Microsoft XP: These Pop-ups are killing me!

• hbb / 204 / Tues, 09 Feb 2010 06:24:00 GMT / Comments (6)
• How do I tstop the annoyance of these pop-ups? I have Comcast internet, and
  have the stop pop-ups block checked in my internet preferences, but they keep
  coming. Especially "Aurora"
  
• Keywords:

  pop-ups, killing, microsoft, xp

• http://www.edevs.com/windows-xp/82454/«« Last Thread - Next Thread »»

• 1. ST wrote:
     > How do I tstop the annoyance of these pop-ups? I have Comcast internet, and
     > have the stop pop-ups block checked in my internet preferences, but they keep
     > coming. Especially "Aurora"
     
     What specific kind of pop-ups are you seeing? There are at least
     three varieties of pop-ups, and the solutions vary accordingly.
     
     1) Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"
     
     This type of spam has become quite common over the couple of
     years, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
     demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
     connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
     by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
     you may well be open to other threats, such as the Blaster Worm that
     swept across the Internet last year and the currently active Sasser
     Worm. Install and use a decent, properly configured firewall.
     (Merely disabling the messenger service, as some people recommend,
     only hides the symptom, and does little or nothing to truly secure
     your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" the security
     gap represented by these messages is particularly foolish.
     
     Messenger Service of Windows
     http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;168893
     
     Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
     Appears
     http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904
     
     Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
     http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...e/stopspam.asp
     
     Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
     http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
     
     Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
     more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
     service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
     security. The real problem is not the messenger service pop-ups;
     they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
     a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
     you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
     helpful?
     
     2) For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
     Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
     from http://www.panicware.com/, or the Google Toolbar from
     http://toolbar.google.com/. Alternatively, you can upgrade your WinXP
     to SP2, to install IE's pop-up blocker. Another alternative would be
     to use another browser, such as Mozilla or Firefox, which has pop-up
     blocking capabilities. (But I'd avoid Netscape; it carries too much
     extraneous AOL garbage.)
     
     3) To deal with pop-ups caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
     "spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or
     KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without
     understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are
     quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are
     Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from
     www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even
     possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system
     against most future intrusions. I use both and generally perform
     manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.
     
     Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
     varieties of scumware are available here:
     
     PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
     http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml
     
     More information and assistance is available at these sites:
     
     Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
     http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
     
     The Parasite Fight
     http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
     
     Neither adware nor spyware, collectively known as scumware,
     magically install themselves on anyone's computer. They are almost
     always deliberately installed by the computer's user, as part of some
     allegedly "free" service or product.
     
     While there are some unscrupulous malware distributors out there,
     who do attempt to install and exploit malware without consent, the
     majority of them simply rely upon the intellectual laziness and
     gullibility of the average consumer, counting on them to quickly click
     past the EULA in his/her haste to get the latest in "free" cutesy
     cursors, screensavers, "utilities," and/or wallpapers.
     
     If you were to read the EULAs that accompany, and to which the
     computer user must agree before the download/installation of the
     "screensaver" continues, most adware and spyware, you'll find that
     they _do_ have the consumer's permission to do exactly what they're
     doing. In the overwhelming majority of cases, computer users have no
     one to blame but themselves.
     
     There are several essential components to computer security: a
     knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
     reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
     patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.
     
     The weakest link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer
     user. No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected
     to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. All too many people
     have bought into the various PC/software manufacturers marketing
     claims of easy computing. They believe that their computer should be
     no harder to use than a toaster oven; they have neither the
     inclination or desire to learn how to safely use their computer. All
     too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches
     in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link
     they're about to click.
     
     Firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used
     and should always be running, are important components of "safe hex,"
     but they cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer
     user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and
     every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer.
     
     To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:
     
     Protect Your PC
     http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
     
     Home Computer Security
     http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
     
     List of Antivirus Software Vendors
     http://support.microsoft.com/default...kb;en-us;49500
     
     Home PC Firewall Guide
     http://www.firewallguide.com/
     
     Scumware.com
     http://www.scumware.com/
     
     
     Bruce Chambers
     
     Help us help you:
     http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
     http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
     
     You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
     both at once. - RAH
     

     brucechambers | Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:56:43 GMT |

  2. SP2 must not be installed,it has a pop-up stopper.With SP1,and in SP2,open
     internet options,in the security tab,L.click the icons one at a time,with 1
     high-
     lited,select,default settings.
     
     "ST" wrote:
     
     > How do I tstop the annoyance of these pop-ups? I have Comcast internet, and
     > have the stop pop-ups block checked in my internet preferences, but they keep
     > coming. Especially "Aurora"
     

     andrewe | Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:57:44 GMT |

  3. Andrew E. wrote:[vbcol=seagreen]
     > SP2 must not be installed,it has a pop-up stopper.With SP1,and in SP2,open
     > internet options,in the security tab,L.click the icons one at a time,with 1
     > high-
     > lited,select,default settings.
     > "ST" wrote:
     >
     
     Had you actually read the original post, you'd have seen that the OP
     has already enabled his browser's pop-up blocking function. Therefore,
     he either already has SP2 installed, or is using a browser other than
     IE. And selecting the default settings in IE, as you suggest, leaves
     the browser vulnerable to all sorts of exploits.
     
     As usual, your post contributed nothing and could potentially cause
     further harm. Why do you continue to refuse to learn even the simplest
     things about the OS you're pretending to support? Why do you persist in
     trying to sabotage others' computers?
     
     
     Bruce Chambers
     
     Help us help you:
     http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
     http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
     
     You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
     both at once. - RAH
     

     brucechambers | Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:58:40 GMT |

  4. Google toolbar does a nice job of blocking a lot of popups if it doesn't bug
     you to have it stuck on IE. Combined with Sp2, it can get kind of annoying if
     you're trying to view a pop-up window, but you just have to allow it in 2
     places instead of one if it's something you want.
     
     "Bruce Chambers" wrote:
     
     > Andrew E. wrote:
     >
     > Had you actually read the original post, you'd have seen that the OP
     > has already enabled his browser's pop-up blocking function. Therefore,
     > he either already has SP2 installed, or is using a browser other than
     > IE. And selecting the default settings in IE, as you suggest, leaves
     > the browser vulnerable to all sorts of exploits.
     > As usual, your post contributed nothing and could potentially cause
     > further harm. Why do you continue to refuse to learn even the simplest
     > things about the OS you're pretending to support? Why do you persist in
     > trying to sabotage others' computers?
     >
     > --
     > Bruce Chambers
     > Help us help you:
     > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
     > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
     > You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
     > both at once. - RAH
     >
     

     kelly | Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:59:44 GMT |

  5. Thanks Bruce. I do Have SP2 and the pop-up blocker is checked. The pop-ups
     are NOT the Messenger type you mentioned, nor are they the Adware, spyware,
     as I run Ad-Aware & Spy Bot on a regular basis. The biggest annoyance has
     been a pop-up with the label "Aurora" on it. Otherwise they are normal
     pop-ups for various products...
     I IE as my primary browser.
     
     ST
     
     "Bruce Chambers" wrote:
     
     > Andrew E. wrote:
     >
     > Had you actually read the original post, you'd have seen that the OP
     > has already enabled his browser's pop-up blocking function. Therefore,
     > he either already has SP2 installed, or is using a browser other than
     > IE. And selecting the default settings in IE, as you suggest, leaves
     > the browser vulnerable to all sorts of exploits.
     > As usual, your post contributed nothing and could potentially cause
     > further harm. Why do you continue to refuse to learn even the simplest
     > things about the OS you're pretending to support? Why do you persist in
     > trying to sabotage others' computers?
     >
     > --
     > Bruce Chambers
     > Help us help you:
     > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
     > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
     > You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
     > both at once. - RAH
     >
     

     hbb | Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:00:43 GMT |

  6. "ST" <ST...discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
     news:0D34EB77-FE21-4ABE-860B-9F862CB6BFA9...microsoft.com...
     > How do I tstop the annoyance of these pop-ups? I have Comcast internet,
     and
     > have the stop pop-ups block checked in my internet preferences, but they
     keep
     > coming. Especially "Aurora"
     
     Sounds like you have the Aurora adware infection...
     http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/w...um/132409.html
     
     

     cwatters | Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:01:43 GMT |