Popup Ads?

[Jabaroo]

I noticed when I d/l Messenger, that a few times a popup message would show up, and it was from MSN... I can't remember if someone told me, or if I read it on a website somewhere, but this is Microsoft's latest ploy to be putting ads in wherever they can be. At first I thought it was a virus, but I checked with my virus scanner (Which is up to date) so nothing gets past it, or so I hope hehe.

But a few days later another one was there... Has anyone else had this problem?

[DJHyperbyte]

Can you post a screenshot of such a popup here please? Or at least type the window title and first line out?

You see, I don't think you are recieving those popups from 'MSN Messenger' at all, but from the Windows 'Messenger' service. This has not much to do with MSN or chatting at all. I'm not sure if this is the case here, but I'm giving you the instructions anyways. Go to 'Control Panel', then to 'Administrative tools' and choose for 'Services'. Then find the 'Messenger' service and right click on it. You can then 'Stop' it and in the 'Properties' you can stop it from starting automatically.

[Saiyaz]

I had the same problem when i installed MSN 6.0 for the first few times with ads for hotmail and msn stuff. It just stoped for me after a week or so.

[Anna]

Please keep in mind as well hat DJHyperbyte's post only applies to WinNT based systems (ie. XP, NT etc.)

What I think you may be seeing is a simple MSN Today pop-up ad. Unchecking Tools > Options > General > Sign-in > "Display MSN Today when messenger signs in" should do the trick.

Yahoo Messenger has a similar pop-up by default as well.

[Jabaroo]

quote:Originally posted by DJHyperbyte

Can you post a screenshot of such a popup here please? Or at least type the window title and first line out?

I did have a screenshot of it a while ago, but I have since then deleted it. And I do appologise, I will edit it after I post this. But I do have Win messenger.

I've not recieved those ads or whatever they were at all now much like Saiyaz said in their post.

And Anna, it's not a msn popup ad that comes up automatically like in ICQ, Yahoo and, AIM. If I get it again, I will be sure to get a screenshot of it, but for the time being, I've not had one as such! So fingers crossed and thanks to all for the help

OK I am back again, after searching the web, I DID come across a screenshot, of the same kind of ads that are apparently sweeping the messenger service for MSN. And that I was recieving.

Messenger spam alias webpopup:
A new very intrusive form of unsolicited advertising are sadly sweeping the internet by storm. The ads are now known as messenger spam or webpopup.


Messenger popup ads how it works:
The ads are generated by software that scan blocks of IP addresses for computers with an open port 135. If it find an open port on your PC it automatically send you an ad as seen below.
This can happen even if you have no other programs open like MSN messenger, email client or browser.

[DJHyperbyte]

Good job on finding that screenshot, it confirmed what I thought.

The title bar says 'Messenger Service' - which is a confusing name indeed - but it has nothing to do with MSN Messenger or Windows Messenger. It's a feature (or a very big exploit, as others refer to it) of Windows NT based operating systems for sending messages to networked computers. It can be disabled permanently quite easily, just follow the instructions in my previous post.

quote:Originally posted by DJHyperbyte

You see, I don't think you are recieving those popups from 'MSN Messenger' at all, but from the Windows 'Messenger' service. This has not much to do with MSN or chatting at all. I'm not sure if this is the case here, but I'm giving you the instructions anyways. Go to 'Control Panel', then to 'Administrative tools' and choose for 'Services'. Then find the 'Messenger' service and right click on it. You can then 'Stop' it and in the 'Properties' you can stop it from starting automatically.

[Jabaroo]

Thanks DJ!

And I followed your instructions too! The first time I got one I was like eek, and thought it was a virus or something lol :-P I am parnoid :-/

Again thanks for your help