A Bit Concerned

[TheKiler]

I'm a bit concerned. I got this message that popped out on my computer. Should I be worried?

http://www.codehappy.net/ipaddress/ad.png

[zapjb]

No. Turn off your messenger spam.

[xxxSHARExxx]

wat kind of message

need more info on the message

[Turkishjade]

Well, actually all computers have their IP address public. Zone Alarm, or a similar firewall, can hide the last octet of your IP to make things dificult for a hacker, but there is very little you can do to make yourself totally invisible. You will still get people who scan IP ranges no matter what you use.

ZAPJB is right, go into Start/Settings/ControlPanel/Administrative/Services and scroll down to MESSENGER and disable it. It's a pain in the arse.

However, since you are asking this question, you may not know about software that you can install to protect yourself. There is a great thing in the sticky section at the top of software world that will tell you all of the options you have. Here is what I use and I haven't been infected with anything in the last year:

The free version of Zone Alarm (firewall) here (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=zaskulist_download)
The latest version of Proxomitron (ip address blocker/sortof...like hosts.txt) here (http://www.proxomitron.info/files/index.shtml)
The free version of Adaware (adware and malware blocker) here (http://download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button)
The free version of AVG Antivirus (antivirus) here (http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/lng/us/doc/2/tpl/v5)

Whatever TYPE of software you don't have, you should install and learn how to use. Like if you don't have an adware blocker, you should, at the very least, look into Adaware. Some people say Spyblocker is better. But you should at least install something.

They are not the best, but they are free. In particular, Proxomitron still works but is no longer supported...I just don't have the patience to look for something else. Adaware is forcing users everywhere to start running HiJackThis! because things are slipping through that are redirecting you to load toolbars and other things. AVG and Zone Alarm do regular updates and seem to be pretty solid though.

Finally, to protect yourself a little bit more from SPAM abuse, whenever you post your email address on a website, use USERNAME AT DOMAIN instead of USERNAME@DOMAIN, that way email trollers won't put you onto some freaky mailing list. I actually try to use the MAILINATOR as much as possible that way SPAM will go to a non-existant address.

Oh, and whenever you get popups about software that IE wants to load, first try clicking the X then try choosing NO because automatically installing things you don't know is bad. ( with the exclusion, obviously, being things coming from websites you do know.)

Good luck!

edited to add: Explanation of what the different softwares do and that you don't have to download and install something you already have.

[tesco]

It's just a popup, ignore it.

Get a popup blocker, admuncher is good, or switch to firefox and you won't need one...

[TheKiler]

My admuncher is half white and half red. It looks queer...

[AndrewBarker]

Originally posted by TheKiler@10 July 2004 - 04:29
My admuncher is half white and half red. It looks queer...
its probably sunburn, have you had him facing the same way all the time :P

[hungrylilboy]

Originally posted by TheKiler@10 July 2004 - 04:29
My admuncher is half white and half red. It looks queer...
:D :D
Hungrylilboy
http://img69.photobucket.com/albums/v211/hungrylilboy/Footsteps_2a.gif

[shn]

Well it's true. Your computer is broadcasting an ip address and with that a certain species of basement rats may commence in attacking your computer. You have been warned.................twice.

[Chewie]

Originally posted by shn@10 July 2004 - 11:25
Well it's true. Your computer is broadcasting an ip address and with that a certain species of basement rats may commence in attacking your computer. You have been warned.................twice.
Not strictly accurate, your computer doesn't broadcast it's IP address by default. Install a trojan and it certainly will, though.

[shn]

Originally posted by Chewie UK+10 July 2004 - 06:17--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Chewie UK &#064; 10 July 2004 - 06:17)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin-shn@10 July 2004 - 11:25
Well it&#39;s true.&nbsp; Your computer is broadcasting an ip address and with that a certain species of basement rats may commence in attacking your computer.&nbsp; You have been warned.................twice.
Not strictly accurate, your computer doesn&#39;t broadcast it&#39;s IP address by default. Install a trojan and it certainly will, though.[/b][/quote]
So you don&#39;t broadcast your ip or at least an ip of some kind when you post on public discussion boards?

[Chewie]

Originally posted by shn@10 July 2004 - 15:26
So you don&#39;t broadcast your ip or at least an ip of some kind when you post on public discussion boards?
No.
A broadcast is a transmission that is open to anyone and everyone at the time of transmission.
When you post to a bulletin board, you transmit your IP to the computer that the board is hosted on and no other. What that board does with it (make it available to admins/mods/everyone) is something else entirely.

Think of it this way...
A broadcast is like a radio show, while posting to a board is like a phone call.

Incidentally, how does a haxor look out for any broadcasting PC? A piece of software that is listening for a certain signal saying <comp_name> is online at 205.195.51.3? They would be inundated 24/7/365.

edit: spelling

[sparsely]

sorry...this thread just reminded me of this

http://sparsely.net/linkimg/wizard.gif

[Chewie]

Originally posted by Sparsely@10 July 2004 - 19:24
http://sparsely.net/linkimg/wizard.gif[/font]
LOLOL :D

[C-Sharp]

Originally posted by Sparsely@10 July 2004 - 19:24
sorry...this thread just reminded me of this

http://sparsely.net/linkimg/wizard.gif
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :D

[shn]

Originally posted by Chewie UK+10 July 2004 - 13:11--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Chewie UK @ 10 July 2004 - 13:11)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-shn@10 July 2004 - 15:26
So you don&#39;t broadcast your ip or at least an ip of some kind when you post on public discussion boards?
No.
A broadcast is a transmission that is open to anyone and everyone at the time of transmission.
When you post to a bulletin board, you transmit your IP to the computer that the board is hosted on and no other. What that board does with it (make it available to admins/mods/everyone) is something else entirely.

Think of it this way...
A broadcast is like a radio show, while posting to a board is like a phone call.

Incidentally, how does a haxor look out for any broadcasting PC? A piece of software that is listening for a certain signal saying <comp_name> is online at 205.195.51.3? They would be inundated 24/7/365.

edit: spelling [/b][/quote]
I know what a broadcast is. I took you as speaking in a literal sense, meaning you are literally blatantly broadcasting your ip anytime you "transmit" any data.

The broadcast you are speaking of is like wireless routers or dhcp servers broadcasting so other clients can know they exist in order to get on the network or obtain a valid ip of some sort. That was not what I was referring to.

[sparsely]

sparsely likes her ^

:P

[Chewie]

Originally posted by shn@11 July 2004 - 01:45
The broadcast you are speaking of is like wireless routers or dhcp servers broadcasting so other clients can know they exist in order to get on the network or obtain a valid ip of some sort. That was not what I was referring to.
I know what you were referring to and when you post to a forum, your computer isn&#39;t broadcasting the information, although the forum may publish your IP and narrowcast it to people permitted to view it.