Re: "Messenger Service" Pop Up

From: Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] (lanwench_at_heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com)
Date: 08/18/03 

Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 11:01:28 -0400

I agree with you in many ways, but when someone is asking how to stop
messenger spam, and you suggest stopping the service, they won't learn that
a firewall is essential. You aren't answering their question with the best
solution.

Duncan McNutt wrote:
> No but its not a criticl service. I say just disable it anyway unless
> you are ABSOLUTELY sure you need it. Run a minimum setup , those
> services you only use now and then like maybe "Print spooler" for
> acrobat or that or "machine debug manager" (thats a nasty buggy one
> to watch for attacking) for Visual studio.
>
> Simplicity is best
>
> --
>
> Duncan McNutt
> Microsoft Product Deactivation Team
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com> wrote in
> message news:OXEPURZZDHA.1492@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> You're absolutely right, but disabling the messenger service isn't
>> the solution to this particular problem, and advising people to do
>> so is misleading as it will be a quick fix but leave the underlying
>> security hole wide open.
>>
>> Duncan McNutt wrote:
>>> Ofcourse run a firewall but you dont NEED the messenger service to
>>> live on the desktop.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Duncan McNutt
>>> Microsoft Product Deactivation Team
>>>
>>> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
>>> <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com> wrote in
>>> message news:uFWrBDZZDHA.1492@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>>> That isn't the point - you can disable the messenger service if you
>>>> like, but you ALSO need a firewall - otherwise you've just
>>>> bandaided the
>>> problem -
>>>> taken the batteries out of the smoke detector, as it were...
>>>> especially right now, having no firewall is asking for trouble.
>>>>
>>>> You need a firewall. 'Messenger spam', is not in itself harmful,
>>>> but is symptomatic of a larger problem - your computer has ports
>>>> open from the Internet.
>>>>
>>>> You can disable the Messenger service, but that is unwise as a
>>>> solution as you'll still have the underlying problem that caused
>>>> you to get the messages in the first place - consider the messages
>>>> a useful warning that you have no protection from the Internet. You
>>>> need a firewall. 'Messenger spam', is not in itself harmful, but is
>>>> symptomatic of a larger problem - your computer has ports open from
>>>> the Internet.
>>>>
>>>> For a standalone machine, see www.sygate.com for a free personal
>>>> firewall, or if using Windows XP, you can enable the built-in
>>>> internet connection firewall (ICF).
>>>>
>>>> See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm for more info.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Duncan McNutt wrote:
>>>>> If an admin wants to talk to me, walk over and talk to me, email
>>>>> me, phone me, IM me. Not pop up message boxes.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> Duncan McNutt
>>>>> Microsoft Product Deactivation Team
>>>>>
>>>>> "Duncan McNutt" <mutmaster@127.0.0.22> wrote in message
>>>>> news:erTUMiYZDHA.736@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> IF an application wants to communicate with me, use a dialogbox
>>>>>> or event log.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Duncan McNutt
>>>>>> Microsoft Product Deactivation Team
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "|{evin" <You@dont.need> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:mbj1kv4l2dl337c0looj5j46l3bpgopj3e@4ax.com...
>>>>>>> On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 13:22:46 +0200, "Duncan McNutt"
>>>>>>> <mutmaster@127.0.0.22> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> start->run..
>>>>>>>> services.msc [ENTER]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Find "Messenger" service,
>>>>>>>> right click
>>>>>>>> select properties
>>>>>>>> select STOP
>>>>>>>> Set startup to "DISABLED"
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Duncan McNutt
>>>>>>>> Microsoft Product Deactivation Team
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Which accomplish the same thing as closing your eyes, plugging
>>>>>>> your ears and going 'na na na I can't hear you'.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Get a firewall.