Recently, a new form of internet spam has emerged and it can affect users of Windows 2000 and XP. Advertisements can be sent using the Messenger Service built into NT (not to be confused with Windows/MSN Messenger that you chat with).

The easiest way to prevent the windows is to disable the service. To disable it, open the Control Panel, go to the Administrative Tools folder, and then the Services applet. Scroll down to the Messenger service and double click it. Change the setting to Disabled. Bear in mind that this shuts of all activity for that service. If you do not use it to Message on your network, then you have nothing to worry about.

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 330904 contains some info on the problem as well.

Below is an example of an advertisement with the number blotted out to render the ad useless:

And finally, here is an excellent thread on the subject from our own Security Forum.

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by slash edited by MSeng
last modified: 2002-12-25 20:32:37