Name automatically changes on MSN Messenger 7.0

Hi everyone. My brother is having a problem with MSN Messenger version 7.0 on
Windows 2000. Sometimes when he signs in, his display name is "Dude", having
been changed on its own. He ran a virus scan, it found something. I googled
something to specifically find viruses that target MSN Messenger, that found
nothing.

This is a recent thing, within the last week or two. What is going on with
this?

Thanks.

Nemephosis,
I do not know the direct answer to your question, but two suggestions:
1. if Windows Security Essentials also runs on Win 2000, then
a. download same,
b. remove your current antivirus software
c. install Windows Security Essentials which is free and excellent (and I
do not work for microsoft and often rant and rave negatively over their
products).

2. The other solution:
Go to http://malwarebytes.org
from there and only from there download their antimalwarebytes program
There are many, many sites-most malicious-phishing antimalware which is
why I'm emphatic about going to the specified site to download
AntimalwareBytes.

After downloading, disable the present antivirus software (not necessary
if you're av software is Windows Security Essentials) and then install, run,
update and run again AntiMalwareBytes.

Be forewarned, the program has two scan options--quick and complete.
Quick is quite good and will take about 20 minutes. The complete will take
between 1-2 hours. This program is excellent and has been praised by
several MVPs.

Let us know the results.





"Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
news:55A52570-214B-42E2-A454-...
> Hi everyone. My brother is having a problem with MSN Messenger version 7.0
> on
> Windows 2000. Sometimes when he signs in, his display name is "Dude",
> having
> been changed on its own. He ran a virus scan, it found something. I
> googled
> something to specifically find viruses that target MSN Messenger, that
> found
> nothing.
>
> This is a recent thing, within the last week or two. What is going on with
> this?
>
> Thanks.

Okay, we tried what you said. Malwarebytes found three infected files, they
were removed, but the display name was still changed to Dude upon signing in.
And Security Essentials did not install on Windows 2000, it said it requires
XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

Is there anything else we can try?

"asdf fdsa" wrote:

> Nemephosis,
> I do not know the direct answer to your question, but two suggestions:
> 1. if Windows Security Essentials also runs on Win 2000, then
> a. download same,
> b. remove your current antivirus software
> c. install Windows Security Essentials which is free and excellent (and I
> do not work for microsoft and often rant and rave negatively over their
> products).
>
> 2. The other solution:
> Go to http://malwarebytes.org
> from there and only from there download their antimalwarebytes program
> There are many, many sites-most malicious-phishing antimalware which is
> why I'm emphatic about going to the specified site to download
> AntimalwareBytes.
>
> After downloading, disable the present antivirus software (not necessary
> if you're av software is Windows Security Essentials) and then install, run,
> update and run again AntiMalwareBytes.
>
> Be forewarned, the program has two scan options--quick and complete.
> Quick is quite good and will take about 20 minutes. The complete will take
> between 1-2 hours. This program is excellent and has been praised by
> several MVPs.
>
> Let us know the results.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
> news:55A52570-214B-42E2-A454-...
> > Hi everyone. My brother is having a problem with MSN Messenger version 7.0
> > on
> > Windows 2000. Sometimes when he signs in, his display name is "Dude",
> > having
> > been changed on its own. He ran a virus scan, it found something. I
> > googled
> > something to specifically find viruses that target MSN Messenger, that
> > found
> > nothing.
> >
> > This is a recent thing, within the last week or two. What is going on with
> > this?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> .
>

Nemephosis,
Change the messenger account password,
edit the display name to something else,
edit the display name back to the desired display name.

karl


"Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
news:2F09A3F2-748E-4C35-9E8B-...
> Okay, we tried what you said. Malwarebytes found three infected files,
> they
> were removed, but the display name was still changed to Dude upon signing
> in.
> And Security Essentials did not install on Windows 2000, it said it
> requires
> XP, Vista, or Windows 7.
>
> Is there anything else we can try?
>
> "asdf fdsa" wrote:
>
>> Nemephosis,
>> I do not know the direct answer to your question, but two suggestions:
>> 1. if Windows Security Essentials also runs on Win 2000, then
>> a. download same,
>> b. remove your current antivirus software
>> c. install Windows Security Essentials which is free and excellent
>> (and I
>> do not work for microsoft and often rant and rave negatively over their
>> products).
>>
>> 2. The other solution:
>> Go to http://malwarebytes.org
>> from there and only from there download their antimalwarebytes program
>> There are many, many sites-most malicious-phishing antimalware which
>> is
>> why I'm emphatic about going to the specified site to download
>> AntimalwareBytes.
>>
>> After downloading, disable the present antivirus software (not
>> necessary
>> if you're av software is Windows Security Essentials) and then install,
>> run,
>> update and run again AntiMalwareBytes.
>>
>> Be forewarned, the program has two scan options--quick and complete.
>> Quick is quite good and will take about 20 minutes. The complete will
>> take
>> between 1-2 hours. This program is excellent and has been praised by
>> several MVPs.
>>
>> Let us know the results.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
>> news:55A52570-214B-42E2-A454-...
>> > Hi everyone. My brother is having a problem with MSN Messenger version
>> > 7.0
>> > on
>> > Windows 2000. Sometimes when he signs in, his display name is "Dude",
>> > having
>> > been changed on its own. He ran a virus scan, it found something. I
>> > googled
>> > something to specifically find viruses that target MSN Messenger, that
>> > found
>> > nothing.
>> >
>> > This is a recent thing, within the last week or two. What is going on
>> > with
>> > this?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>>
>> .
>>

Nemephosis,
An excellent answer to a similar problem was given in another message.

I have taken the liberty of copying the answer and am pasting it here but
the credit for this belongs to "patndoris"
Begin Quote:
After you have made sure your machine is clean, please change the password
associated with your Live ID. Chances are your credentials have been
compromised and the messages are actually being sent from a remote server.
For more information on how this happens please see this post by Jonathan
Kay
on avoiding phishing scams and staying safe in WLM.
http://messengergeek.spaces.live.com...DA1!2285.entry
end quote:

karl


"Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
news:2F09A3F2-748E-4C35-9E8B-...
> Okay, we tried what you said. Malwarebytes found three infected files,
> they
> were removed, but the display name was still changed to Dude upon signing
> in.
> And Security Essentials did not install on Windows 2000, it said it
> requires
> XP, Vista, or Windows 7.
>
> Is there anything else we can try?
>
> "asdf fdsa" wrote:
>
>> Nemephosis,
>> I do not know the direct answer to your question, but two suggestions:
>> 1. if Windows Security Essentials also runs on Win 2000, then
>> a. download same,
>> b. remove your current antivirus software
>> c. install Windows Security Essentials which is free and excellent
>> (and I
>> do not work for microsoft and often rant and rave negatively over their
>> products).
>>
>> 2. The other solution:
>> Go to http://malwarebytes.org
>> from there and only from there download their antimalwarebytes program
>> There are many, many sites-most malicious-phishing antimalware which
>> is
>> why I'm emphatic about going to the specified site to download
>> AntimalwareBytes.
>>
>> After downloading, disable the present antivirus software (not
>> necessary
>> if you're av software is Windows Security Essentials) and then install,
>> run,
>> update and run again AntiMalwareBytes.
>>
>> Be forewarned, the program has two scan options--quick and complete.
>> Quick is quite good and will take about 20 minutes. The complete will
>> take
>> between 1-2 hours. This program is excellent and has been praised by
>> several MVPs.
>>
>> Let us know the results.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
>> news:55A52570-214B-42E2-A454-...
>> > Hi everyone. My brother is having a problem with MSN Messenger version
>> > 7.0
>> > on
>> > Windows 2000. Sometimes when he signs in, his display name is "Dude",
>> > having
>> > been changed on its own. He ran a virus scan, it found something. I
>> > googled
>> > something to specifically find viruses that target MSN Messenger, that
>> > found
>> > nothing.
>> >
>> > This is a recent thing, within the last week or two. What is going on
>> > with
>> > this?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>>
>> .
>>

He's changed the password, but no messages are being sent out, it seems, the
display name just keeps being changed.

I'll let you know if it keeps happening after this. Thanks.

Hi,

Just to confirm, he hasn't set his first name to Dude in his Live profile (just to verify
it's not getting it from that)?

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
news:10613D8D-452D-46CD-99F3-...
> He's changed the password, but no messages are being sent out, it seems, the
> display name just keeps being changed.
>
> I'll let you know if it keeps happening after this. Thanks.

I am fairly sure, I'll ask him tomorrow when he is available again. But then
my Windows Live Messenger doesn't do that to me... he's on MSN Messenger 7.0
on Windows 2000.

I don't suppose uninstalling and reinstalling might help?

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Just to confirm, he hasn't set his first name to Dude in his Live profile (just to verify
> it's not getting it from that)?
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> (c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
> --
>
>
> "Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
> news:10613D8D-452D-46CD-99F3-...
> > He's changed the password, but no messages are being sent out, it seems, the
> > display name just keeps being changed.
> >
> > I'll let you know if it keeps happening after this. Thanks.
>
>
> .
>

Hi,

In the older versions this was actually more common to happen depending on certain
circumstances and additionally there has been an ongoing problem recently with display names
and the old Windows Messenger (not Live) - so this may be connected.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
news:9D07EBA7-3886-4D53-9D70-...
> I am fairly sure, I'll ask him tomorrow when he is available again. But then
> my Windows Live Messenger doesn't do that to me... he's on MSN Messenger 7.0
> on Windows 2000.
>
> I don't suppose uninstalling and reinstalling might help?
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Just to confirm, he hasn't set his first name to Dude in his Live profile (just to verify
>> it's not getting it from that)?
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
>> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
>> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> (c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
>> --
>>
>>
>> "Nemephosis" <> wrote in message
>> news:10613D8D-452D-46CD-99F3-...
>> > He's changed the password, but no messages are being sent out, it seems, the
>> > display name just keeps being changed.
>> >
>> > I'll let you know if it keeps happening after this. Thanks.
>>
>>
>> .
>>

Okay well he tells me his profile is untouched. Of course we would use WLM if
it were feasible but of course, you can't do that on Windows 2000.

What is the latest version of MSN Messenger BEFORE it became Windows Live
Messenger and unsupported in Windws 2000? I suppose we could try installing
that, unless 7.0 is it.