messenger popups

[Brennan]

I have recently received messenger popups from a website
called - www.messengerdefender.com or other variations of
it such as messengerdestoyer and messengerstop, etc.
This popup is an advertising for their program to
eliminate annoying popups (like theirs) from getting
through to my computer - they state that a hacker to
penetrate my computer with a virus in one of these popups
or send porn in the popup. Its basically extortion.
Anyway, there does seem to be security problem since they
are able to send their popup through. I have dsl so my
internet is always up. what can I do without buying
their program to keep this from happening? I believe I
am all up to date with my microsoft updates and I run two
different antivirus programs. Help

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

These ads are using Messenger Service.
Messenger Service is a valuable tool many use.
Like many tools, it can be exploited.

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, click Services.
Go down to "Messenger".
Right click "Messenger" and select Properties.
Then under Start-up select DISABLE
Click OK and follow prompts

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


"Brennan" > wrote in message
...
> I have recently received messenger popups from a website
> called - www.messengerdefender.com or other variations of
> it such as messengerdestoyer and messengerstop, etc.
> This popup is an advertising for their program to
> eliminate annoying popups (like theirs) from getting
> through to my computer - they state that a hacker to
> penetrate my computer with a virus in one of these popups
> or send porn in the popup. Its basically extortion.
> Anyway, there does seem to be security problem since they
> are able to send their popup through. I have dsl so my
> internet is always up. what can I do without buying
> their program to keep this from happening? I believe I
> am all up to date with my microsoft updates and I run two
> different antivirus programs. Help

[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

--
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


"Brennan" > wrote in message
...
> I have recently received messenger popups from a website
> called - www.messengerdefender.com or other variations of
> it such as messengerdestoyer and messengerstop, etc.
> This popup is an advertising for their program to
> eliminate annoying popups (like theirs) from getting
> through to my computer - they state that a hacker to
> penetrate my computer with a virus in one of these popups
> or send porn in the popup. Its basically extortion.
> Anyway, there does seem to be security problem since they
> are able to send their popup through. I have dsl so my
> internet is always up. what can I do without buying
> their program to keep this from happening? I believe I
> am all up to date with my microsoft updates and I run two
> different antivirus programs. Help