Windows Messenger Service

[Nikki]

Help,
I have never used windows Messenger service and I have no clue what it is? Every time I turn on my computer to sign on windows messenger comes us in the task bar but I exit out of it.
Lately I've been getting messages from other people? A big grey box comes up. One was about earning money by spamming, the other one I forgot. I just click out of them when they pop up. I did a screen capture of one of them. How do I get rid of windows messenger and who are these people sending these messages?
Thanks in advance
Nikki

[human_robot123]

windows messenger or msn messenger works only when you are online, >> you are logged on using a passport.
windows messenger is service which enables you to connect to your friends, chat the them, know when you have received an email and when your friends are on or off, you can use it too for net meeting and...
the email messages aree sent to your email address which is held in the hotmail server(or whatever) and are not delivered o your computer directly.
you need to know how did you get this spam??? it might be a pop up from an internet explorer window or a rogram you have installed without knowing its harm????(there are many moving around lately....)

[Nikki]

Hmmm...well I never use hotmail, etc, just aol. I connect by cable.
I have ad aware, doesn't that help? How do I protect my computer from future spam like this?

[human_robot123]

The only way i know where span can be permanent on your computer is when you've installed an add-in or a program. (these last when you restart the computer)
just don't click "yes" on unknown program installation alerts when they appear on the screen. these programs usualy appear when you are surfing junk websites. to uninstall some you may have, go to control panel>add/remove programs and check for them.

[Disk_Contented]

in Messenger... Tools/options/preferences... untick "run this program when windows starts" And as you dont use it at all... Untick "allow this program to run in the background"

[Nikki]

Thank you so much, we'll see what happens.

[The Tool]

1. Windows Messenger is like AOL Messenger.

2. This new form of spam is called messenger spam. Messenger (not to be confused with MSN messenger) is a service that is loaded by default upon the startup of Windows XP/2000/NT. Microsoft has used the messenger service for a number of years to send messages between its servers and clients. Here is Microsoft's official description of the messenger service:

Messenger Service:
Transmits "net send" and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This service is not related to Windows Messenger. If this service is stopped, Alerter messages will not be transmitted. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Stop the spam
Fortunately there is an easy way to protect yourself; you must turn off the messenger service from within XP/2K/NT. Remember, if you are behind a firewall/corporate network you are most likely safe (as long as port 139 is blocked). Always check with your system administrator before making any changes to your services.

To turn off the messenger service in XP:
Click on the Start button and open the control panel.
Open the Performance and Maintenance control panel and go to Administrative Tools.
Now double-click on Services, then scroll to Messenger.
Double-click Messenger and click Stop to stop the service.
Change the startup type to Disable

[Nikki]

Oh My You guys are good! Thank you so much!!!!