Re: on-line Messenger Service exploitation in Windows XP

From: Michel Gallant (MVP) (neutron@istar.ca)
Date: 12/13/02 

Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 14:08:49 -0500
From: "Michel Gallant (MVP)" <neutron@istar.ca>

Mike wrote:

> >-----Original Message-----
> >
> >"Robert Moir" <robert.moir@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> >news:eAqbSvhoCHA.1592@TK2MSFTNGP11...
> >
> >Don't tell
> >me you didn't know you were supposed to be running
> antivirus, CNN and NBC do
> >news stories about viruses at least every other month.
> >
>
> As the original poster of this thread, I have a few more
> thoughts having read all of your responses.
>

 -- snip

>
>
> And I totally think that disabling Messenger Service by
> default makes sense. Let the knowledeable IT
> Professionals enable it when they are setting up their
> company intranets. Don't make the average users who have
> no idea what it is try to figure out how to disable it at
> home where it isn't needed anyway.
>
> -MIKE-

You would be surprised at the number of "knowledgeable IT Professionals" that
don't know that Messenger Service is enabled by default on
NT4, 2000 (and XP I think). I remember suggesting that our large
enterprise SHOULD leave that service enabled so that, in the event of
mail-server subversion/DOS, then there would be a channel to notify
our win32 desktops about a major network issue :-)

 - Michel Gallant
   MVP Security
   JavaScience Consulting
   http://pages.istar.ca/~neutron

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "pop ups" even when i am offline?
    ... A firewall will do it also, ... Simply disabling Messenger Service fixes the symptom but leaves the ... "Ricardo" wrote in message ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Popups
    ... A quick look at all 3 showed no security issue with Messenger Service ... Since Disabling Messenger Service without a firewall is no fix at all. ... The necessary firewall effectively bars that door and all the others, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Possible Virus? Error Messagge "Error in Windows Registry..."
    ... > [[If advertisements are opening on your computer in a window titled ... > Messenger Service, it may indicate that your system is not secure. ... > administrators to notify Windows users about their networks. ... > Disabling Messenger Service in Windows XP ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Pop up from Messenger Service
    ... Many home users and small businesses use Messenger Service. ... Furthermore you can disable Messenger Service if it is not needed. ... firewall and that you've followed the steps to Protect Your PC. ... Disabling Messenger Service as the fix is really no fix at all. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)