Tech Tips

Disable Windows Messenger

Question: Advertisements that look like normal Windows messages keep popping up on my screen, even when I'm not at the computer. How can I stop this?

Answer: These ads are delivered through the Windows Messenger service, which is a piece of software built into newer versions of windows that allows business to quickly send messages to all their users. Because Windows turns this service on by default, spammers exploit it to send advertisements to your computer.

To remove the Windows Messenger service from Windows XP, you must have Service Pack 1 - or later - installed (this can be done through Windows Update). First click on your Start button, then on "Control Panel," then on "Add or Remove Programs." Now click on "Add/Remove Windows Components" - you should see an entry for Windows Messenger, click on the check box next to it so that it is un-checked. Now click "Next," then "Finish" - you should also restart your computer to make sure that the service is no longer running.

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