Pop-up spam on your desktop
Monday, October 21, 2002 by DavidK | Discussion: WinCustomize News
NEW YORK (AP) -- As if junk e-mail and pop-up ads weren't annoying enough on their own, now there's pop-up junk e-mail. A developer of bulk-mail software has figured out how to blast computers with pop-up spam over the Internet through a messaging function on many Windows operating systems.
The pop-up messages appear on recipients' computers in separate windows, similar to pop-up ads that appear when a user goes to a Web site.
But there's a difference: Anyone can send the messages, and there's no need for the user to have an Internet browser open.
Read the full story here:
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stark23x
Reply #2 Monday, October 21, 2002 3:29 PM
Reply #2 Monday, October 21, 2002 3:29 PM
Oh crap...well, copy that last bit on to the end of the link. 
bakerstreet
Reply #3 Monday, October 21, 2002 3:35 PM
Reply #3 Monday, October 21, 2002 3:35 PM
ya gotta weed through those pesky services, MS and their silly toys...
Tarkus
Reply #4 Monday, October 21, 2002 5:19 PM
Reply #4 Monday, October 21, 2002 5:19 PM
All the more reason why it's a good idea to go through your services and make sure you don't have stuff running you don't need.
dagwinn
Reply #5 Monday, October 21, 2002 5:21 PM
Reply #5 Monday, October 21, 2002 5:21 PM
Sounds like added incentive for people to get firewalls on their PCs.
kibble
Reply #6 Monday, October 21, 2002 6:14 PM
Reply #6 Monday, October 21, 2002 6:14 PM
sounds like a virus to me. Maybe we should alert the likes of mcaffe, and norton, panda, AVG, ect. I'm sure there's a privacy boundary being trod upon here isn't there?
Woodbridge
Reply #7 Monday, October 21, 2002 6:17 PM
Reply #7 Monday, October 21, 2002 6:17 PM
Ah yes, for those who think it won't happen to them http://www.clan1234.com/bedlam/wtf.jpg This was what I woke up to this morning >
dagwinn
Reply #8 Monday, October 21, 2002 8:20 PM
Reply #8 Monday, October 21, 2002 8:20 PM
It's not a virus any more than being "pinged" is a virus. Antivirus programs don't monitor network ports, so they won't solve the problem. You need to have a firewall (or other method) that blocks access to TCP port 139.
Aqua.
Reply #9 Monday, October 21, 2002 8:49 PM
Reply #9 Monday, October 21, 2002 8:49 PM
I know, I've been getting them for about a week and a half now every couple hours. Unfortunately, most firewalls specifically do not block this from of messaging.
I know there's supposed to be a way to block it from the control panel of windows, does anyone know how to do this?
I know there's supposed to be a way to block it from the control panel of windows, does anyone know how to do this?
dagwinn
Reply #10 Monday, October 21, 2002 10:26 PM
Reply #10 Monday, October 21, 2002 10:26 PM
Zone Alarm blocks incoming NetBios messages. Most other firewalls should, but they may not be set to block that port.
Instructsion to turn it off in the XP/NT/200 control panel are at the bottom of the Screen Savers page. http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/answerstips/story/0,24330,3374542,00.html
Instructsion to turn it off in the XP/NT/200 control panel are at the bottom of the Screen Savers page. http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/answerstips/story/0,24330,3374542,00.html
dagwinn
Reply #11 Monday, October 21, 2002 10:28 PM
Reply #11 Monday, October 21, 2002 10:28 PM
Dang it...same probolem that stark23x had. If you have problems with the previous link, try this one: http://makeashorterlink.com/?M4D454432
Aqua.
Reply #12 Monday, October 21, 2002 11:05 PM
Reply #12 Monday, October 21, 2002 11:05 PM
Thanks for the link.
Here's the procecure (for the NT kernel at least):
Stop the spam
Fortunately there is an easy way to protect yourself; you must turn off the messenger service from within XP/2K/NT. Remember, if you are behind a firewall/corporate network you are most likely safe (as long as port 139 is blocked). Always check with your system administrator before making any changes to your services.
To turn off the messenger service in XP:
1. Click on the Start button and open the control panel.
2. Open the Performance and Maintenance control panel and go to Administrative Tools.
3. Now double-click on Services, then scroll to Messenger.
4. Double-click Messenger and click Stop to stop the service.
5. Change the startup type to Disable (see an example).
Here's the procecure (for the NT kernel at least):
Stop the spam
Fortunately there is an easy way to protect yourself; you must turn off the messenger service from within XP/2K/NT. Remember, if you are behind a firewall/corporate network you are most likely safe (as long as port 139 is blocked). Always check with your system administrator before making any changes to your services.
To turn off the messenger service in XP:
1. Click on the Start button and open the control panel.
2. Open the Performance and Maintenance control panel and go to Administrative Tools.
3. Now double-click on Services, then scroll to Messenger.
4. Double-click Messenger and click Stop to stop the service.
5. Change the startup type to Disable (see an example).
craeonics
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 6:08 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 6:08 AM
Good thing the first thing I did when I installed XP was to disable all possible unwanted internet options, including this one. Nasty stuff.
Orion
Reply #14 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 10:47 AM
Reply #14 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 10:47 AM
bakerstreet stated: "ya gotta weed through those pesky services, MS and their silly toys..."
Ignorance at its worst. This is a valuable and usefull tool. I use it everyday in my work. Just because some idiot finds a horrible use for a valid tool doesn't mean MS or anyone else is to blame. If you're surfing the internet unprotected with services like this exposed (like most un-informed people do), you deserve to get popups...
Yeah, lets blame all the comanies for not taking our ignorance into account.
Ignorance at its worst. This is a valuable and usefull tool. I use it everyday in my work. Just because some idiot finds a horrible use for a valid tool doesn't mean MS or anyone else is to blame. If you're surfing the internet unprotected with services like this exposed (like most un-informed people do), you deserve to get popups...
Yeah, lets blame all the comanies for not taking our ignorance into account.
geekboy2000
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 12:12 PM
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 12:12 PM
I agree and disagree, Orion. I agree that in today's society, the more one knows about *everything* the better protected you will be. However, I don't think it's reasonable to assume that everyone should know about *everything* to avoid being exploited. I drive a car, and I'm a pretty knowledgeable driver. But, generally speaking, I am just that: a driver. I can change my oil, do some repairs, etc, but I don't know the inner workings of an automatic transmission. Should I have to become a mechanic to avoid being ripped off by an auto repair service? Granted, it'll help protect me as a consumer, but it *shouldn't* be necessary. Likewise, computer users, shouldn't have to possess knowledge of every potential exploit to be safe from mass marketing scumbags.
DavidK
Reply #16 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 1:52 PM
Reply #16 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 1:52 PM
This scheme really should be illegal. What happened to the old ways of viewing privacy as in, a man's home is his castle. Computers can be extremely personal and represent for many people their most private collection of thoughts, records and information. Any intrusion into your computer from the outside should be one that you authorized for it to be legal. The whole concept of "opt out" policies shows extreme contempt for privacy. You should only be asked to "opt in" not out.
I hope this scheme gets banned by some civil authority, it probably will, but I bet it won't be because they are protecting us from giving up our right to privacy. It will be shot down because it's an irritant that crosses over financial and political boundaries. When some legislators (mostly computer illiterates) get a few of these they'll be confused enough by them to want to stop them.
It doesn't matter what service or security hole is used to do something like this, The principal is wrong. It's time to reign-in the advertisers and reclaim our world from billboards, junk mail, spam and telephone and door to door soliciting. It's insulting to people's integrity and self esteem to be bombarded by marketing constantly. When it comes uninvited into your home it's time to claim some rights of sovereignty and demand that it stop.
The use of a network messaging service to put a commercial on your desktop is crossing over a line of common decency that should outrage everyone that owns a computer. It's a tactic that only slaves would be expected to endure, because only with slavery do you have a captive audience with no rights, no voice and no freedom of choice. It will be interesting to see how fast this strategy gets legislated out of existence.... or if it will...
I hope this scheme gets banned by some civil authority, it probably will, but I bet it won't be because they are protecting us from giving up our right to privacy. It will be shot down because it's an irritant that crosses over financial and political boundaries. When some legislators (mostly computer illiterates) get a few of these they'll be confused enough by them to want to stop them.
It doesn't matter what service or security hole is used to do something like this, The principal is wrong. It's time to reign-in the advertisers and reclaim our world from billboards, junk mail, spam and telephone and door to door soliciting. It's insulting to people's integrity and self esteem to be bombarded by marketing constantly. When it comes uninvited into your home it's time to claim some rights of sovereignty and demand that it stop.
The use of a network messaging service to put a commercial on your desktop is crossing over a line of common decency that should outrage everyone that owns a computer. It's a tactic that only slaves would be expected to endure, because only with slavery do you have a captive audience with no rights, no voice and no freedom of choice. It will be interesting to see how fast this strategy gets legislated out of existence.... or if it will...
craeonics
Reply #17 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 2:06 PM
Reply #17 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 2:06 PM
Hmm, your description somehow reminds me of tv. Not sure if they'll do anything about it though. What I wonder is how these messages get triggered. Via email? Or just by being online!
DavidK
Reply #18 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 2:51 PM
Reply #18 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 2:51 PM
crae - the difference is if you choose to watch a commercial program you are opting in to the commercials the TV station puts in with the programming. This strategy would be like an advertisier being allowed to take over the broadcast, putting their message in front of you while the program you're trying to watch continues in the background obscurred by the ad placed in front of it.
Since it uses port 139 I assume it works just by being online. It shouldn't need a browser or email client to do its thing. I can't imagine this will last very long, maybe only a few weeks before it's outlawed with some severe penalties for using it. It's just too outrageous...
Since it uses port 139 I assume it works just by being online. It shouldn't need a browser or email client to do its thing. I can't imagine this will last very long, maybe only a few weeks before it's outlawed with some severe penalties for using it. It's just too outrageous...
geekboy2000
Reply #20 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 8:15 PM
Reply #20 Tuesday, October 22, 2002 8:15 PM
I'm not sure Tarkus, but that doesn't stop the French from trying.
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Reply #1 Monday, October 21, 2002 3:28 PM