Re: application popup

From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_nospam.cableone.net)
Date: 08/26/03 

Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 22:17:58 -0600

Greetings --

    This particular "sales method" is strikingly similar to the
"protection" rackets offered to small businesses by organized
criminals. Yes, it's a scam; no reputable business would need to
resort to extortion. Particularly since they're trying to sell you a
type of protection that is already available to you free of charge.

    This type of spam has become quite common over the past few
months, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
you may well be open to other threats. Install and use a decent,
properly configured firewall. (Disabling the messenger service, as
some people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does nothing to
secure your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" these
messages and the problem they represent is particularly foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

    Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service is a "head in the sand" approach to computer security.

    The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups; they're
actually providing a useful service by acting as a security alert. The
true problem is the unsecured computer, and you've been
advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this helpful?

    Equivalent Scenario 1: Somewhere in a house, a small fire starts,
and sets off the smoke alarm. You, not immediately seeing any
fire/smoke, complain about the noise of the smoke detector, and are
advised to remove the smoke detector's battery and go back to sleep.

    Equivalent Scenario 2: You over-exert your shoulder at work or
play, causing bursitis. After weeks of annoying and sometimes
excruciating pain whenever you try to reach over your head, you go to
a doctor and say, while demonstrating the motion, "Doc, it hurts when
I do this." The doctor, being as helpful as some of your respondents,
replies, "Well, don't do that."

    I'm beginning to think that the people deliberately posting such
bad advice are hacker-wannabes who have no true interest in helping
you secure your system, but would rather give you a false sense of
security while ensuring that your computer is still open to
exploitation.

Bruce Chambers 

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"Anthony" <hzarim@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:07b301c36b81$a5b2d660$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> Hello
>
> I have been recieving these application popups that say
> things like:
>
> Application popup: Messenger Service  : Message from
> Warning to You on 8/25/2003 11:06:41 PM
>
> ~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~- How To Disable These Popups -~-~-~-~-~-
> ~~-~-
>
> A new wave in Internet advertising is coming. Its called
> the Messenger
> service and its built directly into your Windows operating
> system.
> It is only a matter of time before the email spammers that
> fill your inbox
> learn about this and flood you with porn and pyramid scam
> popups that
> monopolize your screen. Fix this today!
>
> VISIT : www.MessageStop.net
>
> and also
>
>
> Application popup: Messenger Service  : Message from
> Tiffany-19 to You on 8/25/2003 9:41:27 PM
>
>
>
> Hey there, I'd just thought I would let you know that
> there is a very
> fascinating web site showing me and my friends that I
> think you may
> find interesting.  Why not Check out
> www.teenssexfactory.com
>
>                    Hope to see you there soon :)
>
>                     www.TeensSexfactory.com
>
>
> What do I do to stop them?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Popup Windows Wont Stop
    ... If I click on the popups they always go to different websites where they're trying to sell me some software to get rid of the popups. ... properly configured firewall. ... And ignoring or just "putting up with" the security gap represented by these messages is particularly foolish. ... Messenger Service of Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: windows xp
    ... and Sasser Worms that still haunt the Internet. ... ignoring or just "putting up with" the security gap represented by ... Messenger Service of Windows ... My problem is POPUPS. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Windows XP home sp2 wireless network
    ... Also I have recently been having a big problem with pop-ups. ... Messenger Service pop-up can't contain a clickable link. ... unintentionally serves as a valid security alert. ... haven't been taking sufficient precautions while connected to the Internet. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Message from Security to Alert
    ... Message from Security to Alert ... They're trying to sell you patches that Microsoft provides free-of-charge, or a useless "product" that will install adware/spyware, and using a very intrusive means of advertising. ... It demonstrates that the computer user hasn't been taking sufficient precautions while connected to the Internet. ... Messenger Service of Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: is it a virus? how to remove it?
    ... three varieties of pop-ups, ... This type of spam has become quite common over the past few years, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." ... It demonstrates that the computer user hasn't been taking sufficient precautions while connected to the Internet. ... Messenger Service of Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)