Should a pop up box appear on your screen with the words "Messenger Service" in the title bar, highly consider turning the Messenger Service off.

Why Disable the Messenger Service? 
To remove the ability for anyone in the world to pop up messages on your computer. This technique can be used in a way that disallows a dishonest individual to trick you into clicking on the "OK" button which can contain hidden and malicious files onto your computer.  Its easy to undo at a later time if you choose to do so. (Also, visit our spyware, adware, internet security, and spyware removal page)

Note: The advice on this page is to used at your own risk and digression. Any inadvertent problems associated by using the following guidance from this page is the users responsibility.

Windows XP Home
Click Start / Settings / Control Panel 
Click Performance and Maintenance 
Click Administrative Tools 
Double click Services Scroll 
down and highlight "Messenger" 
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties. 
Click the STOP button. 
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar 
Click OK 

Windows XP Professional
Click Start / Settings / Control Panel 
Click Administrative Tools 
Click Services 
Double click Services Scroll 
down and highlight "Messenger" 
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties. 
Click the STOP button. 
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar 
Click OK 

Windows 2000
Click Start / Settings / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services 
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger" 
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties. 
Click the STOP button. 
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar 
Click OK 

Windows NT
Click Start / Control Panel 
Double Click Administrative Tools 
Select Services / Double-click on Messenger 
In the Messenger Properties window, select Stop, 
Then choose Disable as the Startup Type 
Click OK 

Windows 98 & ME
Windows Messenger Service cannot be disabled