msmsgs.exe

carlingman · 04-07-2004, 23:10

Help and advice please.

I realise msmsgs.exe is part of the Windows Messenger Service.

But all of sudden since installing Zone Alarm Pro 5 it is starting to ask for access which at present I am denying.

End tasking the program seems fine for about 2 minutes then as if by magic it appears back.

I do use MSN on occasions but is this program needed for that or anything else.

Should I just Start/Run/services.msc and disable it ??

If i do this will it cause MSN to stop working or have any other effects on the system.

Thanks

Ooops by the way

XP Pro
Zone Alram Pro 5
Nortons AV2004

**Paul** · 04-07-2004, 23:22

What is it asking for access to ?

6.2 connects to some websites to get images etc for the (advert) tabs down the side.

carlingman · 04-07-2004, 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pem

What is it asking for access to ?

6.2 connects to some websites to get images etc for the (advert) tabs down the side.

Well without MSN running just browsing here and it has popped up a Zone Alarm alert saying Messenger is trying to access the Internet.

Validation: Known Program
Application:msmsgs.exe
Destination Up:**.**.***.***
Port 1900

Then allow or deny

The above is from the standard Zone Alarm Pro Pop Up Alert.

Alert advisor gives a recommendation to allow and select remember this setting.

At this time MSN is not open and I have nothing other that a browser window open.

Maybe paranoia is setting in.

Tezcatlipoca · 04-07-2004, 23:35

I think msmsgs.exe is only for the Windows Messenger chat app (not the Messenger Service, & not MSN Messenger) - so, you should be able to stop it / get rid of it completely / deny it in ZoneAlarm, etc, & still use MSN Messenger.

You can't stop it in services.msc - you use services.msc to stop the Messenger Service (seperate thing).

For stopping Windows Messenger....

Prevent Windows Messenger from automatically starting

Windows Messenger - disable completely

Windows Messenger - remove

Also....

For Zone Alarm 5... I've seen other threads here where people have suddenly found ZA denying things after upgrading to version 5...1st I could find - http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=13450

abailey152 · 04-07-2004, 23:40

msmsgs runs in the background even when Windows Messenger is not being used.

Solution? Check this out......

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/n1059731503

BTW, Port 1900 is the Universal Plug and Play port (UPnP). Windows Messenger (and MSN Messenger) use UPnP to dynamically assign ports for various functions in Messenger (voice, Webcan etc.)

keithwalton · 04-07-2004, 23:50

You'd be best off going through the list of services that are set to run automatically and put some of them onto manual, such as remote registery and windows messages (nothing to do with msn / windows messenger) to do this right click on my computer, -> manage -> services and applications -> services.

There is a neat program that gives options for paranoid / users fed up with windows quirkyness, i cant remember it off the top of my head but i shall post it soon !

K

Tezcatlipoca · 04-07-2004, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithwalton

You'd be best off going through the list of services that are set to run automatically and put some of them onto manual, such as remote registery and windows messages (nothing to do with msn / windows messenger) to do this right click on my computer, -> manage -> services and applications -> services.

...That won't stop msmsgs.exe though.

To stop msmsgs.exe, you need to disable it from running automatically, or just remove it completely. Links are in my previous post.

But...that is still good advice, overall. There is a lot of crap running on auto in XP which can be stopped & disabled with no ill effect (e.g. Messenger Service, Remote Registry, etc, as you have mentioned).

MadGamer · 05-07-2004, 00:10

Isn't msmsgs.exe the .exe command to launch MSN Messenger?

Tezcatlipoca · 05-07-2004, 00:12

msmsgs.exe is Windows Messenger

msnmsgr.exe is MSN Messenger

keithwalton · 05-07-2004, 01:01

ah i was confused with the network messenger thing that auto runs by itself, i've just looked and its a svchost task so its not what i thought it was, but they are certainly worth disabling, i havent found the program yet that i had recently, that had a load of options to turn off anoying xp features and general possible exploits (remote messenger was one of them)

greencreeper · 05-07-2004, 04:39

Zone Alarm Pro v5 is problematic (an under statement!) - I've had to do a clean uninstall and go back to v4.5. Check out the forum - the Install one in particular.

ZA Forum

If you go to this site and find the section "Three Musketeers" you'll find utilities to turn off the main vulnerabilities/annoyances in Windows:

GRC

poolking · 05-07-2004, 11:39

I'd downgrade back to a previous version Of Zone Alarm. It has been well documented that there are problems with Version 5.

oncewas · 05-07-2004, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithwalton

ah i was confused with the network messenger thing that auto runs by itself, i've just looked and its a svchost task so its not what i thought it was, but they are certainly worth disabling, i havent found the program yet that i had recently, that had a load of options to turn off anoying xp features and general possible exploits (remote messenger was one of them)

Program you're talking about wasn't the Shields Up stuff was it?

http://www.grc.com/freepopular.htm

Stu038 · 05-07-2004, 16:02

I found unchecking it through msconfig handy.
Seems to stop it playing silly buggers but allows it to run when you start it manually.

carlingman · 08-07-2004, 00:02

Many thanks to all, but the links Tez posted seem to have hit the nail on the head.

Although my 30 day trial of Zone Alarm Pro 5 is coming to an end thankfully as it seems to be full of bugs.