Windows OS Messenger Pop Ups

[Tim Bowling]

In the last few weeks I've been receiving pop ups directly
into my OS. Mostly from people selling software claiming
to block that sort of thing (seems like blackmail to me -
messagedestroyer.com is the worst) but also from other
domains such as goldhgh.com and others.

I don't even know why Microsoft put this feature into its
OS system, but the spammers have found it and they are
using it more and more. I don't even need to be exploring
the web or getting email and it can happen because I have
a DSL line. If I disconnect the internet (a pain) I can
stop it, or if I put the firewall to filter all (a bigger
pain) I can stop it, but sometimes when on-line gaming
they can wreck my session, crash my programs (and thereby
kill my character), and when I finally get out of it, I
can see 3 new gray pop ups advertising stuff I don't want
to know about.

Is Microsoft going to deal with this annoying security
issue? Is there a way to block it? If windows is designed
to allow this in its own OS, what else might it be
allowing people to do. I can't wait for more programs to
run on LINUX. It's beginning to look like the only
solution. But if there is a workaround, I'd sure like to
know it if any of you nice people know any.

[Mike Mulligan]

Turn on XP's firewall and take a break.

Mike Mulligan

"Tim Bowling" > wrote in message
...
> In the last few weeks I've been receiving pop ups directly
> into my OS. Mostly from people selling software claiming
> to block that sort of thing (seems like blackmail to me -
> messagedestroyer.com is the worst) but also from other
> domains such as goldhgh.com and others.
>
> I don't even know why Microsoft put this feature into its
> OS system, but the spammers have found it and they are
> using it more and more. I don't even need to be exploring
> the web or getting email and it can happen because I have
> a DSL line. If I disconnect the internet (a pain) I can
> stop it, or if I put the firewall to filter all (a bigger
> pain) I can stop it, but sometimes when on-line gaming
> they can wreck my session, crash my programs (and thereby
> kill my character), and when I finally get out of it, I
> can see 3 new gray pop ups advertising stuff I don't want
> to know about.
>
> Is Microsoft going to deal with this annoying security
> issue? Is there a way to block it? If windows is designed
> to allow this in its own OS, what else might it be
> allowing people to do. I can't wait for more programs to
> run on LINUX. It's beginning to look like the only
> solution. But if there is a workaround, I'd sure like to
> know it if any of you nice people know any.

[Tim]

Cool, how please?


>-----Original Message-----
>Turn on XP's firewall and take a break.
>
>Mike Mulligan
>

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Tim;
No need to pay for the fix.
For Messenger Service ads:
You need to install or enable a firewall:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q330904&
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.

This 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.

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

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/

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit.


"Tim Bowling" > wrote in message
...
> In the last few weeks I've been receiving pop ups directly
> into my OS. Mostly from people selling software claiming
> to block that sort of thing (seems like blackmail to me -
> messagedestroyer.com is the worst) but also from other
> domains such as goldhgh.com and others.
>
> I don't even know why Microsoft put this feature into its
> OS system, but the spammers have found it and they are
> using it more and more. I don't even need to be exploring
> the web or getting email and it can happen because I have
> a DSL line. If I disconnect the internet (a pain) I can
> stop it, or if I put the firewall to filter all (a bigger
> pain) I can stop it, but sometimes when on-line gaming
> they can wreck my session, crash my programs (and thereby
> kill my character), and when I finally get out of it, I
> can see 3 new gray pop ups advertising stuff I don't want
> to know about.
>
> Is Microsoft going to deal with this annoying security
> issue? Is there a way to block it? If windows is designed
> to allow this in its own OS, what else might it be
> allowing people to do. I can't wait for more programs to
> run on LINUX. It's beginning to look like the only
> solution. But if there is a workaround, I'd sure like to
> know it if any of you nice people know any.

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

This particular "sales method" is strikingly similar to the
"protection" rackets offered to small businesses by organized
criminals. No reputable business would resort to such tactics.
Particularly since they're trying to sell you a type of protection
that is already available to you free of charge.

This a type of spam has become quite common over the past few
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. Install and use a decent,
properly configured firewall. (Disabling the messenger service, as
some people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does nothing to
secure your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" these
messages and the problem they represent 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

Additionally:

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm


Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Tim Bowling" > wrote in message
...
> In the last few weeks I've been receiving pop ups directly
> into my OS. Mostly from people selling software claiming
> to block that sort of thing (seems like blackmail to me -
> messagedestroyer.com is the worst) but also from other
> domains such as goldhgh.com and others.
>
> I don't even know why Microsoft put this feature into its
> OS system, but the spammers have found it and they are
> using it more and more. I don't even need to be exploring
> the web or getting email and it can happen because I have
> a DSL line. If I disconnect the internet (a pain) I can
> stop it, or if I put the firewall to filter all (a bigger
> pain) I can stop it, but sometimes when on-line gaming
> they can wreck my session, crash my programs (and thereby
> kill my character), and when I finally get out of it, I
> can see 3 new gray pop ups advertising stuff I don't want
> to know about.
>
> Is Microsoft going to deal with this annoying security
> issue? Is there a way to block it? If windows is designed
> to allow this in its own OS, what else might it be
> allowing people to do. I can't wait for more programs to
> run on LINUX. It's beginning to look like the only
> solution. But if there is a workaround, I'd sure like to
> know it if any of you nice people know any.