Windows XP or 2000 users

[StarbucksAddict]

From Kim Komando's newsletter 2/15/03 -

--> CHECK FOR VULNERABILITY TO MESSENGER SERVICE SPAM
Need another aggravation in your life? Consider Messenger Service spam. This is a new route into your computer. Messenger Service (not to be confused with Windows Messenger or any other instant messaging service) is a Windows XP and 2000 utility used by system administrators. If it is left open, spammers can shoot their garbage into your computer.

The best guard against this is a firewall. Two firewalls free for personal use are Outpost Firewall, http://www.agnitum.com , and ZoneAlarm Personal, http://www.zonelabs.com. Just download either one and install it. Or turn off Messenger Service:

-- Click Start>>Control Panel
-- Double click Administrative Tools
-- Double click Services>>Messenger
-- Under Service Status, click Stop
-- Under Startup Type, click Disabled
-- Click Apply>>OK

Messenger Service spam is not a security risk, but it's mighty
aggravating. You can test your system for this vulnerability at this
Web site: http://www.mynetwatchman.com/winpopup.asp

[BobCaT]

Thanks! I just installed XP on my daughter's computer because she had to have Office XP for school this semester. She doesn't need more spam, she has enough stuff popping up as it is with the instant messenger services. LOL

[tinamh72]

thanks i didn't even know that could be a problem :)

[gundie]

Thank you!

[StarbucksAddict]

I love my XP.... I can count the number of times my system has crashed since I got it in October on one hand... Yet I had no idea about this Messenger thing either. I followed the directions in the email, and mine was in fact running/enabled/transmitting (whatever they called it). I'm curious to see if there's any difference now that it's been disabled - if you notice any, please let me know!

Happy to help,
-Star

[magoo]

Thanks Star...wish I would have seen your post before I went searching thru Google looking for my answer. I just switched to Yahoo DSL last weekend and started getting these weird gray pop-up spam-o-ramas on my desktop with the title "Messenger" at the top....looked just like the junk email I get (enlarge your youknowwhat...viagra for cheap, etc). except browsers were closed and they were smack dab in the middle of my XP desktop. I used task manager to find out what program was running when it was on the desktop and then searched google to find out what the heck hijacked my computer. Quite disturbing. I disabled the messenger for now but I'm planning on networking our household computers here next week, so I will probably just get a better firewall to deal with this problem (the article says that disabling the messenger might cause problems on a network).

Here's the article with more information (probably more than anyone ever needs LOL)
http://www.re-quest.net/computers/messenger-spam/

Right now, all programs are running just fine by disabling the messenger.....just no more stinky pop-up ads :D

[tigerlady]

Thank you so much. I have been trying to figure out how to get rid of this for the longest time.

[MrDave]

I actually got some spam that told me how to stop that spam. Very helpful spam - oxymoronic.