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Stopping
Those Annoying Messenger Popup Boxes
How to get rid of those popup messenger
boxes (csrss.exe) without buying expensive software.
::
Downloadable
PDF (190kb)
- with free distribution rights (right-click and
select Save As)
BEFORE
you spend money on buying software to stop these boxes, read this
first!
WHAT
ARE THEY?
A lot of us have probably seen them, tried to destroy them, run
every type of scanner we own on them and came up frustratingly
blank.
(an example of the popup boxes)
They’re
those grey boxes that pop up while you’re connected to the
internet labelled “Messenger”. They advertise anything
from pop-up blockers to some seriously weird and disturbing pornographic
collections, right through to fake system scans and errors.
Pop-up
blockers don’t block them, virus scanners don’t find
them, spyware/adware scanners ignore them and a Windows Ctrl-Alt-Del
won’t allow you to shut the service down.
Why?!
Easy
– it’s not a pop-up box, it’s not a virus and
it’s not spyware or adware. It is a Windows service. It’s
software that is built in to your Windows operating system and
has been hijacked by spammers.
It
is actually quite a brilliant method of spam – well thought
out, well planned and well implemented. It’s almost a pity
we have to destroy them. Oh why oh why could they not use their
powers for good instead of evil?
SEEK
AND DESTROY:
Now that we know what it is, lets shut it down. All Windows services
are listed in a section of your operating system called “Computer
Management”. This is where we’ll find Messenger, and
shut it down.
To
shut it down:
Right-click
on your My Computer icon and select
Manage.
The
following box will pop up.
(Windows Computer Management box)
Select from the menu on the left Services
and Applications. Then in the box on the right, double-click
on Services.
Scroll
down the list until you find Messenger,
and then double-click it.
You’ll see the following box appear:
(Messenger service properties box)
Before
we shut it down, click on the Dependencies
tab. It will load another screen with two boxes. One box describes
what Messenger depends on to run, the lower box will tell you
what software on your computer depends on Messenger to operate.
If there is something in this box that you need, or think you
need, then don’t shut it down. It most cases however this
box will be blank.
Click
on the General tab so that we see
our original screen as pictures above.
Firstly
we need to change the Startup type. Click on the dropdown
box and select Disable. This
means next time you start your computer it won’t automatically
run.
Now
we’ll shut it down for this Windows session.
Under
the Service status heading, click
on the Stop button. It will take
a few seconds and then Windows will shut it down for you.
Now
you’re all done! Click
on the OK button, and then exit out of all the windows you have
open.
No
more annoying popup messenger boxes!
You
can now put your unused credit card back into the safety of your
wallet. No software is needed!
SUMMARY:
The
Messenger box is a Windows service, and therefore we were able
to shut it down through a Windows option.
To
keep your computer clean, it’s also a great idea to scan
your computer for virus’s, set up a firewall and also scan
for adware/spyware often.
::
Downloadable
PDF (190kb)
- with free distribution rights (right-click and select Save As)
Legal
Disclaimer: The above information is provided free of charge for
your conveniance only. Sam Stephens, samstephens.net or tacticalsuccess.com
is not responsible for any damage resulting from the use or misuse
of this information. This information is provided free, as is,
with no warranty of any kind.
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