unwanted pop-ups

[Dwight Crim]

My new computer with Windows xp home, receives pop-ups
many times daily with frightening messages: typical message
INTERNET CONNECTION OPEN TO ATTACKERS. DESTROY POPUPS.
KEEP HACKERS AND VIRUSES OUT. The pop-up says call this
www number and have no more trouble.
There are several www numbers used. one is:
www.destroyads.com. And there are several other addresses,
but it seems they all come from same place.
What should I do to rid my new computer of this pest?
Thank you.
Dwight

[Jupiter Jones]

Dwight;
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/

--
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.


"Dwight Crim" > wrote in message
...
> My new computer with Windows xp home, receives pop-ups
> many times daily with frightening messages: typical message
> INTERNET CONNECTION OPEN TO ATTACKERS. DESTROY POPUPS.
> KEEP HACKERS AND VIRUSES OUT. The pop-up says call this
> www number and have no more trouble.
> There are several www numbers used. one is:
> www.destroyads.com. And there are several other addresses,
> but it seems they all come from same place.
> What should I do to rid my new computer of this pest?
> Thank you.
> Dwight