What is this "Messenger Service" thing that pops up on my computer? - geek/talk: Signature-free discourse for serious web publishers

robhoran · 10-24-2002, 02:45 PM

Over the last couple of days I have been receiving what can only be called some new kind of spamming method.

Suddenly a Windows 2000 message box appears with an advert in it. These are the kind of message boxes I normally get when my document is finsied printing on my laser printer, for example.

I guess I can turn of my Messenger service in Service Manager but I wondered if anybody else had seen any of these. My servers get it too.

Here is one I got today:

Application popup: Messenger Service : Message from DEGREES to 62.6.75.130 on 10/24/2002 10:50:13 AM

BACHELORS,MASTERS,MBA,DOCTORATE

Prestigious Non Accredited Universities...

Degrees Based On Life Experience.

No One Is Turned Down!

Call in the USA

602-212-6756
or
678-495-1594

For removal instructions email: gevalt1290@yahoo.com

MattC · 10-24-2002, 03:00 PM

I've seen these, one popped up on the overhead during my java class

It offered us a college degree in days!

Mbarb · 10-24-2002, 06:01 PM

They write better than I do...

Look Here

robhoran · 10-25-2002, 05:55 AM

Whatever next.

I now get all sorts of spam:

- Junk Mail through the door
- Email
- Cold calls on my phone
- Text Messages on my cell phone
- and now "Net send" messages...great!

Junk Mail I can do something about, which can also help keep postal workers employed.

When you get 2 bits of junkmail through the door, say from VISA and an Insurance company, simply put the VISA blurb in the Insurance pre-paid enevelope and put the Insurance blurb in the VISA pre-paid envelope. Doesn't cost me a penny and hopefully if they get enough of this they will stop sending junk mail out on a non-targeted basis.

**Czar** · 10-25-2002, 09:32 AM

I've received two of the messages thus far - both for the degree program.

While I don't personally see how these could be as cost-effective as traditional pops or banner ads, since few would respond to a phone-based call-for-action while online, they could create security risks by tapping into basic human weaknesses and disguising themselves as authentic network messages.

More on this is addressed in the following article from USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...-up-spam_x.htm

Another problem is that net users unfamiliar with how the format differs from pops may imagine that the message has been spawned from a site they're visiting, which could further tarnish the property's image or otherwise associate the message with an apparently reputable source.

demae · 10-30-2002, 07:05 PM

http://lina.aaanime.net/~pmak/tmp/spam.png

Does anyone know what that is, and how to get rid of it? It randomly pops up on my WinXP machine, about one every few days. It's always text-only. I don't think it's being caused by my web browser (Opera 6), because it happens when I'm not doing anything on the web too.

darnell · 10-30-2002, 07:12 PM

You might want to read this .

Get a good firewall that refuses outside request

.

demae · 10-30-2002, 07:17 PM

Someone suggested that I run "msconfig". I'll try using it to turn off the Messenger.

Steve_S · 10-30-2002, 07:41 PM

AND, for some ideas and thoughts visit our other forums Direwall thread at:

http://www.geekvillage.com/forums/sh...threadid=18770

The Poll is on Firewalls

HTH

**Jan** · 10-30-2002, 07:54 PM

This will explain how to get rid of it and prevent it happening again.

http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakdatabase...r%20SERVICE%20

demae · 10-30-2002, 08:07 PM

Thanks, Jan. I managed to turn Messenger off.

darnell · 10-31-2002, 01:00 PM

But will turning it off prevent applications from sending messages to you via a window? I mean applications on your PC.

demae · 10-31-2002, 04:25 PM

It should only affect the ability of applications that are NOT running on your PC to send you messages.

zboca · 10-31-2002, 10:21 PM

I've been getting quite a few of these, and I found myself writing a post several times, but I couldn't describe what the hell it was.

Thanks-- messenger service now turned off

**Jan** · 10-31-2002, 10:50 PM

Maybe TeamGeek can merge this with a similar thread in stop scum?

< Good idea Jan. Threads merged. Please forgive any minor confusion in the general flow of this conversation. >

10-24-2002, 02:45 PM	#1
robhoran Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 79	Win2k Message Box Spam? Over the last couple of days I have been receiving what can only be called some new kind of spamming method. Suddenly a Windows 2000 message box appears with an advert in it. These are the kind of message boxes I normally get when my document is finsied printing on my laser printer, for example. I guess I can turn of my Messenger service in Service Manager but I wondered if anybody else had seen any of these. My servers get it too. Here is one I got today: Application popup: Messenger Service : Message from DEGREES to 62.6.75.130 on 10/24/2002 10:50:13 AM BACHELORS,MASTERS,MBA,DOCTORATE Prestigious Non Accredited Universities... Degrees Based On Life Experience. No One Is Turned Down! Call in the USA 602-212-6756 or 678-495-1594 For removal instructions email: gevalt1290@yahoo.com Last edited by robhoran; 10-24-2002 at 02:54 PM.

10-25-2002, 05:55 AM	#4
robhoran Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 79	Whatever next. I now get all sorts of spam: - Junk Mail through the door - Email - Cold calls on my phone - Text Messages on my cell phone - and now "Net send" messages...great! Junk Mail I can do something about, which can also help keep postal workers employed. When you get 2 bits of junkmail through the door, say from VISA and an Insurance company, simply put the VISA blurb in the Insurance pre-paid enevelope and put the Insurance blurb in the VISA pre-paid envelope. Doesn't cost me a penny and hopefully if they get enough of this they will stop sending junk mail out on a non-targeted basis. Last edited by robhoran; 10-25-2002 at 06:38 AM.

10-25-2002, 09:32 AM	#5
Czar Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Posts: 9,506	I've received two of the messages thus far - both for the degree program. While I don't personally see how these could be as cost-effective as traditional pops or banner ads, since few would respond to a phone-based call-for-action while online, they could create security risks by tapping into basic human weaknesses and disguising themselves as authentic network messages. More on this is addressed in the following article from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...-up-spam_x.htm Another problem is that net users unfamiliar with how the format differs from pops may imagine that the message has been spawned from a site they're visiting, which could further tarnish the property's image or otherwise associate the message with an apparently reputable source. __________________ Czar Follow Geek/Talk's Twitter Feed and Facebook Page to stay up to date with new discussion threads and online ad industry highlights. Important GeekVillage Links: Home \| Rules \| Posting Guide \| Report Trouble \| Feedback \| Advertise on GV

10-30-2002, 07:05 PM	#6
demae Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,291	What is this "Messenger Service" thing that pops up on my computer? http://lina.aaanime.net/~pmak/tmp/spam.png Does anyone know what that is, and how to get rid of it? It randomly pops up on my WinXP machine, about one every few days. It's always text-only. I don't think it's being caused by my web browser (Opera 6), because it happens when I'm not doing anything on the web too.

10-30-2002, 07:12 PM	#7
darnell Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Suwanee, GA, USA Posts: 704	It's SPAM VIA WINDOWS MESSAGING You might want to read this . Get a good firewall that refuses outside request .

10-24-2002, 03:00 PM	#2
MattC Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Portland Posts: 287	I've seen these, one popped up on the overhead during my java class It offered us a college degree in days!

10-24-2002, 06:01 PM	#3
Mbarb Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 147	They write better than I do... Look Here

10-30-2002, 07:17 PM	#8
demae Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,291	Someone suggested that I run "msconfig". I'll try using it to turn off the Messenger.

10-30-2002, 07:41 PM	#9
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,224	AND, for some ideas and thoughts visit our other forums Direwall thread at: http://www.geekvillage.com/forums/sh...threadid=18770 The Poll is on Firewalls HTH

10-30-2002, 07:54 PM	#10
Jan Join Date: May 2001 Location: Beautiful Darwin Posts: 4,753	This will explain how to get rid of it and prevent it happening again. http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakdatabase...r%20SERVICE%20 __________________ Real Ghost Stories Darwin NT World Travel Forum

10-30-2002, 08:07 PM	#11
demae Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,291	Thanks, Jan. I managed to turn Messenger off.

10-31-2002, 01:00 PM	#12
darnell Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Suwanee, GA, USA Posts: 704	But will turning it off prevent applications from sending messages to you via a window? I mean applications on your PC.

10-31-2002, 04:25 PM	#13
demae Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 1,291	It should only affect the ability of applications that are NOT running on your PC to send you messages.

10-31-2002, 10:21 PM	#14
zboca Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Ky Posts: 158	I've been getting quite a few of these, and I found myself writing a post several times, but I couldn't describe what the hell it was. Thanks-- messenger service now turned off

10-31-2002, 10:50 PM	#15
Jan Join Date: May 2001 Location: Beautiful Darwin Posts: 4,753	Maybe TeamGeek can merge this with a similar thread in stop scum? < Good idea Jan. Threads merged. Please forgive any minor confusion in the general flow of this conversation. > __________________ Real Ghost Stories Darwin NT World Travel Forum Last edited by Czar; 10-31-2002 at 10:55 PM.

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