Re: Legitimate System Message or SPAM?

Thank you very much for your helpful responses. I will heed your advise and
look into beefing up my firewall protection. Currently I have firewall
software on my router and I run a current version of Norton on my pc. You are
right - apparently this isn't good enough.

Not sure I understood all of the directions that were generously offered;
but, I printed it off and will slowly step through them. Bruce and Richard
- you are especially generous to have responded with such detailed help.
Thank you.

--
Sandy


"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> ArubaSandy wrote:
> > A couple times a day for the last month or so, the following message pops up
> > on my screen. Is it a legitimate system message which I should heed or is it
> > spam? Thank you for your help; I am just clueless about this stuff.
> >
> > Microsoft Internet Explorer
> > NOTICE: If your computer has errors in the registry database or file
> > system, it could cause unpredictable or erratic behavior, freezes ad
> > crashes. Fixing these errors can increase your computer's performance and
> > prevent data loss.
> >
> > Would you like to install WinFixer 2005 to check your computer for free?
> > (Recommended)
> >
> > OK Cancel
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> It's a scam, plain and simple. It's from a very unscrupulous
> "business." They're trying to sell you patches that Microsoft provides
> free-of-charge, and using a very intrusive means of advertising. It's
> also demonstrating that your PC is very unsecure.
>
> This type of spam has become quite common over the past couple of
> years, 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 most definitely open to other threats, such as the Blaster,
> Welchia, and Sasser Worms that still haunt the Internet. Install and
> use a decent, properly configured firewall. (Merely disabling the
> messenger service, as some people recommend, only hides the symptom,
> and does little or nothing to truly secure your machine.) And
> ignoring or just "putting up with" the security gap represented by
> these messages 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
>
> Whichever firewall you decide upon, be sure to ensure UDP ports 135,
> 137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445 are all blocked. You
> may also disable Inbound NetBIOS over TCP/IP). You'll have
> to follow the instructions from firewall's manufacturer for the
> specific steps.
>
> You can test your firewall at:
>
> Symantec Security Check
> http://security.symantec.com/ssc/vr_main.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=GPVHGBYNCJEIMXQKCDT
>
> Security Scan - Sygate Online Services
> http://www.sygatetech.com/
>
> Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
> more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
> service, by itself, 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, if annoying, 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?
>
>
> --
>
> 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
>
.

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