Disable the Windows Messenger
(Windows 2000 & XP)
We all get SPAM in our email and are tired of it. People are buying SPAM fighting software or creating filters that automatically trash the SPAM as it comes in. Windows 2000 and Windows XP have a little service that allows people to send messages to others with Windows 2000 or XP through the Messenger Service. This is a nice little feature, but now the SPAMMERS have figured out a way to send SPAM through this service also. Not only can you not filter the messages, but as they come in the pop right to the front of anything open so you have to look at them. Firewall software is able to block these messages, but if you do not want to use firewall software then you can do the following to turn the service off.
- Go to "Start-Settings-Control Panel"
- Click on "Administrative Tools"
- Select "Services" (not Component Services)
- Look for "Messenger"
- Right -click on "Messenger" and go to "Properties"
- For "Startup type:" select either "Manual" or "Disable"
- Then for "Service Status" click "Stop" button
- Finally click the "Apply" button and then "OK"
This should now take care of the annoying popup messages.