Re: application popup
From: Anthony (hzarim_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 08/26/03
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Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 04:40:31 -0700
Thanks... I am using winproxy firewall and i've upped the
level of security one notch. I can no longer get into msn
messenger, but I guess I can live with that.
I will see today if the anonymous messages stop.
>-----Original Message-----
>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/communi
cate/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.
>
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