Are the "Messenger Service" Windows alerts legitimate?

Question

I keep getting small alerts from "messenger service" that say "Windows has found 55 Critical System Errors", that I need to download an update from http://www.regfixit.com, and that not doing so might result in system failure. This makes no sense to me because I just reinstalled Windows XP on my computer last night! Are these alerts legitimate, and if not, how do I get rid of them?

Answer 1

This is known as windows messenger spam.

Unless you have a legitimate need to have this service running, (ie frequent use of tools like Net Send, etc., ) you are going to want to disable windows messenger service.



Start

Control Panel

Performance & Maintenance

Administrative Tools

Services

Right Click on Messenger and choose properties

Change start-up type to "Disabled"

Click Apply

(this is different than MSN messenger, and has nothing to do with IM functions)



Your firewall should be blocking the windows messenger ports (137-139) unless you are relying on ICF (the built in windows XP firewall) or have specifically unblocked these ports. If you are only using the ICF, firewall I would certainly replace it. There are many freeware alternatives available, try ZoneAlarm http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/ZoneAlarm/zonealarm.html

as having the ports opened not only will allow messenger spamming , but provide access to any number of other well-known exploits, including the W32 Blaster worm and variants.



This should defiantly solve your issues.

Answer 2

There is a way to get rid of the messenger service, but I will tell you now it's not recommended!!! I will also tell you how to do it just in case your desperate. Goto Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. Next, scroll down till you see Messenger and click on it once to highlight it. This will tell you what the Messenger service is for up above to the left a little when you click on it. With the Messenger highlighted RIGHT-click on the highlighted Messenger text and goto Properties. You will see a box saying Startup Type in the box will say Automatic click the box and change it to disabled. You may also want to click the Stop button to stop the service. Click Apply, but don't exit out of the box yet next goto the Log On Tab. Click every single Profile and then click Disable. If I was to do this on my computer as an example I would click Profile 1 and then click disable. This goes for all profiles it shows click disable. Click apply. You can click Dependencies to see what depends of the service in order to run. After that OK your way out of everything and hopefully this will solve your problem with the message. I am not recommending you do this cause the service is important for certain problems in Windows you will not be alerted if this service is turned off. I'm just basically saying away around it. Good Luck. Also, I would run some scans like Virus and Spyware scans and Scan Disk and whatever else you have that you can run then after that I would go back and do the opposite of what I told you here to meaning instead of disabling the service re-enable it.

Answer 3

The suggestions below should fix you up.



Update and run your Anti-Virus program. Don't have one? You can run a free online scan from Trendmicro. When I have tested it it takes some time to run it but it may be time well spent if it can fix any problems.



Download and run http://housecall.trendmicro.com/





Download, update and run Spybot---http://www.safer-networking.org/ . Don't forget to use the Immunize feature.



Download, update and run Adaware---http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/products/select_your_product.php



Since you just did a major upgrade? you may want to run disk cleanup and a disk defrag.



Start>all programs>accessories>system tools>Disk CleanUp



Follow the same path for a Disk Defrag.



I would also run a registry cleaner and a small program called CleanUp.



Download RegScrubXP--http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2048



Safely cleans junk out of the Windows 2000/XP system registry. All changes made to the registry are fully restorable to it's original condition. You can make an exclusion list of registry entries that RegScrubXP will not display as problems. You can sift through a list of file extensions, company names, run upon startup programs, Internet Explorer history, and uninstall programs to delete what you think is junk.



Download CleanUp---http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup/



Free disk space, make your computer run better/faster and protect your privacy - all in one easy solution. All for free!

Answer 4

No it's not legitimate.May be you have got a Trojan viruses and some one using your Internet explorer or your ID was stolen with a passwords.It's an advertisement pop up by another company Microsoft has nothing to do with it.Block the pop-up adds.or down load the window security from www.microsoft.com with a firewall-anti virus and malicious software removal tools.Do not upgrade.Better on your computer click control panel-system and maintenance-click system and check the box for auto upgrade.if you wanted to get rid off the site which apprears click X mark and canceled it or ignore it.

Answer 5

its spam and spyware ... run adaware or ewido ... if u dont install a firewall before u connect to the internet the first time u can pick up nasty stuff ryt off the bat ... i always run an adware scan before i connect the first time to the net also ... it will surprize u ...

Answer 6

there pop ups wanting you to get there program than pay to find what "it finds" all a scam if you ask me