How to (easily!)
turn off Windows Messenger Service
Should a pop up box appear on
your screen with the words "Messenger Service" in the title bar such as
the one below, chances are that you have Windows Messenger Services
enabled.
In their initial state, Microsoft Windows operating systems (98, ME, XP,
2000, NT) allow anyone on the internet to pop up Windows on your screen.
There is no need for them to know anything about your computer and your
computer does not care who does it.
Even less savory individuals may pop up messages on your screen that try
to fool you into taking actions that may not be in your best interest.
The important thing to remember is that anyone, anywhere in the world can
pop up one of these messages on your computer. At this time it looks as
though all these messages will have "Messenger Service" in the Window
title.
To remove the ability for
anyone in the world to pop up messages on your computer, you can disable
the Messenger service. It's easy to reverse at a later time if you wish to
do so.
Windows 2000
Click Start/Programs/Administrative Tools/Services
or,
Start/Settings/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Then go-to the top bar of the window and click the properties icon. A
property window comes up.
Scroll down to "Startup."
Select Disable or Manual
Click OK
Windows XP
Click Start->Control Panel
On your left, click "Classic View"
Click Administrative Tools
Double click Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Go to "Service status" and click the STOP button.
Scroll up to "Startup Type" and select "Disable" or "Manual"
from the drop down menu.
Click OK
Windows NT
Click Start ->Control Panel
Click Performance and Maintenance
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
