Not sure this is the correct forum!

[Trudye]

I am not sure what forum this falls under or if there is a forum for this issue.

I am getting pop-ups from GEOCITIES a Yahoo product. I have contacted Yahoo via phone and email and they essentially tell me it sounds like a personal problem to them. Although they grudingly admit that GEO is sending the messages.

First of all is anyone else having this problem? Second what can be done?

Thank you,
Trudye

 

[smah]

What is the title bar of the popup? Messenger Service? - or is it an Internet Exporer window?

 

[Trudye]

I'm not sure the next time it comes up I'll take a screen capture.

Thanks for responding
Trudye

 

[Trudye]

The title bar has the words "Message Service" and a close box on it, that's all.

The only other option the User has is to click OK.

Thanks
Trudye

 

[ChrisHirst]

more than likely this is the latest spam trick, it only works on NT, 2k or XP.

in Computer Management|Services locate the Windows Messenger service (not to be confused with MSN Messenger 2 different things) double click to get the Properties, Stop this service and set the startup type to disabled.

BTW The messenger service has no real function if you are not connected to a company LAN\WAN



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

 

[Trudye]

Boy-o-boy I hope I did this right. I found Computer Manager; under Services and Applications I found "Services" with an icon that looks like a (yellow) gear shift. When I double clicked a list of services appeared in the left panel.

One of the entries (and the only one that came close to what you indicated was) "Messenger". I pulled up Properties and in the dialog box on the General tab; in the Description box it had "Sends and receives messages transmitted by administrators or by the Alerter service."

It also had a STOP button which I clicked. The Service Status which had read Start now reads Stop.

If this is not correct I can easily reverse it (I think (smile)). Bu then I am at a loss as where to find "Windows Messenger".

Take Care,
Trudye

 

[ChrisHirst]

that is the correct service (sorry, just me working from memory) you also need to disable the start up, otherwise the next time you reboot it will be put back on.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

 

[Trudye]

Whew!

I disabled msnmsgr, ok?

Thank you so much and POX on Yahoo for sending out unsolicited msgs. They are worse then SPAM and telemarketing put together.

Thanks again have a GREAT weekend.
Trudye

 

[ChrisHirst]

No it's not MSN messenger it is the Windows Messenger. It's a tool correctly used by System Admins for sending messages to network machines, but someone developed a way of using it to send messages to blocks of IPs. now it seems to get used by Spammers, Pr0n merchants and affiliate sites to get your attention. Geocities have their own set of spyware popups etc.




Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

 

[Trudye]

ok let me try this again. i went into MSConfig; Services (tab); and unchecked Messenger.

Disabling msgmsgr won't hurt anything will it? I don't have MSN. I used their message service once to communicate with a friend but I didn't like it. I think that's how this whole thing got started. I wasn't getting the Popups prior to that.

Drat that MSN!!

Be well,
Trudye

 

[Trudye]

I just got this from my Users system and thought I would pass it on.
Trudye

How to stop Messenger popup Spam - FREE:

These 4 easy steps will turn off the messenger service used to send messenger service popup ads. The Messenger service is not related to Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger:

Go to Start, then Run and type in services.msc Click Ok

Scroll to Messenger, select it, right click it and choose Properties.

Under startup choose "Disabled", then choose Stop.

When stopped, click Ok.

 

[smah]

Any firewall will stop these messages and it's a good idea anyway.