Messenger pop-ups

[Guy]

I agree entirely with Gary, and am having same problems.
Can anyone help me sort them out?

Thanks

Guy

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Guy,

Do these "pop-up spams" that are appearing have "Messenger Service" in their titlebar? If so,
what you're seeing is the Messenger service built-in to Windows, *not* Windows Messenger
(which are two different things) which spammers are exploiting -- this is not Microsoft, nor
can Microsoft control them anymore then they can control spam to your e-mail inbox. To get
rid of these pop ups, you'll need to disable the "Messenger Service", click Start, then Run,
enter "services.msc"and click OK. Scroll down to "Messenger", select it, right-click and then
choose Properties. Under startup type, choose 'Disabled' and then choose the 'Stop' button.
After the service is stopped, click OK. Nothing in Windows or any real third-party
applications should be effected by this.

However, if these are actual Messenger conversations (which I believe the Janita ones are),
simply open up the main Windows Messenger window (double-click its icon in the notification
area/system tray), choose the Tools menu, then Privacy tab, click 'All other users', then
click the 'Block >>' button and then click OK. This will prevent people who aren't on your
contact list from contacting you.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"Guy" > wrote in message
...
> I agree entirely with Gary, and am having same problems.
> Can anyone help me sort them out?
>
> Thanks
>
> Guy

[Amethyst]

Jonathan Kay [MVP] wrote:
> Greetings Guy,
>
> Do these "pop-up spams" that are appearing have "Messenger Service" in
their
> titlebar? If so, what you're seeing is the Messenger service built-in to
> Windows, *not* Windows Messenger (which are two different things) which
> spammers are exploiting -- this is not Microsoft, nor can Microsoft
control
> them anymore then they can control spam to your e-mail inbox. To get rid
of
> these pop ups, you'll need to disable the "Messenger Service", click
Start,
> then Run, enter "services.msc"and click OK. Scroll down to "Messenger",
> select it, right-click and then choose Properties. Under startup type,
> choose 'Disabled' and then choose the 'Stop' button. After the service is
> stopped, click OK. Nothing in Windows or any real third-party
applications
> should be effected by this.
>
> However, if these are actual Messenger conversations (which I believe the
> Janita ones are), simply open up the main Windows Messenger window
> (double-click its icon in the notification area/system tray), choose the
> Tools menu, then Privacy tab, click 'All other users', then click the
'Block
> >>' button and then click OK. This will prevent people who aren't on your
> contact list from contacting you.
____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/

Following Jonathan's advice is NOT the best way to eliminate the problem -
it merely masks it. The ports in question (137-139) are also used for more
nefarious purposes (trojans use them to 'phone home'). The only effective
way (despite what Mr Kay will tell you) is to install a firewall. The native
one will work at a pinch, though it only works one way (incoming not
outgoing). Disabling the service is like sweeping bills under the carpet -
you can't see them anymore but, if you don't deal with them the consequences
could be serious.

Install a firewall, configure it to block those ports, and rest, safe in the
knowledge that nothing can attack your computer.

And the Juanita are messenger service - just like everything else.

--�
Cassandra
Card carrying member of the Fresh Start Club 'The Undead Are People Too!'

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