Sam's Tip of the....Well, tip of the something..

[Specter 0]

This tip only works in XP and 2K.

Ready to Pop Your Top Over "Pop Up Spam?" Here's How to Make it Stop

Are you interrupted by a stream of "pop up" messages that stop you from using your home computer until you close them?

Are you tired of seeing one message invariably morph into more — even when you're not using your Web browser?

Are you frustrated by the fact that many pop up spammers are advertising software to block the exact type of messages they're sending? It's a high-tech variation on a classic scam: Pop up spammers want your money to fix the very problem they created.

Persistent and annoying, pop up spam also is a signal that your home computer is open to hackers. They could use this vulnerability to take over your computer and install new programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts that give them full access to your machine.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, you can block unwanted pop up messages and better protect your computer from hackers. It's as simple as turning off the Microsoft Windows feature that allows pop up messages, or installing and running a firewall. The advantage of a firewall is that it prevents other types of unauthorized access to your computer, beyond pop up spam. Neither approach will stop pop up advertisements sent to your browser by a Web page you are visiting.

Disabling Windows Messenger Service

Pop up spammers are exploiting a feature of the Microsoft Windows operating systems known as Messenger Service. Despite the name, Windows Messenger Service doesn't have anything to do with instant messaging. It is designed to provide users on a local- or wide-area computer network with messages from the network administrator. For example, a company's network administrator might send a message to all its users that the company's network will be shutting down in five minutes. If your home computer is connected only to the Internet, you may not have any practical uses for Windows Messenger Service. If your computer is on a business or home network, however, shutting off Messenger Service might not be the best approach. Your network should be protected by a firewall.

Disabling the messenger service will prevent the possibility of pop up spam. To disable the messenger service:

· Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).

· Double-click Administrative Tools. Double-click Services. Double-click Messenger.

In the Startup type list, click Disabled. Click Stop, and then click OK.

[snakebite1967 0]

u can also reach this thru services.msc in the run box and i agree its a good tip

[NYR_32 6]

I did that like 3 times and the dang thing keeps finding ways to turn itself back on.....

[Specter 0]

@Snakebite

Services.msc is only valid for XP Pro edition, not the other two OS's.

When you stopped it, and chose disabled, did you click apply, or just OK?

[NYR_32 6]

I probably just clicked ok.....

[snakebite1967 0]

dang i didnt know that sorry never ahd any experience with xp home

[Specter 0]

If you only clicked OK, it would only apply those settings for the current session, and not all the time.

[White Oak 0]

Thanks for the tip, yeah you need to click apply.

[Cobblers 12]

Yeah I've done this a little while back and it does work.

I kept getting a Windows Messenger pop up saying "Hi, my names Juanita, come see my pics at..." You can guess the rest!

Once I did this is stopped.