Critical error messsage

[Bill Ridgeway]

I have installed Windows (supplied by Client), Norton Internet Security
(new) and a Speedtouch driver (used without previous problem) to fresh hard
disk drive. On going into Norton LiveUpdate to get NIS really up-to-date I
get a message -

Messenger Service
Message from Local System to Use on (date & time)
CRITICAL ERROR MESSAGE! - REGISTRY DAMAGED AND CORRUPTED
To FIX this problem ... VISIT www.registrycleanerxp.com IMMEDIATELY!

I assumed that I had been unlucky in acquiring spyware before NIS had a
chance to be fully up-to-date. I checked (on my own fully up-to-date
computer) all three CDs for threats and reinstalled everything again (quick
hard disk format this time) and got the same message.

Have I been really unlucky in acquiring the same spyware a second time? Any
other ideas please?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

[Andy Walker]

Bill Ridgeway wrote:

>I have installed Windows (supplied by Client), Norton Internet Security
>(new) and a Speedtouch driver (used without previous problem) to fresh hard
>disk drive. On going into Norton LiveUpdate to get NIS really up-to-date I
>get a message -
>
>Messenger Service
>Message from Local System to Use on (date & time)
>CRITICAL ERROR MESSAGE! - REGISTRY DAMAGED AND CORRUPTED
>To FIX this problem ... VISIT www.registrycleanerxp.com IMMEDIATELY!
>
>I assumed that I had been unlucky in acquiring spyware before NIS had a
>chance to be fully up-to-date. I checked (on my own fully up-to-date
>computer) all three CDs for threats and reinstalled everything again (quick
>hard disk format this time) and got the same message.
>
>Have I been really unlucky in acquiring the same spyware a second time? Any
>other ideas please?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Bill Ridgeway
>Computer Solutions

It looks like messenger spam. Run ShoottheMessenger
http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm and turn off Windows
Messaging service. Why NIS would allow messaging spam through the
firewall is the odd thing.

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Bill Ridgeway wrote:

> I assumed that I had been unlucky in acquiring spyware before NIS had
> a chance to be fully up-to-date.

You have 20 minutes or less.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08..._in20_minutes/

There was a followup article that said more recently 12 minutes is now
the better estimate. Ah, here it is:
http://www.crn.com/security/165700440

That's an article from over two years old; it is probably worse now. Do
you have a router and/or firewall in place before you go online?

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck