Windows Messenger Service

DO IT:  Once – now!

Before you skip over this section because you think it doesn’t apply to you. . .  I can almost guarantee you it does.  Windows Messenger Service is not to be confused with Microsoft Messenger, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, or any other instant messaging product. 

Windows Messenger Service started way back in the days of mainframe computing (centuries ago in the computer world!).  It is a way for mainframe and network administrators to broadcast an emergency text message to all users – and it is something you DO NOT need. 

The problem is, Windows Messenger Service can be used by spammers, hackers and other evil-doers to send you untraceable messages.  Worse yet, hackers can use Windows Messenger Service to break into your system and do anything from installing programs and viruses to stealing your identity. 

For some reason, Microsoft saw fit to install and enable Windows Messenger Service in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP (Home and Professional), and Windows 2003.   Even Microsoft issued a Security Bulletin MS03-043 instructing you to disable Windows Messenger Service: (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx). 

So turn off Windows Messenger Service.  Now. 
 
There are two ways to accomplish this.  One is to do it manually.  It’s actually pretty simple.  The other way is to download a small utility – we’ll cover that next. 

NOTE:  Unfortunately, you cannot disable this utility if you run Microsoft 98/ME.

Let’s start with the manual method:

For Windows 2000 

Step 1:
Click Start » Settings » Control Panel » Administrative Tools » Services

Step 2:
Single click on Messenger (just highlighting it).

Step 3:
Right click the highlighted Messenger line and choose Properties.

Step 4:
Click Stop.

Step 5:
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar.

Step 6: 
Click OK.

For Windows XP Home 

Step 1:
Click Start » Settings » Control Panel

Step 2:
Click Performance and Maintenance.

Step 3:
Click Administrative Tools.

Step 4:
Double Click Services. 

Step 5:
Single click on Messenger (just highlighting it).

Step 6:
Right click the highlighted Messenger line and choose Properties.

Step 7:
Click Stop.

Step 8:
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar.

Step 9: 
Click OK.

For Windows XP Professional 

Step 1:
Click Start » Settings » Control Panel

Step 2:
Double click Administrative Tools.

Step 3:
Double click Services. 

Step 4:
Single click on Messenger (just highlighting it).

Step 5:
Right click the highlighted Messenger line and choose Properties.

Step 6:
Click Stop.

Step 7:
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar.

Step 8: 
Click OK.

For Windows NT

Step 1:
Click Start » Control Panel

Step 2:
Double click Administrative Tools.

Step 3:
Select Services » Messenger.

Step 4:
In the Messenger Properties window, select Stop.

Step 5:
Choose Disable as the Startup Type.

Step 6: 
Click OK.

Now, you may want to bypass the manual steps and just automate the process.  There’s a free utility download called Shoot the Messenger by Steve Gibson of Gibson Research Corporation (very reputable and trusted source).  To date, this little program has been downloaded over 2 million times and it’s downloaded over 500 times a day.  He’s doing something right! 

Here are the instructions: 

Step 1:
Click http://grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

Step 2:
Click the Download now button. 

















Step 3:
Click Save File or Run.  If you Save the file, save it to your Desktop so you can find it easily.

Step 4:
If you Saved the file, go to your desktop and double click the ShootTheMessenger icon.  If you clicked Run, just click Run again.  Even though this is an “Unknown Publisher,” Gibson Research is a well known and trusted source. 

Step 5:
A window appears telling you if the Windows Messenger Service is running on your computer (mine says disabled because I did this a while ago!).  Click on the button that says Disable Messenger (it will be where the Enable Messenger appears below). 

Step 6:
Click Exit – and that’s it!  If you clicked Run and not Save in Step 3, the program did not did not install on your computer, so there’s nothing to delete.  If you clicked Save, just go back to your Desktop, right-click the ShootTheMessenger icon, and left-click Delete.