We all get it and we all hate it. What might IT be? SPAM, of course.
I looked up the definition for SPAM on the Internet and quickly found several definitions which up until recently would have been perfectly acceptable.
The problem? The definitions I found limited SPAM to "unsolicited and unwanted e-mail." Despite being correct, the definitions are no longer complete. In an effort to bypass junk folders and SPAM filters, the Spammers of the world have become more resourceful and have begun using a Windows administrative tool.
NET SEND is a simple command that can be invoked from any computer running Windows NT, 2000, or XP on a network to send a broadcast message to individual computers, user, or an entire domain.
The result? A popup message resembling the following image:
Although NET SEND is a useful tool for network administrators to communicate messages to end users, it can be quite annoying or even disturbing when used by the wrong person.
I once received a NET SEND message that contained the text, "Your computer has been infected with X virus, please visit http://www.example.com to remove." Had I not been an IT professional familiar with the NET SEND command, I may have been tempted to visit the web site and who knows what would have been waiting for me there.
Ok, so now that we understand the problem at hand let's fix it.
Disabling the Windows Messenger service is a relatively easy process which I've outlined below.
- Click on Start and then go to Run...
- Type services.msc in the drop down textbox and press enter (a window should popup and after a few seconds will display a list of services).
- Scroll down until you find the Messenger service.
- Right click on Messenger and go to Properties.
- On the General tab, look for the drop down box that says Startup Type
- Select Manual or Disabled from the drop down box.
- Click the Stop button immediately beneath the drop down box.
- Click OK.
That's all there is to it! You will no longer receive any annoying or potentially dangerous SPAM sent using the NET SEND command.
NOTE: You may want to check with your network administrator before turning the Windows Messenger service off. Generally this shouldn't give them any heartburn, but asking would be the polite thing to do. :-)
Until next week, take care!
Ryan J. Graham
President
Odyssey Computer Solutions, Inc.
www.odyssey-computers.com