[2Jedismom]

So this pop-up or messanger spam is part of my McAfee??? It started the minute I downloaded the program.

Rosie knows about McAfee...did yours do this??

[HairOfTheDog]

No - it is part of Windows.... but you should never see a real messenger message and he is looking into how to turn it off.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Rose and I have a different form of McAfee.

If the warning occured right after you downloaded the program and updates, then it might have been the newly-installed program trying to communicate back to it's manufacturer to register, etc.

If it hasn't occured since then, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Messenger spam is just like any other spam, it's not limited to McAfee. It sounds like the one you had may have been connected to your McAfee, though. But again, if it hasn't happened since the 13th, it may have been a one-time thing associated with the downloads and updates you installed then.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

2J, here's a Microsoft website about Messenger Spam: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

Their recommendation is to turn on the Windows XP Firewall, which should work.

Another workaround is to turn off the Messenger Service. However, that may affect legitimate programs too, so it's not generally recommended by Microsoft. Here's how to do it:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).

2. Double-click Administrative Tools.

3. Double-click Services.

4. Double-click Messenger.

5. In the "Startup type" list, choose Disabled.

6. Click Stop, and then click OK.