Junk ads in Windows XP????

[Jeff7181]

Why do I keep getting these $&*#ing ads popping up when I'm just sitting here, not connected to any messenger services, and not browsing any web pages?

I was playing Counter-Strike, and look at this

 

[sodcha0s]

Go to control panel, administrative tools, component services. Find Messenger and right click, select properties. In the startup type box on the general tab, select disabled. That will keep those messages from popping up.

 

[Jeff7181]

Thank you... that damn thing was pissing me off... kept popping up while I was playing CS and then I'd loose sound until I exited CS and restarted it.

 

[warrenpeace]

Thank you also... just disabled it in W2K as well.

 

[Staver]

Some applications need the Messenger Service enabled. My solution was to disallow 'Generic Host Process for Win32 Services' Internet server rights since it only needs network server rights.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Staver
Some applications need the Messenger Service enabled. My solution was to disallow 'Generic Host Process for Win32 Services' Internet server rights since it only needs network server rights.

Few if any applications need messenger enabled, do you have any examples?

But your solution is good, why are the other posters in this thread directly connected to the internet without a firewall?

Bill

 

[Staver]

The ones on my system that require it are services for my UPS and Printer. When things go wrong they send a network alert message.

I figure some have firewalls but take the built-in wizard advice as gospel.

 

[bsobel]

UPS and Printer. When things go wrong they send a network alert message.

Makes sense, you could disable the service (it won't break the UPS and printer), but your right you wouldn't receive these notifications (good point!)

Bill

 

[Jeff7181]

I'm connected without a firewall because I'm not smart enough to get Counter-Strike to work when behind a firewall =) But when I get a router in the next month or two I'll be learning more about that stuff and everything will be behind the firewall.

 

[EeyoreX]

Just FYI, this is an exploit that some companies (and black hatters) are using to serve ads (potential viruses/attacks/etc) using the messenger service. I think there is a patch for this at the MS site, but I am not sure, as it is also used (as was mentioned) for other legit things like printer notifications etc. It is mainly for use in larger networks (like mine here at work, where our PCs are spread across 7 different facilities) and allow for central administration. I have not recieved any of these messages, and I hope I never do, cuz they can get annoying I imagine... >:-|

\Dan

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: EeyoreX
Just FYI, this is an exploit that some companies (and black hatters) are using to serve ads (potential viruses/attacks/etc) using the messenger service. I think there is a patch for this at the MS site, but I am not sure, as it is also used (as was mentioned) for other legit things like printer notifications etc. It is mainly for use in larger networks (like mine here at work, where our PCs are spread across 7 different facilities) and allow for central administration. I have not recieved any of these messages, and I hope I never do, cuz they can get annoying I imagine... >:-|

\Dan

It's not an exploit. Its not something you'd patch against. It is a sometimes-useful built-in feature of windows. For example, if the power goes out, your UPS can alert you that way. Of course some idiot had it set up last year to tell the whole university's network when his laptop was unplugged

...

start -> run -> net send ipaddy the message
where ipaddy is your friend's IP address. its pretty simple. we use it sometimes if someone isn't signed on to AIM here 😉

 

[Abhoth]

Had a little 'issue' with IE6 & Messenger and the various ways of disabling ... they be disabled now and I use Trillian if need be. Did I also mention that Eudora is quite good and does not bother me or piss me off ..... it just gets my email, like an email client should.... just amazing.

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: Abhoth
Had a little 'issue' with IE6 & Messenger and the various ways of disabling ... they be disabled now and I use Trillian if need be. Did I also mention that Eudora is quite good and does not bother me or piss me off ..... it just gets my email, like an email client should.... just amazing.

While thats all well and good...this wasn't about MSN messegner, it was about the Messenger service included in windows. 🙂

 

[ojai00]

Thanks sodcha0s. I had a friend that was having the same problem and I had no idea what to do. I couldn't see the screen so I was just suggesting things like anti-virus, AdAware, clearing history. This should do the trick 🙂

 

[EeyoreX]

It's not an exploit. Its not something you'd patch against. It is a sometimes-useful built-in feature of windows. For example, if the power goes out, your UPS can alert you that way.

Right, I really meant to say that it was a tool in WIndows and some people exploit it for their own sometimes nefarious uses... Also I thought I read there was a MS patch to close this/turn this feature off?

Of course some idiot had it set up last year to tell the whole university's network when his laptop was unplugged

...

LOL

\Dan