spam messages

[larry lipman]

Ever since I got a computer with XP, I've been getting
these unwanted spam messages on Windows Messenger. About
95 percent of them are messages urging me to buy some
program to stop getting these unwanted messages.

Is there any way to TURN OFF Windows messenger? I never
knowingly signed on. I do not use MNS or whatever the
Microsoft network is called.

I'd really like to stop these annoying messages which
keep telling me the can stop thsee annoying messages.

Any help would be appreciated.

[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
"larry lipman" > wrote in message
...
> Ever since I got a computer with XP, I've been getting
> these unwanted spam messages on Windows Messenger. About
> 95 percent of them are messages urging me to buy some
> program to stop getting these unwanted messages.
>
> Is there any way to TURN OFF Windows messenger? I never
> knowingly signed on. I do not use MNS or whatever the
> Microsoft network is called.
>
> I'd really like to stop these annoying messages which
> keep telling me the can stop thsee annoying messages.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

[Amethyst]

larry lipman wrote:
> Ever since I got a computer with XP, I've been getting
> these unwanted spam messages on Windows Messenger. About
> 95 percent of them are messages urging me to buy some
> program to stop getting these unwanted messages.
>
> Is there any way to TURN OFF Windows messenger? I never
> knowingly signed on. I do not use MNS or whatever the
> Microsoft network is called.
>
> I'd really like to stop these annoying messages which
> keep telling me the can stop thsee annoying messages.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

Jonathan is giving everyone who asks this question
misinformation and I am going to post the correct reply until he updates his
stock response.

You need a firewall. You can either turn on the native one or - for complete
all-round protection - you need to purchase third party protection (I use
Zone Alarm Pro - they have a cut down freeware version which can be
downloaded from www.zonelabs.com). Some folk will tell you to turn off the
Messenger Service (nothing to do with Windows/MSN Messenger) but this is
like sweeping your bills under the rug. You will forget about them (out of
sight is out of mind) but they are still there and the consequences could be
serious if you don't deal with them. Buy a third party firewall (it is more
flexible as it can be configured) and set it to block ports 137-139 and 245
(there may be others, but I don't know of them). This will also prevent
spyware from 'phoning home'.

Just because someone has the letters 'MVP' after their name doesn't make
them anymore 'right' (despite Mr Kay's protestations to the contrary) than
someone who doesn't. Jonathan's answer does nothing whatsoever to cure the
problem, it merely masks the symptoms, like covering up shingles spots with
concealer.


--
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