XP Firewall Question

I did a search on this before I post and didnt see an answere so I'll post it. Sorry if I missed something on the search.
I have been getting pop up adds on my PC when I wake up in the morning I leave the PC on 24/7. The browser is not running and the adds don't look like a web page. I am connected to a cable modem with an SMC router that has its fire wall stuff turned on. I also have other PC's connected to this network. I can turn on the XP Firewall, but then the other PC's can no longer see this machine on the net. I see in the advanced settings that I can create a port with a given IP. But not sure what Port I should give it. Any info would help.

Thanks
Greg

 

Courtesy of Jonathon Kay (MVP):

 

Thank you Bret, I wonder why they just started poping up. Had folks 800 number and all.

Greg

 

They're a relatively new innovation

 

I have also noticed these pop-ups lately so I followed the instructions to turn off and disable the messenger service.

I wondered if it would be possible to set a firewall to block these messages from outside the local network while still allowing computers on the local network to message each other. I note that this service appears to be provided by 'svchost' so just setting up my firewall to block all activity by 'svchost' may stop other acceptable services provided by svchost from working correctly. Is there a way to stop just the messaging across a firewall, e.g. does it use specific ports,etc.?

Regards,
Selwyn

 

I have read that the messages use 135.

 

skaickin - take a look. Svchost is a strange one.

Q314056 A Description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP

 

Arie Wrote:
"A bit difficult for me to test though, sure, on occasion I do get one of these, but there can be weeks between them.... "

The reason they are weeks apart at present may be because not many spammers have caught on to the idea yet. however, when they do, and I'm sure it is just a matter oftime before they do, there is likely to be a flood of these things coming in. Wouldn't it be nice to be ahead of the spammers for a change?!

Regards,
Selwyn