Should I be worried? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PZelda · 03-07-2004, 01:08 PM

I've gotten this about 3-4 times...I just installed ZoneAlarm since I have a cable modem, so I should be OK...but ugh!! I got them twice after I turned on ZoneAlarm.

The last time this happened to me, it was in about 1998/99, and I stopped going into chatrooms where that kind of people run rampant.

robyrob · 03-07-2004, 01:11 PM

just turn off the Windows Messenger service - you can do it manually through the "Services" or use this: http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

PZelda · 03-07-2004, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robyrob
just turn off the Windows Messenger service - you can do it manually through the "Services" or use this: http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

I don't use Windows Messenger anymore -- I use MSN Messenger

It was one of the 1st things I did after I got this computer in December.

robyrob · 03-07-2004, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
I don't use Windows Messenger anymore -- I use MSN Messenger It was one of the 1st things I did after I got this computer in December.

its not Windows Messenger - it is the Messenger Service (i know that sounds stupid - but there IS a difference)

all NT-based versions of Windows have a built-in pop-up messenger that allows you to send messages to anyone over a network (like the internet)

the problem is, there's no way to control it, and there is no real use for it... so TURN it off with that tool from Steve Gibson's site

PZelda · 03-07-2004, 01:20 PM

Okay, I turned it off...that should take care of it. I'm still a little wary, though...

robyrob · 03-07-2004, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
Okay, I turned it off...that should take care of it. I'm still a little wary, though...

you'll be ok - most firewalls like ZoneAlarm should block them also,

mostly this is just an annoyance, it gets used for Spam a lot too

PZelda · 03-07-2004, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robyrob
you'll be ok - most firewalls like ZoneAlarm should block them also,

mostly this is just an annoyance, it gets used for Spam a lot too

*WHEW* I feel better now

It really scared me because this computer is only three months old...It was the one I got in December after my other one died.

EricIdlefan · 03-07-2004, 03:52 PM

I get that everytime I enter the internet and it is annoying the heck out of me!!

Fiddlesticks · 03-07-2004, 04:24 PM

I get messages like that, they are from the windows messenger service or something saying "people can see what your looking at, are u aware of this" or u r open to attack. But yeah they are annoying

I take no notice, ive had the mesages for ages and nothings ever happened....

PZelda · 03-07-2004, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fiddlesticks
I get messages like that, they are from the windows messenger service or something saying "people can see what your looking at, are u aware of this" or u r open to attack. But yeah they are annoying

I take no notice, ive had the mesages for ages and nothings ever happened....

Huh. Like I said in one of my earlier posts, I've had my current comp for 3 months...and I had never received those popup messages til just this morning...It really scared me.

It's not nice to scare people like this.

Chelsea · 03-07-2004, 10:52 PM

It's not Windows Messenger spam. That's a Windows Dialog box, not a Windows Messenger box (The drop-dead giveaway is that it says "Microsoft Internet Explorer" instead of "Messenger Service"

It could be adware, it could be an auto-generated dialog box, it could be a virus, or, possibly, you could have been hacked, and the hacker spawned a dialog box to tell you. I'm leaning towards either 1 or 3.

What were you doing when it came up? Have you run a virus scan (My Virus Scanner tends to be late about telling me I have a virus unless I run it manually)? Adware scan?

PZelda · 03-08-2004, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seth Thrasher
It's not Windows Messenger spam. That's a Windows Dialog box, not a Windows Messenger box (The drop-dead giveaway is that it says "Microsoft Internet Explorer" instead of "Messenger Service"

It could be adware, it could be an auto-generated dialog box, it could be a virus, or, possibly, you could have been hacked, and the hacker spawned a dialog box to tell you. I'm leaning towards either 1 or 3.

What were you doing when it came up? Have you run a virus scan (My Virus Scanner tends to be late about telling me I have a virus unless I run it manually)? Adware scan?

I had the free trial of McAfee Antivirus, but that free trial ended and I want to get Norton instead. I've ran Adaware a few times....came up w/ nothing, only tracking cookies.

I guess it's as well, since I turned on ZoneAlarm, I haven't gotten that popup message.

PZelda · 03-08-2004, 02:02 AM

Good news.

But this makes me really mad....

It was just a HTML trick.

EricIdlefan · 03-08-2004, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fiddlesticks
I get messages like that, they are from the windows messenger service or something saying "people can see what your looking at, are u aware of this" or u r open to attack. But yeah they are annoying

I take no notice, ive had the mesages for ages and nothings ever happened....

I think they take up space and are a waste of time!! They should terminate that big time!!

03-07-2004, 01:08 PM	#1
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Should I be worried? I've gotten this about 3-4 times...I just installed ZoneAlarm since I have a cable modem, so I should be OK...but ugh!! I got them twice after I turned on ZoneAlarm. The last time this happened to me, it was in about 1998/99, and I stopped going into chatrooms where that kind of people run rampant. Attached Images
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

03-07-2004, 01:11 PM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	just turn off the Windows Messenger service - you can do it manually through the "Services" or use this: http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm
	__________________ * firefox * AdAware * HiJackThis * CoolWebShredder * Spybot * SpywareBlaster * Spyware Terminator * * GeeksToGo * AntiVir * Avast antivirus * Housecall Online * Sysinternals Security Utilities * * ZoneAlarm * Agnitum-firewall * Comodo Firewall * AVG Anti-Rootkit * RootkitRevealer * ParasiteCheck * * Annoyances * FreeCodecs * Mikes-Hosts-File * GRC.com * MSAntispyware * DVD's * TradeList * myspace *

03-07-2004, 03:52 PM	#8
EricIdlefan USA 250th! Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,236	I get that everytime I enter the internet and it is annoying the heck out of me!!
	__________________ JUSA 250th Anniversary!

03-07-2004, 01:20 PM	#5
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Okay, I turned it off...that should take care of it. I'm still a little wary, though...

03-07-2004, 04:24 PM	#9
Fiddlesticks Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 05, 2004 Location: In Sitcom Heaven Posts: 72	I get messages like that, they are from the windows messenger service or something saying "people can see what your looking at, are u aware of this" or u r open to attack. But yeah they are annoying I take no notice, ive had the mesages for ages and nothings ever happened....

03-07-2004, 10:52 PM	#11
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	It's not Windows Messenger spam. That's a Windows Dialog box, not a Windows Messenger box (The drop-dead giveaway is that it says "Microsoft Internet Explorer" instead of "Messenger Service" It could be adware, it could be an auto-generated dialog box, it could be a virus, or, possibly, you could have been hacked, and the hacker spawned a dialog box to tell you. I'm leaning towards either 1 or 3. What were you doing when it came up? Have you run a virus scan (My Virus Scanner tends to be late about telling me I have a virus unless I run it manually)? Adware scan?

03-08-2004, 02:02 AM	#13
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Good news. But this makes me really mad.... It was just a HTML trick.