Re: [APML] Off Topic- Pop Up Instant Messages

["Jeff Crilly" <jlcphoto@myrealbox.com>]

> From: "Alan Voetsch" <critter12952@yahoo.com>
>  
> Just followed all your instructions so it should be disabled. I guess
> if there aren't any more pop-ups getting zapped, I'll know it works.
> What I want to know is: how do people like you know these kinds of
> things? Man that's awesome.
> 

No doubt some folks here are as meticulous with windows
as they are with their astrophotography technique.
(me, I'm just a programmer so I have to know about
this stuff.)

Fwiw, the "messenger" service is a thing done by microsoft
so other apps on the machine or 'network' can ping the user on a machine.
Its only a windows thing and is darn annoying when abused.

In dsl/cable-modem world, the 'network' for our
lowly windows machines is the big Internet.  I guess the
makers of windows assumed that the 'network' was going
to be an 'office network'; e.g. limited access (ok.. bit
of sarcasm there.)  In any event, I've found the out-of-
the-box windows install to be mostly unsecure from a network perspective.
(just my opinion... i'm sure there are folks here that
have secured their windows setup.  I'd rather not debate it...
my only experience is first hand reports of infections, etc.)

Fwiw, I run firewall software on a mac os x box (basically
unix), and get tons of hits a day from 'probes' trying to
violate windows machines.  (I've since moved my windows 
machine off the dsl and behind the os x firewall.)

A better solution is just to buy one of those 
off-the-shelf firewalls.  (possibly netgear?)

Frankly, imo, the DSL/cable-modem providers should
give firewalls to their users at no charge.
(probably a legal issue.)

jeff

_______________________________________________
Astro-Photo mailing list
Astro-Photo@seds.org
http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo