Firewall Problem

[James F. Newman]

I have XP Pro running at home for about a year now but
this is the first time this has happened. I use a cable
modem to connect to the internet for the last week or so
I've been getting these spam messages by IP address using
msmsgs UDP. I've open the advance setting and removed
those services from running on my computer I save the
changes close out then open up the settings again and
it's back with 3 or 4 more services. If I don't check
often there is about 30 different msmsgs services added
so that internet users can access. Do I need a third
party firewall, if so which is the best that will work
with XP Pro with no problems.

Thanks in advance,

James Newman

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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

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"James F. Newman" > wrote in message
...
> I have XP Pro running at home for about a year now but
> this is the first time this has happened. I use a cable
> modem to connect to the internet for the last week or so
> I've been getting these spam messages by IP address using
> msmsgs UDP. I've open the advance setting and removed
> those services from running on my computer I save the
> changes close out then open up the settings again and
> it's back with 3 or 4 more services. If I don't check
> often there is about 30 different msmsgs services added
> so that internet users can access. Do I need a third
> party firewall, if so which is the best that will work
> with XP Pro with no problems.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> James Newman
>

[97rr]

It's not a virus or trojan. It happens when you use Remote Assistance
via MSN messenger. I had this happen on my home machine and after some
research and experimentation I noticed the ICF entries were being
created on the client machine and not the host machine. Try it; have a
friend ask you for "Remote Assistance" via MSN messenger (you will be
the client and your friend the host), then "Take Control" of his or
her machine and you will notice the entries will be created on your
ICF settings.


"James F. Newman" > wrote in message >...
> I have XP Pro running at home for about a year now but
> this is the first time this has happened. I use a cable
> modem to connect to the internet for the last week or so
> I've been getting these spam messages by IP address using
> msmsgs UDP. I've open the advance setting and removed
> those services from running on my computer I save the
> changes close out then open up the settings again and
> it's back with 3 or 4 more services. If I don't check
> often there is about 30 different msmsgs services added
> so that internet users can access. Do I need a third
> party firewall, if so which is the best that will work
> with XP Pro with no problems.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> James Newman