Re: messenger service

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_nospamcableone.net)
Date: 02/14/04


Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 14:54:43 -0700

Greetings --

    Please stop deliberately posting potentially harmful advice.

    Disabling the messenger service, as Gibson's utility does and as
that particular Microsoft link advises, is a "head in the sand"
approach to computer security that leaves the PC vulnerable to threats
such as the W32.Blaster.Worm.

    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're only
advice, however well-intended, was to turn off the warnings. How is
this helpful?

    Equivalent Scenario: 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 you are, replies, "Well,
don't do that."

    The only true way to secure the PC, short of disconnecting it from
the Internet, is to install and *properly* configure a firewall; just
installing one and letting it's default settings handle things is no
good. Unfortunately, this does require one to learn a little bit more
about using a computer than used to be necessary.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
You can have peace.  Or you can have freedom.  Don't ever count on 
having both at once. -- RAH
"JWooden271" <wooden_tSPAMBOUNCE@bellsouth.net> wrote in message 
news:d2vXb.68302$uS3.21893@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> You can use a program called "Shoot the Messenger" to diable this 
> annoying Windows feature.
> http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23016,00.asp
>
> You can also do this manually, if you wish:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp
>
> freddy wrote:
>> messages called messenger service keep poping on my screen whenever 
>> i connect to the internet ,im getting at least 1 of these messages 
>> every 30 second so i can`t do my work ,and i dont know how i can 
>> stop that
> 


Relevant Pages

  • Re: Pop Ups
    ... but please don't post potentially harmful advice. ... "head in the sand" approach to computer security that leaves the PC ... >> I keep getting automated pop ups very often from messenger service ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Spywaer Popup, Messenger Service
    ... dangerous "head in the sand" approach to computer security that leaves ... The doctor, being as helpful as you've been, replies, ... is to install and *properly* configure a firewall; ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Windows System Error: Spyware Detected
    ... but please don't post potentially harmful advice. ... "head in the sand" approach to computer security that leaves the PC ... > just stop messenger service within services, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Spyware - messenger service popup
    ... but please don't post potentially harmful advice. ... than a "head in the sand" approach to computer security that leaves ... excruciating pain whenever you try to reach over your head, ... > the services applet and stopping the messenger service. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • Re: Popups on Desktop
    ... > three varieties of pop-ups, ... Install and use a decent, ... > (Merely disabling the messenger service, as some people recommend, only ... > computer security. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)