Re: Unwanted popups!

From: Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] (lanwench_at_heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com)
Date: 08/14/03 

Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 10:06:46 -0400

Actually, that isn't necessary, as the true answer is that the OP needs 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. People who advise you merely to disable the
messenger service are misinformed, at best.

For a standalone machine, see www.sygate.com for a free personal firewall.

See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm for more info.

Vince C. wrote:
> You should also disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the network card that
> you use to connect to the Internet (provided you have distinct ones
> for the Internet and the LAN). Just disabling messenger services
> won't prevent you from being vulnerable if you still have NetBIOS
> enabled on the Internet.
>
> Go to Start menu > Parameters > Network connections and remote
> access. Right click on "Local Network connection" and select
> "Properties". Double click "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Click
> "Advanced" button and go to WINS tab. Select "Disable NetBIOS over
> TCP/IP". Close by pressing OK all the way back.
>
> The above procedure applies *only* if you have DSL or a cable modem,
> i.e. if you *don't* connect to the Internet through a modem.
>
> If you dial-up to an Internet Service Provider, the procedure is
> somewhat different. Post back if you are not sure, we'll try to check
> it out.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Vince C.
>
> ------
>
> "W R Ward" <vladmier@earthlink.net> a écrit dans le message de
> news:068901c3159f$87e040b0$a001280a@phx.gbl...
>> I cannot believe that you people inplimented a popup
>> feature that only a third party company can resolve!!
>> Read this as follows:
>> Congratulations, you've been hit by the newest form of
>> unwanted advertising, or spam. This message was sent to
>> your computer through a built in feature that Microsoft
>> included in your copy of Windows 2000, NT, or XP. These
>> types of spam messages are worse than unwanted e-mail since
>> you don't even need to have an e-mail account or web
>> browser. If you are one of the millions of people who get
>> unwanted messages like these everyday, there is hope.
>>
>> What kind of non-sense is this? I hope YOU have a fix for
>> one of your own annoying popup features if, in fact what
>> this commpany says is true!
>> www.stopmessenger.com!!
>> Please look into his!!