|
PureBytes Links
Trading Reference Links
|
Carroll Slemaker wrote:
>In this same vein, I have recently received several commercial
>solicitations, but via a previously unseen mode - pop-up alert windows
>from the messenger service which address me not by name but by my IP
>address! Has anyone else experienced this, and does anyone know how to
>block it (without disabling the service)?
This is easy to block. Following is a "two pronged" approach. Either
prong would work OK but both are better.
1. If you're running XP, uninstall the messenger service. This
is Microsoft's spyware, it's irritating, and ask yourself: do you
REALLY need it? The answer is a resounding No! However, Microsoft
doesn't let you un-install it (and in fact re-installs it in some
"critical updates").
Fortunately, it's easy to circumvent Bill Gates' desire for you to have
this offensive irritant running on your computer. Start->Run and then
copy and paste this line:
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
That will uninstall the messenter service. Trust me, it is not
critical to ANYTHING, and once it's gone it will stop pestering you
about getting a .NET account.
2. Don't browse with an "exposed" browser! Put it behind a filtering
proxy. I have tried many. The best I have seen is the freeware
Proxomitron, at http://www.proxomitron.org
Proxomitron is mystifying at first, but you can set it to disable
pop-up windows, but still use those pop-ups that you actually want
(like when you click on something to get help). It does a great job
of eliminating banner ads, pop-ups, malevolent javascript and other
stuff. If you want help on configuring it, write me and I'll send
you a list of what I use.
-Alex
|