Stop Messages from the 'Messenger Service'

Popup messages from the Messenger Service are intended to pass on short messages from network administrators to users on client computers. However recently they have been used as a form of spam as Windows NT based machines come with the service for them turned on out off the box. Although the name is similar this has nothing to do with the MSN or Windows Messenger Service. These messages do not originate from Microsoft but changes will be made to Windows XP in Service Pack 2 to prevent them from appearing.

Enabling a firewall (including XP's inbuilt firewall) will stop the messages appearing on your desktop and is Microsoft's recommended way to get rid of this pest because it also allows you to decide what you want to be able to connect to your machine (This does however mean you may need to manually configure the firewall if you are running a web server or send files using MSN Messenger, if you do not wish to do this scroll down for details of how to disable the service that displays these messages). To enable the inbuilt Internet Connection Firewall on Windows XP open your Network Connections Window, right click on the connection you use to connect to the internet and view its properties. Click the advanced tab and check 'Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the internet'. Then click OK.

Disabling the messenger service will also stop these messages appearing, while it does stop the messages appearing your system would be better protected by installing a firewall. To disable the messenger service go to Start > Run and type Services.msc

You will now be presented with a list of services on your computer, move down the list until you see 'messenger'. Double click on this, and set Messengers Startup type to disabled and stop the service if it is running.