Unsolicited Pop-ups 1

[Trudye]

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

I am getting pop-ups (containing advertisements) 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?

If anyone has any ideas PLEASE let me know this is occuring daily as I am coding or debuging.

Thank you,
Trudye

 

[jrbarnett]

Hi,

If these are similar to the messageboxes provided by the Net Send command, you can go to the services control panel and stop and disable the messenger service. However, if your PC is in a network this may disable functionality used elsewhere.

A second idea would be to install a personal firewall if your PC is standalone box. Kerio (

http://www.kerio.com)

runs great on Windows 2000 and is free for personal use.

John

 

[Trudye]

Jon:

Thank you for responding. Where pray tell is the "services control panel"?

Trudye

 

[AP81]

Go to start>run and type: services.msc (shortcut way)
Right-click on messenger and select disable. The other way is by control panel>administrative tools>component services.

If that still isn't working, then you will need to install a spyware program and check for spyware. Adaware and spybot are both good and free.

jbarnett's advice on getting a firewall is a good suggestion. It is essential to stop unecessary instrusions to your PC and uninvited guests. A good firewall can stop hackers, close unecessary ports, stop people retrieving information from your PC and more. There are plenty to choose from (sygate personal firewall pro is my favorite).

Good luck.

 

[Trudye]

I have both of those softwares. When I checked properties Messages was already disabled. I ran spybot and increased Sygate's security level from medium to high.

Now if it shows up it has to be an industrial strength invader.

Thanks again for hanging in there with me.
Trudye

 

[jrbarnett]

The services control panel is available from:

start -> settings -> control panel -> administrative tools -> services

(or start -> run -> services.msc as AP81 says.

John

 

[etarhan]

This looks like a perfect adware problem.

You can get the necessary knowledge and help from the site

http://www.lavasoftusa.com

There is a freeware download on this site which is quite popular and very useful.

Good luck,
Engin

 

[Trudye]

I just got this from 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.

 

[billieT]

Stopping the Messenger service, particularly if you're on a LAN, is not a good idea.

Here's an explanation:
The Messenger service should not be turned off as many programs, such as antivirus scanners, use this service to send messages to the user. This spam starts with a connection to port 135 so sites with firewalls that block incoming connections to the Microsoft networking ports (135, 137-139, and 445) are immune from this spam.

So the correct answer is to have your LAN firewall blocking those ports mentioned above.

If you're not on a LAN and are on a broadband (or not) internet connection, as mentioned above, you should install something like ZoneAlarm or Sygate Personal Firewall (both free). That way you allow only the programs you want to have access to the Internet.

You can also do this on your LAN if there is no firewall there or they're useless at maintaining it. If on a lan, remember to allow connections from all the internal networks when using one of these products