Re: Uninvited Windows Messenger

From: Daniel D. (dhdonovan@hotmail.com)
Date: 11/10/02 

From: "Daniel D." <dhdonovan@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 16:40:06 -0800

Hi;
Based on your description, the pop-ups are probably
coming from "Messenger Service"(NOT Instant Messenger) &
I had the same problem which may be fixed now. Following
this is a reply from MS Support & the second fix
mentioned;"disable this service" shows some promise since
I did it yesterday & haven't got any pop-ups since:time
will tell! For me, turning on the XP firewall(ICF) caused
an Instant Messenger problem which still is my open issue
with MS Support.
Part of the confusion which caused a delay in getting me
key info from MS Support is all the MS crap
with "Messenger" in it's name!
Good Luck!
Dan
---------------------------
>From MS Support...
If you are receiving message dialogs (windows) that
appear on your system with the title "Messenger Service",
and they contain an "OK" button, you should note that
these are not related to .NET Messenger.
 
They are generated by the Messenger Service that's built
into some Windows
operating systems (Windows NT, 2000, and XP). This
service is intended to be
used for network alerts and communications by system
administrators. It is a
tool that can only send messages one-way, unlike the two-
way conversations that .NET Messenger services are
designed to provide.
 
It's possible for unsolicited messages to be sent across
a home or corporate
network, as well as through the Internet, to any system
that has not blocked or disabled this service. Although
you may have received a message through this service, it
does not mean that the person sending has in any way
compromised your system. These messages can be sent
out "blindly", so that any computer that has not blocked
or disabled the service will receive them.
 
You can see how this service works by performing the
following test(which will send one of these messages to
you):
 
1) Click on your "Start" button and select "Run" from the
menu.
2) Enter "cmd" (without quotes) and click on the "OK"
button.
3) In the command window that has opened type "net send
127.0.0.1 This is how it works" (Without quotes) and hit
the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
4) The IP address 127.0.0.1 always represents the local
machine (the one you are working on), so this will cause
a Messenger Service dialog to appear on your screen.
 
If your computer is running Windows XP, you can prevent
these messages from
appearing by turning on the Windows XP built-in firewall:
 
1) Click on your "Start" button and select "Help &
Support" from the menu.
2) Search for "enable firewall" (no quotes).
 
Or, if you wish, you can disable this service:
 
* Windows XP
 
1) Click on your "Start" button and go to the "Control
Panel" menu.
2) If your Control Panel is set to "Category View" click
on the "Performance and Maintenance" link, if it is set
to "Classic View" go to step 3.
3) Click "Administrative Tools".
4) Double-click "Services".
5) Scroll down and highlight "Messenger".
6) Right-click the highlighted line and
choose "Properties".
7) Click the "STOP" button.
8) Select "Disable" in the "Startup type" menu.
9) Click "OK".
 
If you choose to disable this service please be aware of
the following:
 
* You will no longer be able to receive network
notifications. We recommend
you contact your system administrator (if you are on a
network) before changing any settings.
* You may no longer receive error reports relative to
networked printers.
* This may prevent messages from 3rd party software from
being displayed.
* Disabling this service will not affect your .NET
Messenger Instant Messaging service in any way.
 
We hope this information is helpful to you.
Let me know if you have other concerns.
 
Sincerely,
            
Edwin
MSN Messenger Support

 

>-----Original Message-----
>Adam, have you enabled the ICF (Internet Connection
>Firewall) in XP? This will keep some of the stuff out,
>perhaps. Or install another software firewall that can
be
>configured; several people use ZoneAlarm which has a
free
>version. One thing to check is the version of Windows
>Messenger you have on your system. The latest version,
>4.7, has some enhancements that would also help. If you
>don't have 4.7, go to http://messenger.msn.com and
>download Windows Messenger for XP. DO NOT downloade MSN
>Messenger! Hope this helps.
>
>Rick www.EmbraceHisGrace.com
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Thanks, all.
>>
>>Well, if the "experts" say I shouldn't remove it, maybe
>I
>>should leave it in, huh?
>>
>>My question: How do the "Junk" WM people know who i
>am?
>>Is there any way to stop those from coming in? (I get
>>about 1 or 2 a day--not too bad-- but we all know how
>>quickly these things can get out of control... see:
spam
>>mail)
>>
>>I'm assuming, then, that this _isn't_ some awful virus
>or
>>something? It's not uncommon to receive a couple of
>>Windows Instant Message spams?
>>
>>I never had this problem on Windows 98, but I'm
guessing
>>that it's a new "feature" in XP, yes?
>>
>>Thanks so much,
>>Adam
>>
>>
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>You can remove the program, look here:
>>>
>>>http://williammcconnell5.tripod.com/Remove_Windows_Mess
e
>ng
>>er__XP_.html
>>>
>>>
>>>"Adam" <Buckets75@aol.com> wrote in message
>>>news:0cfd01c2859f$14d43120$35ef2ecf@TKMSFTNGXA11...
>>>> Hi there,
>>>>
>>>> I recently began using Windows XP. Whenever I'm
>logged
>>on
>>>> to the internet (through AOL Broadband) I will
>>frequently
>>>> get junk "Instant Messages" through _Windows_
>>Messenger, a
>>>> product that I've never used, and one that I most
>>>> definitely have turned OFF. I know the program no
>>longer
>>>> starts at startup (i turned that feature off), but
>even
>>>> when I'm not using the program, I'll still get junk
>>>> messages.
>>>>
>>>> a) How is this possible, but (more importantly)
>>>> b) How can I make it stop, and
>>>> c) Is this dangerous??
>>>>
>>>> Thanks very much.
>>>>
>>>> Adam
>>>
>>>
>>>.
>>>
>>.
>>
>.
>