pop up nuisance

[jwilson]

I keep getting the following messages like this - also
contact info - like earlier posts

Message from Alert Service to Windows user on (today's
date) Warning: Your computer is at risk. You have just
received a message through an open port in your computer.
This means anyone can send messages like this, or even
use
the open port in their advantage to invade your privacy.
Please vist www.BYEBYEADS.com to secure this port and
never receive messages like this again.

How can I stop this from reoccuring again? Does Microsoft
have a download to prevent this?

Any help would be most welcome.

JW

[Robert Moir]

jwilson wrote:
> I keep getting the following messages like this - also
> contact info - like earlier posts
>
> Message from Alert Service to Windows user on (today's
> date) Warning: Your computer is at risk. You have just
> received a message through an open port in your computer.
> This means anyone can send messages like this, or even
> use
> the open port in their advantage to invade your privacy.
> Please vist www.BYEBYEADS.com to secure this port and
> never receive messages like this again.
>
> How can I stop this from reoccuring again? Does Microsoft
> have a download to prevent this?
>
> Any help would be most welcome.

Microsoft don't have a "download" to prevent this. They have a free utility
that is already on your computer. Turn on the internet connection firewall.

You may also hear suggestions to turn off the "messenger" service. This will
stop the messages but it won't actually make you more secure. The messages
via the messenger service are a symptom of a problem (e.g. running without a
firewall), rather than the problem themselves.

[Jupiter Jones]

JW;
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.
The real problem is open ports that allow unwanted traffic into the
computer.
Disabling Messenger does nothing for the open ports.
The firewall controls the traffic.

This will not work if you have AOL.
AOL 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.
Then under Start-up select DISABLE
Click OK and follow prompts

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/


--
Jupiter Jones
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit.


"jwilson" > wrote in message
...
> I keep getting the following messages like this - also
> contact info - like earlier posts
>
> Message from Alert Service to Windows user on (today's
> date) Warning: Your computer is at risk. You have just
> received a message through an open port in your computer.
> This means anyone can send messages like this, or even
> use
> the open port in their advantage to invade your privacy.
> Please vist www.BYEBYEADS.com to secure this port and
> never receive messages like this again.
>
> How can I stop this from reoccuring again? Does Microsoft
> have a download to prevent this?
>
> Any help would be most welcome.
>
> JW

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

This is "sales method" is strikingly similar to the "protection"
rackets offered to small businesses by organized criminals. No,
they're not "reputable." Particularly since they're trying to sell
you a type of protection that is already available to you free of
charge.

This a type of spam 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


"jwilson" > wrote in message
...
> I keep getting the following messages like this - also
> contact info - like earlier posts
>
> Message from Alert Service to Windows user on (today's
> date) Warning: Your computer is at risk. You have just
> received a message through an open port in your computer.
> This means anyone can send messages like this, or even
> use
> the open port in their advantage to invade your privacy.
> Please vist www.BYEBYEADS.com to secure this port and
> never receive messages like this again.
>
> How can I stop this from reoccuring again? Does Microsoft
> have a download to prevent this?
>
> Any help would be most welcome.
>
> JW