re: huge pop up ads
Saturday, June 7, 2003 at 12:56 pm
Windows XP Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Kevin P. Murphy
(1 messages posted)
Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement Appears
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft MSN Messenger 4.5
Microsoft MSN Messenger 4.6
Microsoft MSN Messenger 5.0
Microsoft Windows Messenger 4.0
Microsoft Windows Messenger 4.5
Microsoft Windows Messenger 4.6
Microsoft Windows Messenger 4.7
This article was previously published under Q330904
SYMPTOMS
A Messenger service window that contains an Internet advertisement appears. The text
in the advertisement is similar to the following text:
Messenger Service
Message from source to your_computer_name.ISP_name on date time
Message Text
These messages are also called "messenger spam."
CAUSE
This issue occurs if you are sent anet send message by someone who is using the Messenger
service in Windows. The Messenger service is a Windows service that transmits net
send messages and messages that are sent through the Alerter service between client
computers and servers. For example, the Messenger service can be used by network
administrators to send administrative alerts to network users. The Messenger service
can also be used by Windows and other software programs. For example, Windows may
use it to inform you when a print job is completed or when you lose power to your
computer and switch to a uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Your antivirus program
may use the Messenger service to send you notifications. The Messenger service is
not related to your Web browser, e-mail program, Windows Messenger, or MSN Messenger.
This issue may occur if the following conditions exist:
The Messenger service is started.
The Remote Procedure Call service is started.
Inbound NetBIOS (NetBIOS over TCP/IP) and UDP broadcast traffic is turned on for
your Internet connection.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, install or turn on a firewall that blocks inbound NetBIOS
and UDP broadcast traffic. The method that you use to resolve this issue depends
on your operating system and how you connect to the Internet. The following sections
provide examples of several different configurations and possible methods of resolution.
You Connect to the Internet Directly
If you use a single computer that is connected to the Internet directly (by using
a cable modem, a DSL modem, or a dial-up modem, for example), install a firewall
and block inbound NetBIOS and UDPbroadcast traffic on your computer.
You Are Running Windows XP
If you are running Windows XP and connect to the Internet directly (by using a cable
modem, a DSL modem, or a dial-up modem, for example), install Windows XP Service
Pack 1 (SP1) and turn on Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). By default, the installation
of Windows XP SP1 allows Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) to block all incoming
traffic (unicast, multicast, and broadcast). For additional information about this
change in ICF blocking behavior in Windows XP SP1, click the following article number
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
329928 ICF Now Blocks Unsolicited Inbound Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast Traffic
For additional information about how to obtain Windows XP SP1, click the following
article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack
For additional information about how to turn on ICF, click the following article
number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
283673 HOW TO: Enable or Disable Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
You Are Running Windows 2000
If you are running Windows 2000 and connect to the Internet directly (by using a
cable modem, a DSL modem, or a dial-up modem, for example), obtain and install a
third-party firewall product that blocks inbound NetBIOS and UDP broadcast traffic.
For additional information about firewalls, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/firewall.asp
You Connect to the Internet Through a Small Network That You Manage
If your network uses connection sharing to provide Internet access to multiple computers,
install or enable the firewall only on the shared Internet connection.
You Are Running Windows XP with ICS
If you use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in Windows XP to provide Internet access
to multiple computers, install Windows XP SP1 on the ICS host computer and turn on
ICF only on the ICS host computer.
You Are Running Windows with a Hardware Internet Connection Sharing Device
If you use a router or other hardware device to provide Internet access to multiple
computers, configure the connection sharing device to block inbound NetBIOS and UDP
broadcast traffic. Contact the manufacturer of your third-party connection sharing
device for more information.
You Connect to the Internet Though a Network That You Do Not Manage
If you connect to the Internet by using a corporate network or if your Internet service
provider (ISP) uses a firewall, ask the network administrator to configure the firewall
to block inbound NetBIOS and UDP traffic. Contact your network administrator or ISP
for more information.
WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, turn off the Messenger service. To do so, follow these
steps:
Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control
Panel).
Double-click Administrative Tools.
Double-click Services.
Double-click Messenger.
In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
Click Stop, and then click OK.
Note If the Messenger service is stopped, messages from the Alerter service (notifications
from your antivirus software, for example) are not transmitted. If the Messenger
service is turned off, any services that explicitly depend on the Messenger service
do not start, and an error message is logged in the System event log. For this reason,
Microsoft recommends that you install a firewall and configure it to block NetBIOS
and RPC traffic instead of turning off the Messenger service.
MORE INFORMATION
The Messenger service uses UDP ports 135, 137, and 138; TCP ports 135, 139, and 445;
and an ephemeral (that is, short-lived) port number greater than 1024.
In addition to preventing net send messages, a firewall can also protect your computer
from other malicious attacks over the Internet. These attacks can be designed to
perform the following tasks:
Access your private information
Distribute software illegally by appropriating space on your hard disk
For additional information about this issue, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/using/howto/communicate/version45/stopspam.asp
Source: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330904
- Written in response to:
- huge pop up ads (joemardo1: Thursday, April 10, 2003 at 7:08 pm)
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