Unwanted "Messenger Service" messages

[anton]

Since loading XP I keep getting messeges popping up
telling me my computer is wide open to the internet. How
can I stop this if true, and also how do I prevent these
messages from intuding?

[Robert Moir]

anton wrote:
> Since loading XP I keep getting messeges popping up
> telling me my computer is wide open to the internet. How
> can I stop this if true, and also how do I prevent these
> messages from intuding?

Turn on your firewall.

XP has a built in one: Open control panel, network and internet connections,
network connections, right click your internet connection, choose
properties, click the "advanced" tab and then tick the firewall box.

However, I've seen some notes saying this won't work with AOL and is
disabled by AOL. You should consider downloading a 3rd party firewall
product if this is the case.

[jordan]

no the firewall is default on so thats not it,
go to start and click on run
type services.msc and click ok
scroll down to messenger
right click, properties, when it says startup type, click
disable, then click stop. and click OK, there, you wont
have them anymore :P
>-----Original Message-----
>anton wrote:
>> Since loading XP I keep getting messeges popping up
>> telling me my computer is wide open to the internet.
How
>> can I stop this if true, and also how do I prevent
these
>> messages from intuding?
>
>Turn on your firewall.
>
>XP has a built in one: Open control panel, network and
internet connections,
>network connections, right click your internet
connection, choose
>properties, click the "advanced" tab and then tick the
firewall box.
>
>However, I've seen some notes saying this won't work
with AOL and is
>disabled by AOL. You should consider downloading a 3rd
party firewall
>product if this is the case.
>
>
>.
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There is a type of spam that has become quite common over the past
few 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. Install and use a decent,
properly configured firewall. (Disabling the messenger service, as
some people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does nothing to
secure your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" these
messages and the problem they represent 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

Additionally:

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm


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


"anton" > wrote in message
...
> Since loading XP I keep getting messeges popping up
> telling me my computer is wide open to the internet. How
> can I stop this if true, and also how do I prevent these
> messages from intuding?

[Robert Moir]

jordan wrote:
> no the firewall is default on so thats not it,
> go to start and click on run
> type services.msc and click ok
> scroll down to messenger
> right click, properties, when it says startup type, click
> disable, then click stop. and click OK, there, you wont
> have them anymore :P

i) uh no. I know what causes the problem and your suggestion masks a
symptom, it doesn't cure the problem

ii) the firewall is not "default on" for an AOL user, which is what anton
appears to be. Actually, I don't use AOL and the last time I set up this
system I had to enable the firewall manually. So it's always worth checking.

--
--
Rob Moir
Microsoft MVP for Windows / Security
www.robertmoir.co.uk

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

FYI, AOL has deliberately made their software incompatible with
WinXP's built-in firewall. AOL's proprietary connection applet is
deliberately designed to preclude the user's setting/adjusting any of
its properties, to include enabling/disabling WinXP's firewall, which
is connection-specific.

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


"Robert Moir" > wrote in message
...
> jordan wrote:
> > no the firewall is default on so thats not it,
> > go to start and click on run
> > type services.msc and click ok
> > scroll down to messenger
> > right click, properties, when it says startup type, click
> > disable, then click stop. and click OK, there, you wont
> > have them anymore :P
>
> i) uh no. I know what causes the problem and your suggestion masks a
> symptom, it doesn't cure the problem
>
> ii) the firewall is not "default on" for an AOL user, which is what
> anton
> appears to be. Actually, I don't use AOL and the last time I set up
> this
> system I had to enable the firewall manually. So it's always worth
> checking.
>
> --
> --
> Rob Moir
> Microsoft MVP for Windows / Security
> www.robertmoir.co.uk
>
>

[Robert Moir]

Bruce Chambers wrote:
> Greetings --
>
> FYI, AOL has deliberately made their software incompatible with
> WinXP's built-in firewall. AOL's proprietary connection applet is
> deliberately designed to preclude the user's setting/adjusting any of
> its properties, to include enabling/disabling WinXP's firewall, which
> is connection-specific.

Well that's "nice" of them. I assumed it was a mistake of some kind, which
you forgive of course because we all make those (for example, right now, I
have a hangover so i clearly made a mistake last night with those drinks).

Another thing to add to my list of reasons why I won't use AOHell or support
their lousy software.