How to stop Messenger SPAM: Disable Windows Messenger Service
How to stop Messenger SPAM: Disable Windows Messenger Service
Annoying messages like the one shown at the bottom of this page are
invading computer screens all over the world. These "messenger spam"
ads can appear on your Windows computer screen without warning when
you least expect it - like while teaching a class or delivering a
presentation. They aren't part of an e-mail message; they just
appear on your screen. If you have an Internet connection and are
running Windows with its Messenger Service enabled, anyone in the
world can make a message pop up on your computer any time, even if
e-mail, chat, and your Web browser are closed.
By default,
Microsoft Windows operating systems (98, ME, XP, 2000, NT) have
Windows Messenger Service enabled. To eliminate messenger SPAM,
simply disable the Messenger service. It can be turned back on any
time. Note: no special software is required to get rid of
messenger SPAM.
Windows
XP
Click Start->Control Panel
For
Category View only (skip this step for Classic View), click
Performance and Maintenance
Click Administrative Tools
Double-click Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose
Properties
Click the STOP button.
Select Disabled or Manual on the Startup Type drop-down
menu
Right-click the highlighted line and choose
Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disabled or Manual on the
Startup Type drop-down menu
Click OK
Windows XP Home
Edition
Click
Start->Control Panel
Click
Administrative Tools
Click
Component Services
Double-click
Services Local
Double-click
"Messenger" to bring up the options panel
Right-click
the highlighted line and choose Properties
Click the
STOP button
Select
Disabled or Manual on the Startup Type drop-down menu
Click OK
Windows NT
Click Start
->Control Panel
Double-click
Administrative Tools
Select
Services-> Double-click on Messenger
In the
Messenger Properties window, select Stop,
Then choose
Disable as the Startup Type
Click
OK
Windows 98 &
ME
Windows Messenger Service cannot be disabled
A box like this
may appear unexpectedly on your screen if your computer has Windows Messenger
Services enabled.
Possible consequences of disabling Messenger Service
Messenger Service is sometimes used by system administrators to
advertise system shutdowns or scheduled maintenance to all users on a
domain or network segment. It can be used to pass messages to friends
and co-workers. If you turn the service off, you will not get these
messages. You may wish to check with your distributed IT provider before
disabling Windows Messenger service so that you do not inadvertently
disable a service that your department uses.
