Is messenger spying on me?

[Stephen Rasku]

Every 2 minutes I am seeing:

An instance of "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" is
preparing to access the Internet for the first time

from Norton Internet Security.

I don't want to use Windows Messenger and, as far as I know, I haven't
configured Windows to use it. Why is it trying to connect to the
Internet every 2 minutes? Can I safely disable it?

Thanks in advance,


Stephen

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Stephen,

Yes you can disable it -- firstly, open up the main Windows Messenger window (click Start,
All Programs, Windows Messenger if you can't find it) click the Tools menu, then Options,
then Preferences tab and uncheck 'Run this program when Windows starts'. Next, do you have
Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging scanning" feature to
Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause this behavior. To stop it,
open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon in the System
Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click Options, then
Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.

Thirdly, if you're an Outlook Express user, close down Outlook Express, then download and run
this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg
This will stop Windows Messenger from loading with Outlook Express.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Stephen Rasku" > wrote in message
...
> Every 2 minutes I am seeing:
>
> An instance of "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" is
> preparing to access the Internet for the first time
>
> from Norton Internet Security.
>
> I don't want to use Windows Messenger and, as far as I know, I haven't
> configured Windows to use it. Why is it trying to connect to the
> Internet every 2 minutes? Can I safely disable it?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
> Stephen

[Stephen Rasku]

On Fri, 13 Jun 2003 22:33:07 -0400, "Jonathan Kay [MVP]"
> wrote:

>Greetings Stephen,
>
>Yes you can disable it -- firstly, open up the main Windows Messenger window (click Start,
>All Programs, Windows Messenger if you can't find it) click the Tools menu, then Options,
>then Preferences tab and uncheck 'Run this program when Windows starts'. Next, do you have
>Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging scanning" feature to
>Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause this behavior. To stop it,
>open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon in the System
>Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click Options, then
>Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.

Yes, I do have NAV 2003 (Internet Security actually). I know I can
disable the message but I am not using Messenger so I am more
concerned with why Messenger is trying to connect to the Internet
every 2 minutes if I am not using it.

After sending my original message, I disabled Windows Messenger using
your web site:

http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7

and I haven't seen the pop up since then. However, will I be missing
any critical Windows functionality if I do this (Windows Update comes
to mind)?

....Stephen

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Stephen,

Yes, that will stop it as well. The only functionality that will stop working is Remote
Assistance. Everything else in Windows should continue to operate as per normal (including
Windows Update).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Stephen Rasku" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 13 Jun 2003 22:33:07 -0400, "Jonathan Kay [MVP]"
> > wrote:
>
> >Greetings Stephen,
> >
> >Yes you can disable it -- firstly, open up the main Windows Messenger window (click Start,
> >All Programs, Windows Messenger if you can't find it) click the Tools menu, then Options,
> >then Preferences tab and uncheck 'Run this program when Windows starts'. Next, do you
have
> >Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging scanning" feature
to
> >Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause this behavior. To stop
it,
> >open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon in the System
> >Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click Options,
then
> >Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.
>
> Yes, I do have NAV 2003 (Internet Security actually). I know I can
> disable the message but I am not using Messenger so I am more
> concerned with why Messenger is trying to connect to the Internet
> every 2 minutes if I am not using it.
>
> After sending my original message, I disabled Windows Messenger using
> your web site:
>
> http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7
>
> and I haven't seen the pop up since then. However, will I be missing
> any critical Windows functionality if I do this (Windows Update comes
> to mind)?
>
> ...Stephen

[Jacqueline Siller]

On Sat, 14 Jun 2003 00:00:19 -0400, "Jonathan Kay [MVP]"
> wrote:

>Hi Stephen,
>
>Yes, that will stop it as well. The only functionality that will stop working is Remote
>Assistance. Everything else in Windows should continue to operate as per normal (including
>Windows Update).

Great, thanks.

....Stephen

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Stephen,

You're very welcome =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Jacqueline Siller" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 14 Jun 2003 00:00:19 -0400, "Jonathan Kay [MVP]"
> > wrote:
>
> >Hi Stephen,
> >
> >Yes, that will stop it as well. The only functionality that will stop working is Remote
> >Assistance. Everything else in Windows should continue to operate as per normal
(including
> >Windows Update).
>
> Great, thanks.
>
> ...Stephen