The real problem is open ports that allow unwanted traffic into the
computer.
Disabling Messenger does nothing for the open ports.
The firewall controls the traffic.

Internet Connection Firewall will not work if you have AOL.
AOL is not compatible with Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
(ICF)
If you have AOL, you should contact AOL and/or get a 3rd party
firewall:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/

Disable Messenger Service:
Start/Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, double click
Services.
Go down to "Messenger".
Right click "Messenger" and select Properties.
Then under Start-up select DISABLE
Click OK and follow prompts

Spyware may be your problem.
Check this link:
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.php
Run Ad-Aware (free version) or Spybot to check for spyware:
http://www.lavasoft.de/
Or
http://spybot.eon.net.au/

For internet pop-ups, try one of these:
http://www.panicware.com/
http://www.bysoft.se/sureshot/stopthepop/index.html
http://www.popupbuster.com/PopUpBuster/
http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/
http://www.endpopups.com/
http://www.adshield.org/

To protect the safety and security of your computer:
Install or enable a firewall IMMEDIATELY, before connecting to the
internet:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283673

Install ALL Critical Updates IMMEDIATELY.
Start/All Programs/Windows Update

Install an antivirus application
Update it weekly
Run it at least weekly

Also see:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/home/
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...l=/technet/columns/security/5min/5min-105.asp
 
Greetings --

This type of spam has become quite common over the past year or
so, 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 undoubtedly open to other threats, such as the Blaster Worm that
still "haunts" 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

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?


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
 
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
Click to expand...
<snip>

Listen pal - there is nothing sinister in my suggestion to use Steve
Gibson's "Shoot the Messenger" program, and I take offense at your
insinuation.

Joe
 
How do you define the problem?
I see the problem as an unprotected computer, Shoot the Messenger does
absolutely nothing to change that.
You see the problem as the Messenger Service ads.
Your fix gets rid of the ads and leaves the computer completely
unprotected
My fix goes a long way to protect the computer...the ads are gone
also.

Applications such as Shoot the Messenger do nothing that anyone could
not do easily for themselves.
If Shoot the Messenger is the only fix it is no fix at all since it
does nothing for the actual problem of an unprotected computer.

Anyone that relies on Shoot the Messenger to protect the computer has
no clue what they are doing.

If on the other hand you could care a less about the security of your
computer but just want to be rid of Messenger Service ads...use Shoot
the Messenger all by itself..
 
Greetings --

I wasn't "insinuating" anything; I was making a simple statement
of fact. Using "Shoot the Messenger" is as bad as doing nothing. All
it does is hide the problem.

Gibson has been fooling a lot of people for several years, now, so
don't feel too bad about having believed him. He mixes just enough
facts in with his hysteria to be plausible. Gibson's "Shoot the
Messenger" may be free, but I really don't believe that a free bogus
solution is significantly better than unnecessarily paying for the
real solution offered by many of the spammers. To my way of thinking,
they're just unscrupulous salesmen taking advantage of the gullible to
make money; something unscrupulous salesmen have been doing for
centuries. People should know better, Buyer Beware, and all of that.
:-} Gibson, on the other hand, is assuming a presumably morally
superior pose as a White Knight out to rescue the poor, defenseless
computer user, all the while offering a solution that does no good
whatsoever.


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
 
Well then, exactly what do you mean by this statement? "Oh, and be
especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing more than disable the
messenger service."

Joe
 
Of course you need to have a good firewall and anti-virus program. If you
do not use Messenger Service, it's also a good idea to disable it.

Joe
 
Joe;
Then you should have stated so to the OP.
Many of the people that are annoyed by Messenger Service are unaware
of the need or even the existence of a firewall.
Your lack of that very vital firewall information is potentially
destructive and makes your post potentially dangerous.
 
Hey all lets make this easy.
NOTE TO EVERYBODY WHO READS THIS NG:
You NEED a Firewall
You NEED AV protection that is updated regularly (IE: Atleast weekly if not
daily)
You should have Adaware & Spybot S&D or something similar.
You NEED the 1st two running before even considering an internet connection.
You SHOULD have the other two before connecting.
And finally, You NEED to go to Windows update and get all Security Patches
etc... to avoid things like the Blaster Worm and other such garbage.

Did I miss anything Jupiter?

--
If I can help you I will.
If you can help me thanks.
(e-mail address removed)
TO Email: Remove "SPAM" without the quotes

Useful Links
AdAware:
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S & D:
www.safer-networking.org/
Check for Parasites/Worms:
www.gemal.dk/browserspy/parasites.html
Blaster Security Patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
TweakUI and other PowerToys:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
 
Nope.
Except maybe the one thing that we often do not mention but may be the
most important:
A healthy dose of common sense.
 
Joe;
Reread my answer to the OP, part below:
"If you are getting Messenger Service ads with a firewall, your
firewall is either misconfigured or broken."

The same for you, if you need Shoot the Messenger, you have a problem
with the firewall and Messenger Service ads are nothing more than a
symptom.
 
My initial response was to the Original Poster not you and he clearly states
he has AV software and a firewall. I don't need Shoot the Messenger, but I
choose to use it, or I could simply disable Messenger Service in the XP
Management Console.

Joe
 
I think what Jupiter is saying though is that if your receiving the
messenger service messages to begin with and you have a firewall then
something is apparently wrong with the firewall.

--
If I can help you I will.
If you can help me thanks.
(e-mail address removed)
TO Email: Remove "SPAM" without the quotes

Useful Links
AdAware:
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S & D:
www.safer-networking.org/
Check for Parasites/Worms:
www.gemal.dk/browserspy/parasites.html
Blaster Security Patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
TweakUI and other PowerToys:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
 
Joe;
You seem to be missing the point.
If the firewall is working properly, Shoot the Messenger is not
needed.
Therefore if Messenger Service ads were getting through, there is a
PROBLEM with the firewall.
The firewall needs to be fixed.
 
If you say so.

Joe

Jupiter Jones said:
Joe;
You seem to be missing the point.
If the firewall is working properly, Shoot the Messenger is not
needed.
Therefore if Messenger Service ads were getting through, there is a
PROBLEM with the firewall.
The firewall needs to be fixed.
Click to expand...
 

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