[admin]

If you are getting ads in a Windows dialog window that say "Messenger Service" in the title, this is not spyware or adware. It is a messaging service built into Windows which has been discovered and exploited by spammers. These windows are labeled Messenger Service in the title bar. However, these messages, which are sometimes called "messenger spam," are not related to Windows Messenger, MSN® Messenger or such instant messaging services. Disabling your instant messaging services will not stop this form of advertisement.

Here's and example:


Here's 4 ways to stop messenger spam:

1) Use Steve Gibson's "Shoot the Messenger" program. The easiest way to do, and almost everyone should be able to use this method.

2) If you use Ad-aware, they now have a plug-in that disables and enables this messenger service.

3) If you need to leave the service running, block port 135 in your firewall.

4) To completely disable the service, follow these directions.

For Windows 2000 and XPGo to start and click Run
Type services.msc
Double-click on Messenger.
In the Messenger Properties window, select Stop, then choose Disable as the Startup Type.
Click OK.
For Windows 95, 98, and MEUnder Control Panel, select Add/Remove.
Select Windows Setup.
Select System Tools.
Click Details.
Uncheck WinPopUp.
Click OK
Recently AOL began blocking this service for all their users. Microsoft also has recently announced that they will disable this service by default when Service Pack 2 for WindowsXP is released.

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