I got an email delivered to my inbox that I'm afraid to open. It says it's an Important security update for .Net Messenger Service. Does anyone know if it's a hoax, virus, or the real thing? **************************************************************** 08-28-03, 12:07 PM Dwight Microsoft does not send email advising of program or system updates. Microsoft makes Net Messenger, so I strongly suspect the email message is either a virus or a hoax.
If it is a virus, your Anti-Virus software should have alerted you about it, but in either case I would suggest just deleting the message.
Dwight **************************************************************** 09-02-03, 09:44 AM LVLF Hi, Dwight. I did some investigating, and I think what it is, is that Net Messenger is trying to get me to upgrade from 4.7 to 5.0, or whatever the next edition is. But when I read up about it , it said that some components of Internet Explorer may not work properly with this upgrade. I don't use .Net Messenger, so I am wondering if the supposed security threat would even apply to me. **************************************************************** 09-02-03, 10:08 AM Dwight I'm very suspicious of that email, because Microsoft does not send out emails like that. I suggest you just delete it. Any important updates are available in the Windows Update page.
You can click the "Tools" menu in Internet Explorer, then "Windows Update". It is also available in the Start menu.
Dwight **************************************************************** 09-03-03, 09:02 AM LVLF This is no longer an email, which I did delete, but it pops up as a msn messenger "staff conversation" every time I open Explorer, or Internet Explorer. I tried blocking their name, but it continues to flash, bright orange no less! I opened Messenger, went to preferences to try to stop it that way, which did nothing but tell me they were blocked from conversations. I checked out the link, which brought me to their Messenger update page. So, how do I stop the message from coming up every time I log on? **************************************************************** 09-03-03, 11:11 AM Dwight Since you're not using Net Messenger, I'm wondering about just uninstalling it.
Dwight **************************************************************** 09-04-03, 11:01 AM LVLF Dwight, I tried both, when I went to Computer management/services/messenger, I found that it was already disabled. When I copied the command to RUN, I got an error message telling me I had removed an integral part of Explorer and could not connect to the internet. It gave me the option of repairing, which I did, and am now back on line, and the first thing that came up was that darn orange flashing .Net Messenger thingy! Now, I'm going to look in msconfig to see if I can stop it that way. Thanks for your help and patience with me, but if you think of anything else, I'll give it a try. **************************************************************** 09-04-03, 01:57 PM Dwight Since you've disabled the "Messenger Service" in the Control Panel, I'm wondering if this message is about MSN Messenger instead of the Windows Messenger.
In the Messenger main window, click the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Privacy tab.
Under My Allow List, click All others, and then click Block.
To see a list of people you have blocked, click the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Privacy tab.
Messages will not be delivered to you from a person that you block.
I hope something here helps!
Dwight **************************************************************** 09-04-03, 03:35 PM Dwight In addition to the above, you can run the tests at GRC.com (Gibson Research Center) and verify your firewall as well as "Messenger Spam".
Click Here. Dwight **************************************************************** 09-05-03, 10:47 AM LVLF I am playing the waiting game, Dwight. I tried the "shoot the Messenger" download, and blocked the service, so now I'll wait to see what happens the next time I log on.... thanks again. **************************************************************** 09-05-03, 10:53 PM LVLF Dwight, you are my hero! I have been on the computer for well over 2 hours now, and not one of those orange messages popped up. I don't know which magic trick it was that you pulled from your sleeve that worked, but one of them did, and I can't thank you enough!! your faithful guru-ee, lv **************************************************************** 09-06-03, 01:09 AM Dwight Glad to hear that it has worked out okay. By the way, I was just a client's house and saw that "Important security update for .Net Messenger" email message. Without question, it is a fraudulent message and is intended to get you to go to a "malicious" site.
Did you run the Steve Gibson (Gibson Research Center) DCOMbobulator program? If not I suggest you run it and have it "turn off" the DCOM in both your Windows 98 and Windows XP machines.
http://www.grc.com/ Dwight **************************************************************** 09-08-03, 09:58 AM LVLF Thaanks, again, Dwight. What about the others offered on that page? Should I download any of those as well? **************************************************************** 09-08-03, 10:33 AM Dwight I think the "UnPlug 'N Pray" is a good thing to disable, as explained on the page. I have learned to trust Steve Gibson's recommendations. He has never given me reason to question his suggestions.
Dwight **************************************************************** 09-08-03, 11:04 AM LVLF I did that one. too, but guess what?? I just had that little orange .Net thing pop up again! YIKES!!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
