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Possible Virus??



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 18th 04, 08:43 PM
Kim
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Default Possible Virus??

I have recently obtained a laptop which is Windows XP. It seems to work fine except that I keep getting these grey boxes pop up from "messenger service" from all different people inviting me onto their web sites, I do not know how to get rid of these. Has
anyone had a similar thing? can anyone help me by suggesting how to get rid of them?


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  #2  
Old June 18th 04, 08:43 PM
Wesley Vogel
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Default Possible Virus??

Turn on a firewall!

HOW TO: Enable or Disable Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;283673

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In ,
Kim hunted and pecked:
I have recently obtained a laptop which is Windows XP. It seems to
work fine except that I keep getting these grey boxes pop up from
"messenger service" from all different people inviting me onto their
web sites, I do not know how to get rid of these. Has anyone had a
similar thing? can anyone help me by suggesting how to get rid of
them?

  #3  
Old June 18th 04, 08:43 PM
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
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Posts: n/a
Default Possible Virus??

Kim;
You need to enable the firewall:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283673

Also see this link to help properly protect your computer:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/security.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"Kim" wrote in message
...
I have recently obtained a laptop which is Windows XP. It seems to

work fine except that I keep getting these grey boxes pop up from
"messenger service" from all different people inviting me onto their
web sites, I do not know how to get rid of these. Has anyone had a
similar thing? can anyone help me by suggesting how to get rid of
them?


  #4  
Old June 19th 04, 04:42 AM
Bruce Chambers
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Posts: n/a
Default Possible Virus??

Greetings --

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

This type of spam has become quite common over the past year or
so, 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 most definitely open to other threats, such as the Blaster,
Welchia, and Sasser Worms that still haunt the Internet. Install and
use a decent, properly configured firewall. (Merely disabling the
messenger service, as some people recommend, only hides the symptom,
and does little or nothing to truly secure your machine.) And
ignoring or just "putting up with" the security gap represented by
these messages is particularly foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;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/p...e/stopspam.asp

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

If you're using AOL, you'll either need to find a 3rd party
firewall that is compatible with AOL, or switch to a real ISP that is
compatible with the real Internet. This is because AOL is an on-line
content provider that ignores international Internetworking standards
in favor of its own proprietary products, and has deliberately made
its connection software incompatible with both WinXP's built-in
firewall and WinXP's Internet Connection Sharing feature. AOL's
proprietary connection applet is deliberately designed to preclude
your setting/adjusting any of its properties, to include
enabling/disabling WinXP's ICF and ICS.

Whichever firewall you decide upon, be sure to ensure UDP ports
135, 137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445 are _all_ blocked.
You may also disable Inbound NetBIOS (NetBIOS over TCP/IP). You'll
have to follow the instructions from firewall's manufacturer for the
specific steps.

You can test your firewall at:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/vr_...BYNCJEIMXQKCDT

Security Scan - Sygate Online Services
http://www.sygatetech.com/

Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
security. The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups;
they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
helpful?


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


"Kim" wrote in message
...
I have recently obtained a laptop which is Windows XP. It seems to

work fine except that I keep getting these grey boxes pop up from
"messenger service" from all different people inviting me onto their
web sites, I do not know how to get rid of these. Has anyone had a
similar thing? can anyone help me by suggesting how to get rid of
them?




 




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