Unwanted Pop-ups

[D Janesko]

How do I stop this form of black mail ?
http://www.messagezapper.com/ I hate these *******s is
this a microsoft extortion ? I wish I had Windows 98.

[Gary Tsang]

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 of a larger
issue. The real problem is open ports that allow unwanted traffic into the
computer.

Disabling Messenger does nothing for the open ports. You would need a
firewall that controls the traffic.

The above solution will not work if you have AOL as 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.
Hit the Stop Button under Service Status section
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/

--
Gary Tsang


"D Janesko" > wrote in message
...
> How do I stop this form of black mail ?
> http://www.messagezapper.com/ I hate these *******s is
> this a microsoft extortion ? I wish I had Windows 98.

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

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.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"D Janesko" > wrote in message
...
> How do I stop this form of black mail ?
> http://www.messagezapper.com/ I hate these *******s is
> this a microsoft extortion ? I wish I had Windows 98.

[Amethyst]

Jonathan Kay [MVP] wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> 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.
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
>
> "D Janesko" > wrote in message
> ...
>> How do I stop this form of black mail ?
>> http://www.messagezapper.com/ I hate these *******s is
>> this a microsoft extortion ? I wish I had Windows 98.

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.



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

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