   annoying message boxes
  I keep getting these annoying message boxes about once every 5 minutes, but sometimes two right in a row.  They say there's something wrong with my registry and I need to go to such and such page to fix it.  So I went to the webpage and it's some people I've never heard of trying to get me to buy software for like $50 or something like that to fix it.  The other weird thing is that on each popup the website it says to go to is different.  It definitely looks like adware to me, so I downloaded Ad-Aware, ran a full scan, it came up with some stuff and I had it deleted.  But the message boxes just keep coming?  Anyone got any ideas on how to make them go away.  Below is a screenshot what one of the message boxes look like.  Doesn't look very legit, does it?  And also, this didn't start happening until after I had my computer in the shop. I wouldn't care so much if it was still going to be mine, but since I have a new comp that's on it's way to Norfolk right now, I'm giving this laptop to my dad as his Christmas gift.  Wouldn't do too well to give someone a comp with adware, trojan, etc on it.  Anyway, thanks for any help here.-AJ
  Right Click on "My Computer", select "Manage"Select "Services and Applications" (on the left)Select "Services" (on the right)Find "Messenger" in the listRight click, select "properties"Set "Startup type" to "Disabled"Hit "Stop"Apply, okay, finished :)   ;  Two things are happening:A) You are running the windows internal messenger service, designed to let administrators/users send messages (for example alert users of network maintence). As you are (likely) running a single machine, and not on a corporate LAN, you have no need for this service. Turn the service off.B) You are running a completely unsecure, unsafe connection to the internet. You have exposed every port on your computer directly to the internet, as if it was a safe LAN. Start your firewall, or properly configure your router or hardware firewall. If your connection where safe, then local network services like this wouldn't be accessable. You are likely broadcasting any and all network shares - if you have a weak password someone might have already accessed your computer.   ;  Click Start->Run.Type in services.msc.Click OK.Scroll down to Messenger.Double click Messenger.Click Stop.Change Startup type to "Disabled".Click OK.EDIT: Aww, necreia FTW.   ;Quote:Original post by MichalsonB) You are running a completely unsecure, unsafe connection to the internet. You have exposed every port on your computer directly to the internet, as if it was a safe LAN. Start your firewall, or properly configure your router or hardware firewall. If your connection where safe, then local network services like this wouldn't be accessable. You are likely broadcasting any and all network shares - if you have a weak password someone might have already accessed your computer.Important.   ;  Wow, thanks guys.  That was quick.  The firewall...how silly of me.  I turned it off to allow a friend of mine to send me something over IM but never turned it back on.  DOH!!  Thanks again.-AJ   ;  Thank you Microsoft for hiding all your useless services that no normal person would ever use behind a firewall instead of saving my system resources by simply not having them running in the first place.   ;Quote:Original post by smart_idiotThank you Microsoft for hiding all your useless services that no normal person would ever use behind a firewall instead of saving my system resources by simply not having them running in the first place.I think SP2 disables this service and a few others.   ;Quote:Original post by smart_idiotThank you Microsoft for hiding all your useless services that no normal person would ever use behind a firewall instead of saving my system resources by simply not having them running in the first place.The network messenger system is quite old - it predates Windows 95 and the general internet revolution. As such it is actually extremely low resource (it was developed in a day when >4mb ram was an expensive workstation system). The issue is that it has stuck around in the background, like some old shell command. While it was maintained into the 32bit era, it was never given much thought above that of an old LAN utility. Until people started abusing it (which didn't really start until several years into the broadband era) no one gave it a second thought.Oh, and it isn't hidden, it's in plain site. It's just that most people hardly notice it (like character map).   