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Bungleau · 10-26-2004, 11:52 AM

Guys, guys, guys.... it is NOT spyware. It is NOT malware. It is something that Microsoft added in to later editions of Windows called the Messenger Service. I believe it only affects Win2k and higher. 95, 98, and ME are free of it. I'm not sure if NT is or not...

What's it used for? For the network administrator to be able to send messages to all computers on the network. Think "System going down in five minutes" and that sort.

How is it being used against me? It's just a broadcast call to any computer that's open and available. You probably don't have a firewall up, do you? *tsk tsk* Time to get one... and remember rule #1: Don't click on it! There will be nothing good waiting on the other side, guaranteed.

Does anyone use it? Well, in the many companies I work with (over 300, from small to Fortune 500) and IT professionals I deal with (thousands), I have yet to find someone who uses it. That should tell you something...

How do I get rid of it? You can use Net Stop (a way I hadn't considered), but I prefer to simply disable the Messenger service entirely.

Fine. How do I DO that? Go to Control Panel, Administrative Options, Services. Find Messenger in the service list. Right-click on it and set it to disabled. Stop it if it's currently alive.

And that's it. Forever (or at least until you load a service pack).

10-26-2004, 11:52 AM	#21
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Guys, guys, guys.... it is NOT spyware. It is NOT malware. It is something that Microsoft added in to later editions of Windows called the Messenger Service. I believe it only affects Win2k and higher. 95, 98, and ME are free of it. I'm not sure if NT is or not... What's it used for? For the network administrator to be able to send messages to all computers on the network. Think "System going down in five minutes" and that sort. How is it being used against me? It's just a broadcast call to any computer that's open and available. You probably don't have a firewall up, do you? tsk tsk Time to get one... and remember rule #1: Don't click on it! There will be nothing good waiting on the other side, guaranteed. Does anyone use it? Well, in the many companies I work with (over 300, from small to Fortune 500) and IT professionals I deal with (thousands), I have yet to find someone who uses it. That should tell you something... How do I get rid of it? You can use Net Stop (a way I hadn't considered), but I prefer to simply disable the Messenger service entirely. Fine. How do I DO that? Go to Control Panel, Administrative Options, Services. Find Messenger in the service list. Right-click on it and set it to disabled. Stop it if it's currently alive. And that's it. Forever (or at least until you load a service pack). __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.