Re: Adcaster - argh
From: N. Miller (nsm_at_blackhole.aosake.net)
Date: 03/28/04
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Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 23:30:54 -0800
In article <14e1401c41489$11f2dae0$a101280a@phx.gbl>,
anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com says...
> Does anyone know how to block Adcaster? Apparently it's
> a program that spammers can purchase that sends pop-up
> ads via Windows Messenger to known IP addresses. (I'm no
> expert, this is just how I'm understanding it...could be
> inaccurate.)
I don't have a definitive list of the names, but there are three types of
messenger. MSN Messenger is an add-on instant messaging client which runs
under all 32-bit versions of Windows, at least from Win98 on. Then there is
the Windows Messenger IM client which comes with Windows XP; similar to the
MSN Messenger, and using the same IM servers. Last there is the Windows
Messenger Service, which listens on port 135, and sometimes the lower
ephemeral ports, starting at 1024 up to about 1030; I think.
It sounds at first like the last one; Windows Messenger Service.
> For some reason, it only affects me when I've dialed in
> through AOL and have their software running. My other
> non-AOL dialup and IE don't seem to open it up to
> problems for some reason.
It very well could be that your non-AOL ISP is blocking external access to
port 135 at their border routers. AOL probably doesn't block inbound on that
port.
> I've searched for months trying to find the answer to
> blocking it, and come up empty. But this article states
> that it's a simple fix (would have been nicer if they'd
> stated what the fix was!):
Google on "Windows Messenger Service"; in just a couple of milliseconds you
will find more information than you thought possible.
> "One of Rines' latest ventures is Adcaster Extreme, a
> software program that broadcasts pop-up ads to Windows
> computers running the Messenger service. He claims the
> technology isn't like e-mail spamming, because PC users
> can turn off a feature in Windows to block the pop-ups."
> http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,60714,00.html
Spammers are sociopaths, who tell themselves all kinds of lies to justify
their activities. Unfortunately, the Internet is one place where government
authority does not seem able to rein in sociopathic behavior. Because most
of the Internet is about information, an not actual physical assault,
freedom of speech tends to trump restraint. I don't know, yet, whether that
is a good thing, or a bad thing. But you need to know more about the
technology that most people wish to learn, if you want to stay ahead of the
21st century's counterparts to the 19th century's snake oil peddlers.
> Any help would be very much appreciated.
Here is the result of the above mentioned Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+messenger+service
Ignore the MSN Messenger Version 6.1 links, they are for the IM service.
If you are running a personal firewall, you could block inbound packets on
port 135. Or just follow the directions to disable it. If you were not on a
dial-up service, a hardware router would automatically block unrequested
packets. There are only a couple of such devices that work with dial-up
modems at a reasonable price, last time I checked. Without a router between
your computer and the Internet, turning off the service is you only real
hope.
-- Norman ~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta ~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain ~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint
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