can't get rid of unsolicited pop up messages

[ambeard]

Hello -

For a while now, I have been getting these INCREDIBLY
annoying pop-up messages on my computer -- whether I'm on
the internet or not. Some of them try to get me to
purchase software to get rid of the very annoying messages
that they send to me (www.fightmessenger.com. Obviously,
it's a scam -- they attach themselves to my machine and
expect me to pay them to go away. I have no idea where the
origin of these annoying ads sits on my computer. And,I
have no idea how to get rid of it. Can anyone help?
PLEASE, please help. These ads are driving me insane!
Argh! any help would be much appreciated....

ambeard

[Jupiter Jones]

No need to pay for the fix.
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.


"ambeard" > wrote in message
...
> Hello -
>
> For a while now, I have been getting these INCREDIBLY
> annoying pop-up messages on my computer -- whether I'm on
> the internet or not. Some of them try to get me to
> purchase software to get rid of the very annoying messages
> that they send to me (www.fightmessenger.com. Obviously,
> it's a scam -- they attach themselves to my machine and
> expect me to pay them to go away. I have no idea where the
> origin of these annoying ads sits on my computer. And,I
> have no idea how to get rid of it. Can anyone help?
> PLEASE, please help. These ads are driving me insane!
> Argh! any help would be much appreciated....
>
> ambeard

[Kevin K]

In addition to the links Jupiter Jones has already posted, you may also want
to look at these webpages.

A simple way to block most internet ads is to use a hosts file. Go to:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

For more information about firewalls and
spyware, go to:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/security.htm

--
Kevin
Please reply to newsgroup so that all may benefit


"ambeard" > wrote in message
...
> Hello -
>
> For a while now, I have been getting these INCREDIBLY
> annoying pop-up messages on my computer -- whether I'm on
> the internet or not. Some of them try to get me to
> purchase software to get rid of the very annoying messages
> that they send to me (www.fightmessenger.com. Obviously,
> it's a scam -- they attach themselves to my machine and
> expect me to pay them to go away. I have no idea where the
> origin of these annoying ads sits on my computer. And,I
> have no idea how to get rid of it. Can anyone help?
> PLEASE, please help. These ads are driving me insane!
> Argh! any help would be much appreciated....
>
> ambeard