Windows Messenger

[Shirley]

Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
appearing in front of your face?

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

I don't get any alerts, other than those I want. What are you
seeing/hearing?

"Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
> from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
> online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
> appearing in front of your face?

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Are you confusing Windows Messenger (an instant messaging
application) with the messenger Service? 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.)

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


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


"Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
> from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
> online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
> appearing in front of your face?

[Angie Stone]

Really? I'm having the same problem, and it started
right after a reformat and fresh Windows XP install and
before I even began surfing. The only surfing I've done
since is for download updates for software reinstalls and
on the MS website to try to find a solution to this
problem. I've enabled my firewall, and there are fewer
popups now, but they're still happening. Often right in
the middle of my hubby's Links 2003 golf game, causing
the game to minimize (much to his dismay). So back to
Shirley's original question, how can one disable
Messenger Service or whatever it is that's causing these
interruptions?
>-----Original Message-----
>Greetings --
>
> Are you confusing Windows Messenger (an instant
messaging
>application) with the messenger Service? 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.)
>
>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/commun
icate/stopspam.asp
>
>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
>
>
>"Shirley" > wrote in message
...
>> Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
>> from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
>> online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
>> appearing in front of your face?
>
>
>.
>

[Michael]

In Windows Messenger, go to TOOLS, OPTIONS, select PREFERENCES, and uncheck
"run the program when windows starts", and " allow this program to run in
the background".
"Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
> from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
> online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
> appearing in front of your face?

[Paul]

If you use OE, Windows Messenger will still start up even with the preferences
mentioned below.

Paul

"Michael" > wrote in message
...
> In Windows Messenger, go to TOOLS, OPTIONS, select PREFERENCES, and uncheck
> "run the program when windows starts", and " allow this program to run in
> the background".
> "Shirley" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
> > from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
> > online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
> > appearing in front of your face?
>
>

[Lawrence]

Follow the steps in this article to resolve the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330904

Enable the Internet Connection Firewall that's built into Windows XP, and
configure it as described in the article. If you are using a different
firewall, the article addresses what to do in that case, as well.

Good luck,
-Lawrence in Seattle




"Angie Stone" > wrote in message
...
> Really? I'm having the same problem, and it started
> right after a reformat and fresh Windows XP install and
> before I even began surfing. The only surfing I've done
> since is for download updates for software reinstalls and
> on the MS website to try to find a solution to this
> problem. I've enabled my firewall, and there are fewer
> popups now, but they're still happening. Often right in
> the middle of my hubby's Links 2003 golf game, causing
> the game to minimize (much to his dismay). So back to
> Shirley's original question, how can one disable
> Messenger Service or whatever it is that's causing these
> interruptions?
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Greetings --
> >
> > Are you confusing Windows Messenger (an instant
> messaging
> >application) with the messenger Service? 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.)
> >
> >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/commun
> icate/stopspam.asp
> >
> >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
> >
> >
> >"Shirley" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Please, someone, anyone, tell me how to rid my computer
> >> from this most annoying program. How can anyone work
> >> online with those "Windows Messenger" alerts constantly
> >> appearing in front of your face?
> >
> >
> >.
> >