messenger service spam -- though net client disabled?

From: Sinuously (sinuously@yahoo.com)
Date: 10/10/02 

From: sinuously@yahoo.com (Sinuously)
Date: 9 Oct 2002 16:49:47 -0700

I run Windows 2000 Professional. I just got some advertising spam
through the "messenger service" popup, and though I do believe that I
can stop this sort of thing by disabling messenger service via the
services menu, I am concerned -- because the spam was received even
though "client for microsoft networking" is disabled on my outward
facing network adapter.

1.) Previously, I had thought (perhaps incorrectly) that disabling
microsoft networking would prevent such intrusions. A lot of posted
advice regarding this sort of spam mentions disabling networking as a
possible precaution -- but if so, how could I possibly get this spam?
Is messenger service listening on the port directly?

2.) Also, I have disabled, but not completely removed the client for
microsoft networking component, and the same for the file sharing
component. This is because I have an inward facing network adapter
for file sharing on my internal network. But as I said before, both
file sharing and net client ARE DISABLED on the outward facing
adapter. Polyana says that receiving information in the form of spam
does not necessarily imply that sensitive information will flow out by
the same route. So how seriously should I worry about my system being
exposed to intruders vis-a-vis the client for networking, or the file
sharing component, when they are in fact disabled?

Thanks, from ME -- please e-mail a reply as well as posting (please)

Relevant Pages

  • Re: messenger service spam -- though net client disabled?
    ... I just got some advertising spam ... > through the "messenger service" popup, and though I do believe that I ... I had thought that disabling ... > microsoft networking would prevent such intrusions. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.security)
  • Re: messenger service spam -- though net client disabled?
    ... > through the "messenger service" popup, ... > can stop this sort of thing by disabling messenger service via ... I am concerned -- because the spam was received ... > microsoft networking would prevent such intrusions. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.security)
  • Re: Messenger Service spam problems again
    ... After disabling the ... windows firewall I am getting the classic spam through windows ... What can be causing the spam from the messenger service ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Q. Some Internet bug stopped by diabling the Messenger Service
    ... >> generated from the Windows environment. ... They are spam, like most everything else on the web. ... >(Merely disabling the messenger service, as some people recommend, only ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.new_user)
  • Re: Administrator account hijacked?
    ... Disabling NDR on Exchange 2003 ... Non-delivery reports have a very legitimate purpose and are used to notify senders of any errors that may have been encountered during message delivery. ... Most anti-spam software does not attempt to filter non-delivery reports for spam content. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)