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[MachineHead]

By these Internet slimebags?

http://www.4vsoft.com/

I finally decided to type this nasty address (antimessage.com) into Google to see why this one VERY annoying ad keeps getting to me. Hmmm, seems like they can just peg right through my IP!!

@$^*%# You do not want to know what that translates to. I wonder why my provider can't block these scum? I pay for this connection and want to see only the things I specify. Grrrr!

I think a call is in order to see what can be done about this.

[KingSparta]

AdsGone Should Block It

[SBrandsborg aka Mouseman]

hehe thats sick im never getting them i think my router / firewall is taking them

[whoeveryouare]

MachineHead, what OS are you using?  I'm guessing WinXP, in which case you will want to read this:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/messenger_service_popups.htm

You may also want to consider installing personal firewall software, since if idiots can get to port 135 (the one they are using to send you the crap you're complaining about here), they may be able to take advantage of other Windows exploits, known or to be discovered.

If you happen to want an ad blocker anyway, use Ad Muncher, which costs $15 but is worth it for all it does (which includes the blocking of Messenger spam):

http://www.admuncher.com/

(Again, that is IF you want an ad and popup-blocker anyway; if you don't, just disable the Messenger service as explained in the article linked to above.)

[KingSparta]

AdsGone Also Blocks The Messager Ads (I Just Checked)

I was getting them a few months back.

really happy with AdsGone, really flexable

[urlybird]

If you are using XP you can just stop the "Messenger" service. Should work with Windows 2000 as well.

Change the start method for Messenger service to be "manual".

[phelt]

Unless you need it for network administration you can just disable the Messenger service. It's just one of many services that are unnecessarily turned on by default in Win 2K & XP.

I think that a firewall is a smart investment. Similar to locks for your house.

[fuega]

Your machiner actively seeks out connections. That means whenever you log onto a network (eg: the internet) your machiner will seek connections on any one of 65550 ports. (save for those specific ports already used for apps)

It's not simply an addition to your machine, a firewall is a necessity. I recommend Kerio 2.14. It's free, and best-in-class for all sorts of reasons.
Another comment mentioned is that if you're running win2k or xp, you really should close down services that you're not using.
If you tell me how you compute, I can ( and I am sure others can also) tell you which services you don't need to run. Messenger is one of them.

If you are not on a network, messenger, server and a slew of other services should be shut down.

Also, when you get that firewall, make sure you block port 135...there is nothing that will legitamately need to communicate with your box on this port. It's RPCSS and is always running by default on win2k and xp, which means it is always actively looking for connections. This is how that #$## ad-pop-up got onto your box.

I am writing a letter to my congressman today about this issue. I believe it may be illegal.

Also, it's an excellent idea to modify your HOSTS file.

This file tells windows the addresses of the sites you surf to (like a DNS list for Windows to rely on) which makes surfing to that site fast. You can use this file to block websites by giving them an address of 127.0.0.1, which is your machine. EG:
===============================
slimy_ad_losers.net     127.0.0.1
big-ed's-lowdown-marketeers.com   127.0.0.1
===============================

There are a couple excellent ad-and porn, spam, blocking hosts files you may use.

TIP; after you create your new hosts file, shut down explorer(ctrl+alt+del), both of them, then restart them the same way...type"explorer" in new task.

this will reset your registry without rebooting.

if you are on a dial-up and no network, you will need to block 135, 137-9, and a few others. block icmp-8 as well, ping reply-outs. There is no need to tell that script-kiddie that you are there and open for mischief.

Good luck.

If you, or anybody needs a primer on how to safeguard your box, just say so. I can point you to excellent ones, and even my own.

happy surfing.

brian