My computer has recently been "attacked" from hundreds of these msn pop ups. I just came onto my computer now and Xed out a good 100 of them. Know of any good pop up blockers?

go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Servicves

Disable Messenger , wont happen again

+5 to effect. I haven't been able to stop that myself either, and it's been along time.

Also, down Spybot S&D, make sure it's updated, then run it. That'll remove any spyware like Gator (which creates popups).

[edit] fixed url tag

Thanks guys, this has helped me a great deal. + 1.

thats the first thing you do when you install windows after downloading the mountain of updates

Wow, that's incredible. Yes, normally it is the first thing that I do -- but I didn't! I've been up and running for the last 3 months and gotten nothing -- perhaps it's the router that I have?

hehe I see the return of Karma coming.... :P

[quote author=Myndfyre link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58251 date=1083590875]
Wow, that's incredible. Yes, normally it is the first thing that I do -- but I didn't! I've been up and running for the last 3 months and gotten nothing -- perhaps it's the router that I have?

hehe I see the return of Karma coming.... :P
[/quote]

My router blocks incoming traffic, so I've always left the messenger on. It's actually handy for sending messages to the rest of my family when necessary.

Get Opera. It comes with a nice pop-up blocker and you don't have to worry about IE exploits.

He wasn't talking about browser popups...but Opera is still a nice choice. ;)

[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58257 date=1083598370]
Get Opera. It comes with a nice pop-up blocker and you don't have to worry about IE exploits.
[/quote]

Better yet: FireFox 0.8.

I installed FireFox the other day, about 5 minutes later a ton of Spyware was on my computer. All I had done was read the Fire Fox page. :-\ I never disabled the service and I didn't get popups, btw. (Even before I had a router)

Your spyware most definitely did not come from Mozilla.

Is Mozilla open source? That's my main problem with Opera, since I try to stick with (support) open source software.

[quote author=Stealth link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58299 date=1083620723]
Your spyware most definitely did not come from Mozilla.
[/quote]

I found it funny it occured right after I got it though, coincidence.

Any common firewall should remedy this problem , Just have it set to filter out unwated UDP packets. (Should do this automatically).

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58300 date=1083621236]
Is Mozilla open source? That's my main problem with Opera, since I try to stick with (support) open source software.
[/quote]

Absolutely. Everything Mozilla is opensource. See their developer page for more info.

[quote author=hismajesty link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58291 date=1083618207]
I installed FireFox the other day, about 5 minutes later a ton of Spyware was on my computer. All I had done was read the Fire Fox page. :-\ I never disabled the service and I didn't get popups, btw. (Even before I had a router)
[/quote]

Hax0red by FireFox. W3C pwnz U!

Firefox is fast but that is pretty much it.

[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58345 date=1083632302]
Firefox is fast but that is pretty much it.
[/quote]

Tabbed browsing is a godsend.

Uhh...Opera has tabbed browsing, you know. :p

As does Avant Browser

[quote author=Zakath link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58360 date=1083635691]
Uhh...Opera has tabbed browsing, you know. :p
[/quote]

So does Nutscrape. :P

[quote author=Stealth link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58275 date=1083612500]
[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58257 date=1083598370]
Get Opera. It comes with a nice pop-up blocker and you don't have to worry about IE exploits.
[/quote]

Better yet: FireFox 0.8.
[/quote]

Opera is superior! :)

My view: use what's the best. Who cares if its open or commercial?

[quote author=St0rm.iD link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58717 date=1083797399]
[quote author=Stealth link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58275 date=1083612500]
[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=0#msg58257 date=1083598370]
Get Opera. It comes with a nice pop-up blocker and you don't have to worry about IE exploits.
[/quote]

Better yet: FireFox 0.8.
[/quote]

Opera is superior! :)

My view: use what's the best. Who cares if its open or commercial?
[/quote] firefox will physically bend opera over and rape it. Opera software has the nerve to put a little add in their browser when ff is completely free? hah. I have my popup blocker, my tabbed viewing my downloads menu that is in its own window and much much less annoying then the opera downloads menu/tab. I am pretty happy. Got my pimp skin and web developer tool bar in the mix too :P. Also ff has that cool favorites bar where you can have (let me count) 8 - 9 sites that you use most offten accross this bar so you do not have to pull down any menus. It is the little things like that that make mozilla so much better to browse from. Ok I just got on opera and you can do that frequent sites bar thing too... but mozilla's is better, it just is.

That's a pretty bad argument, "mozilla's better, it just is."

Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P

[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58838 date=1083882927]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P
[/quote]

Not if you're not a dumbass. I can say (knock on wood) that I have never gotten a virus from a website, and I've used IE since v4.0 on Windows 3.1.

[quote author=Myndfyre link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58850 date=1083886047]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58838 date=1083882927]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P
[/quote]

Not if you're not a dumbass. I can say (knock on wood) that I have never gotten a virus from a website, and I've used IE since v4.0 on Windows 3.1.
[/quote]

Ok, if you don't go to any sites but a safe sandbox, you're ok. But if you start following unknown links, it can happen. The fact that it CAN is enough to disuade me.

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58838 date=1083882927]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P
[/quote]

What browser can you say cannot get viruses from websites? Can you say that IE can get viruses from websites, when configured to disable scripting?

There can be no definitive certainty regarding being able to block all viruses in any browser. Invariably there is a problem with something somewhere -- it's just that they're more obvious when it happens in a Microsoft product because they're so widely circulated and used -- not to mention the anti-Microsoft people.

[quote author=Maddox link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58795 date=1083857664]
That's a pretty bad argument, "mozilla's better, it just is."
[/quote] how about: It is because I said it is. That is the arguement my parents just love to break out and I can do a thing about it. So suck on that!

[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58869 date=1083890898]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58838 date=1083882927]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P
[/quote]

What browser can you say cannot get viruses from websites? Can you say that IE can get viruses from websites, when configured to disable scripting?
[/quote] better disable those applets too, malicious applets....

[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58869 date=1083890898]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58838 date=1083882927]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P
[/quote]

What browser can you say cannot get viruses from websites? Can you say that IE can get viruses from websites, when configured to disable scripting?
[/quote]

Perhaps I should have stated "with a default install". You'd think default installs would be safe?

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58900 date=1083908558]
Perhaps I should have stated "with a default install". You'd think default installs would be safe?
[/quote]

IIRC, scripting is disabled by default in the latest IE install (Windows 2003) ?

[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58912 date=1083927017]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58900 date=1083908558]
Perhaps I should have stated "with a default install". You'd think default installs would be safe?
[/quote]

IIRC, scripting is disabled by default in the latest IE install (Windows 2003) ?
[/quote]

That is correct. Traditionally, default installs were for maximum interoperability and functionality. In today's more security-conscious world, the default installs have migrated towards safety and security.

[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58900 date=1083908558]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58869 date=1083890898]
[quote author=iago link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58838 date=1083882927]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=15#msg58837 date=1083882836]
Internet Explorer has a frequent sites bar. It's the best. :P
[/quote]

Internet Explorer can still get viruses from websites - no thanks :P
[/quote]

What browser can you say cannot get viruses from websites? Can you say that IE can get viruses from websites, when configured to disable scripting?
[/quote]

Perhaps I should have stated "with a default install". You'd think default installs would be safe?
[/quote]

You know, I think (sorry Grok) that we ought to license people to use computers.

People ought to know what security and functionality trade-offs they will have to use. They shouldn't be allowed to use a computer until they go through that.

When I install Windows, the first thing I do is spend about 4 hours configuring all of the functionality that I want out of it, and updating the software to current patches and all that. On a good day, it only takes four hours.

There's no reason for all these lame-ass people to be using a computer if they can't figure out how to go to Windows Update or use automatic updates.

I disagree with your target, but not with your fix. People should be required to have user-security training before going on the public internet. The computers should also be certified by the ISP, and make the ISP responsible for what connects to their network.

[quote author=Grok link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58943 date=1083955204]
I disagree with your target, but not with your fix. People should be required to have user-security training before going on the public internet. The computers should also be certified by the ISP, and make the ISP responsible for what connects to their network.
[/quote]

That sounds like a very bad suggestion. Your ISP would control what computers and software you could use? Goodbye choice?

[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58968 date=1083971501]
[quote author=Grok link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58943 date=1083955204]
I disagree with your target, but not with your fix. People should be required to have user-security training before going on the public internet. The computers should also be certified by the ISP, and make the ISP responsible for what connects to their network.
[/quote]

That sounds like a very bad suggestion. Your ISP would control what computers and software you could use? Goodbye choice?
[/quote]

I didn't say that.

[quote author=Grok link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58971 date=1083972209]
[quote author=Adron link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58968 date=1083971501]
[quote author=Grok link=board=2;threadid=6637;start=30#msg58943 date=1083955204]
I disagree with your target, but not with your fix. People should be required to have user-security training before going on the public internet. The computers should also be certified by the ISP, and make the ISP responsible for what connects to their network.
[/quote]

That sounds like a very bad suggestion. Your ISP would control what computers and software you could use? Goodbye choice?
[/quote]

I didn't say that.
[/quote]

I can't see how what you said wouldn't imply that. If an ISP is to certify computers before allowing them to be connected to the internet, economy will mean that they certify common things. Certifying more than very few packages would be prohibitively expensive since combinations of things often cause new security holes.

And given that the ISP is responsible for what connects to their network, they can't take any chances. Everything has to be 100% safe, so they don't get sued out of business because of a connected computer causing some kind of damage somewhere.

I suppose this is where palladium comes in handy; just require that everything in the computer be signed by the ISP, or the computer won't be allowed on the internet.