"Wonder Popup" blocker 1

[theEclipse]

I have stumbled across this tidbit of configuration information in my measly search for information on the web...

(from

http://spam-stopper.net/wonderpopup.html)

[tt]
How To Stop Messenger Messages
These instructions will only work on Windows 2000, XP and NT machines.

1. Click on My Computer and open the control panel.
2. Open the Performance and Maintenance or Administrative Tools.
3. Double-click on Services, and go to Messenger.
4. Double-click Messenger and click Stop which will stop the service.
5. Change the startup type to Disable under Properties.


After you follow the steps above, spammers will no longer be able to send you this new type of spam.

[/tt]

I have done this on my computer and have not seen any poups since, but sometimes they dont come for hours at a time so I cannot say if it works or not.

For those who dont know, a "wonder popup" is the name that has been given to the adds that popup on your computer when not browsing the web. It is an information box that much resembles a spam email. (wonderpopup.com and

http://www.directadvertiser.com/

are the only two providers i could find of this service to advertizers)

Only reason I can figure out why they call them wonder popups is because people wonder where they came from and they wonder how to stop them.

BTW : This service is something enabled by microsoft. Created by Bill Gates himself (or so I am told)


"Why is it always the quiet ones?"

Robert Carpenter
questions? comments? thanks? email me!
linkemapx@hotmail.com
AIM & MSN: robacarp

 

[Davetoo]

That is the standard method to eliminating the pop-ups. As for Bill Gates creating it himself, oh, I'm sure there's some sinister reason for that.

;-)

I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[jrbarnett]

While you are at it, also disable the following services:

Windows time (if you don't need to synchronise to an internet time server)
Computer Browser - but only if the PC is standalone
Server (ditto) - these two will disable the file and printer sharing for MS networks, including the hidden administrative shares.
If you turn off the Automatic Updates in control panel, you can also get rid of Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Automatic Updates services.
Switching off Indexing can also speed slower machines up a bit.
If you don't use NetMeeting, you can also disable the NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing service.

John