What is the difference between Windows Messenger and the Messenger Service?
Windows Messenger (and its sister program – MSN Messenger) are Instant Message clients, like ICQ or AOL Instant Messenger, that allow people to chat with one another across the globe. If you are wondering what the difference between Windows and MSN messenger are, another user has added a FAQ entry here to explain: /faq/8133 The Messenger Service is a service in Windows 2000 and XP that allows messages to be sent from a server to a workstation or from workstation to workstation over a network via the ‘net send’ command. Unfortunately, spammers figured out how to send spams via the service, and a recent flaw was discovered in the service that would allow a hacker to take control of the computer. If you are one of the many people who has received pop-up spam via the messenger service, or you think you might be receiving it, there is another helpful FAQ entry here that will explain how it works and tell you how to stop it from happening again: /faq/5687 In a corporate environment, network
