Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Messenger Service 'Virus'

This is topic Messenger Service 'Virus' in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 01-23-2004, 11:48 AM:

Arrrgh look like I've cought my first virus (I assume its a virus) with my new computer. Had this for about the past two days. I'm just getting this popup window all the time.

Each time you close the window another one pops up with another ad.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 01-23-2004, 01:57 PM:

It's messenger spam I think, not to be confused with MSN messenger.

Go to www.grc.com and all will be revealed!

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-23-2004, 02:11 PM:

First off, this tells us that you have no firewall. Since you're not using Unix that'd be bad. Get yourself a firewall.

In the meantime, just disable the Messenger Service by typing this at the command prompt (get to the command prompt by going to Start->Run, type cmd and press enter):

net stop messenger && sc config messenger start= demand

(with the space after the equals sign)

BTW... this is going to be disabled by default in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (regardless of what it's set to before you install the service pack). Another useful piece of software ruined by the dickless scum known as spammers.

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 01-23-2004, 02:49 PM:

Go to My Computer right click; go to manage; open Services and Applications; open services; scroll down to Messenger, open it. Change Startup type to manual or disable; then click STOP, Apply then OK.

Just an annoying feature designed for network settings so messages can go out and reach everyone, companies have figured out how to use it as pop up ads.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 01-23-2004, 06:42 PM:

If you are on a Windows PC, you definitely need a firewall especially if you have any kind of high-speed access. I'm effectively using two. My Linksys Etherfast DSL/Cable Router works as the first level of firewall. Then my copy of Zone Alarm Pro is set at "High". Of course, you need to keep virus DATs automatically updated, run some kind of anti-spyware program on a regular basis and then backup any data you want to keep on disc.

I hate spammers. I want to bash my elbow through the forehead of any sales-droid scumbag who extolls any virtues at all of spamming. Seeing as how I work in an advertising related industry (sign manufacturing) I warn anyone who brings up Internet advertising of the extremely negative repercussions it may have.

Any business who advertises through spam deserves this treatment: fill up a large, industrial size dumpster full of shit, food waste and whatever other stinky garbage anyone can collect. Truck that dumpster over to the business where the spam customer operates. Empty the contents of the dumpster in front of the doors of that business. For complete effect, post a wooden sign in their yard saying, "here's some spam right back at you."

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 01-24-2004, 10:42 PM:

Well I've installed all the latest critical patches from Microsoft and that has seemed to have rid off it.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-03-2004, 08:13 PM:

Have you done anything about your unprotected Microsoft Windows based system yet though?

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-04-2004, 01:24 AM:

If you have Windows XP this comes with its own basic firewall. It probably doesn't do a lot of good (and I'm sure it won't stop Microsoft's own nasties), but it's better than nothing, I guess. You can switch it on as follows: start menu - settings - network connections - righ click on whatever is your Internet connection (e.g. 56k or ADSL modem) - open 'properties' tab - tick the firewall box.

As an alternative if you aren't using XP (or as well if you are), the basic version of Zone Alarm is totally free and can be downloaded from www.zonealarm.com .

Agreed entirely with Bobby about spammers. As about 90% of the spam I get is for Viagra and the like I guess the perpetrators must have an inferiority complex!