pop-up Messages

[Morry Stillwell]

Recently I have been recieving pop-up messages warning
that someone could be working into my computer. The
messages state that the message is coming by way of
Microsoft instant messages. I have popup blocker but the
program does not stop this crap.

What can be done to block MS instant messages and the
messages I have described above. I am not a computer whiz
so make the fix simple if possible.

Thanks

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"

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

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

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

For Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts Popup-killer
from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm or Pop-Up Stopper from
http://www.panicware.com/. Myself, I use Norton Internet Security,
which, in addition to containing Norton Anti-Virus and Personal
Firewall, also blocks most of the pop-up adds on the Internet.


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


"Morry Stillwell" > wrote in message
...
> Recently I have been recieving pop-up messages warning
> that someone could be working into my computer. The
> messages state that the message is coming by way of
> Microsoft instant messages. I have popup blocker but the
> program does not stop this crap.
>
> What can be done to block MS instant messages and the
> messages I have described above. I am not a computer whiz
> so make the fix simple if possible.
>
> Thanks
>

[Akito]

Zone alarm is a great firewall app, check out:
http://www.zonelabs.com

Get their free version.

Aki
>-----Original Message-----
>Greetings --
>
> Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger
Service?"
>
> 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
>
>Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communi
cate/stopspam.asp
>
>Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
>http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
>
> For Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
Popup-killer
>from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm or Pop-Up
Stopper from
>http://www.panicware.com/. Myself, I use Norton Internet
Security,
>which, in addition to containing Norton Anti-Virus and
Personal
>Firewall, also blocks most of the pop-up adds on the
Internet.
>
>
>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
>
>
>"Morry Stillwell" > wrote in message
...
>> Recently I have been recieving pop-up messages warning
>> that someone could be working into my computer. The
>> messages state that the message is coming by way of
>> Microsoft instant messages. I have popup blocker but
the
>> program does not stop this crap.
>>
>> What can be done to block MS instant messages and the
>> messages I have described above. I am not a computer
whiz
>> so make the fix simple if possible.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
>
>.
>