MS netpassport question

[waiting]

What is microsoft netpassport? Is it just a trap just
to receive more viruses?

[jhirst]

Microsoft net passport allows you access to .NET Passport-participating sites and services using one username and password. It is safe and you will probably end up needing it for something. You will get a passport when you have a hotmail account. It is not a trap.

[pam123]

It's not a trap but it's not popular either.
It was, originally, supposed to make shopping on the net easier by putting all your info in one username/ passport folder that you could use everywhere.
That never caught on.
The one time I came across it was when I tried to buy an e-book from Amazon. After giving it some thought I bought the e-book from Fictionwise, which didn't require a net passport account, and chalked up the $3.97 to learning.
M$ was counting on it's all pervadingness to make it "THE" way to shop the net but except for the occassional hold over, like e-books at Amazon, no reseller uses it so it's pointless now.
As for me, whenever I reformat XP I disable it.
I would consider it a vestigial organ, like an appendix, of no use and likely to cause trouble.

[waiting]

Thanks for the above info. Your remarks were real interesting.

Late last night I signed up for it. How can I disable it? Using XP. Thanks.... George

[tacoeater]

waiting,
sounds like you did NOT wait.
once you sign up you can't undo it as far as i know. the only positive thing is that you will never again (until you format and reinstall) be annoyed by that darn pop up thing urging you to sign up. don't worry, you probably will not be affected negatively by your decision to not wait for more responses before you made your decision. it is not spyware or viral or wormy.

[pam123]

I'm not so sure about it not becoming a problem.
It seems to me that I remember a spate of articles from about 2 years ago, when it was becoming clear that it wasn't catching on, that proved it was a security hole.
You should be able to right click on it and pop up a menu that gives you the option to cancel it.
What have you tried so far ?

[tacoeater]

kinda technical but here are a couple of links to look at:
http://alive.znep.com/~marcs/passport/
and:
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupda...914259,00.html

[waiting]

I went to start/run/misconfig/start up menu and also services. But I could not find passport.
So therefore I failed to disable passport.

However, this computer has "GoBack". So I reverted my
C-drive to a point prior to signing up for passport.

Hopefully, this revert will get rid of it. What do you think?

Thanks for all your comments. Please feel free to advise.
Thanks.........George

[Statica]

Signing up for a passport account is NOT a security risk to your system. It has been demonstrated as an insecure method of one logon for multiple sites using persistent cookies. It is a "gimmick" of sorts for Microsoft's related sites; but it also allows a one stop signing in process for all of related Microsoft sites from hotmail to expedia to Messenger. There is NO need to resort to Restoring your system. Of course you are free to discount this advise, but there are better ways to remove your passport account. Now regarding the security risk what you should be disabling from your services (START > RUN > services.msc) > and change Messenger service to Manual.

Regarding removing any passport or .NET passports that you might have stored go to CONTROL PANEL > USER ACCOUNTS > Click on any account you have created > On the left side you should see related tasks - Manage my Network passwords > Now you can delete any passport accounts that you want removed.

[waiting]

Statica............thanks for info.....George

[waiting]

Statica: As you suggested-- I went to Start/Run/Services.msg

Results follow:

Name column -- messenger

Description column -- transmits

Start up type column -- Disabled

Long on as column -- local system

Question: What do you think?

[Statica]

Disabled is just as good as Manual (OK better), you should be fine.

Cheers

[waiting]

Statica: Your help is really appreciated...

"Services.msg" is a real eye opener...Thanks...George

[Statica]

You're very welcome, waiting.
In true server OS conformity, XP runs certain critical "programs" as services rather than just autostart entries. If you havent already done so, I'd recommend using services.msc and seeing what unnecessary services are running on your system. As most would agree here: this site is a good resource explaining the services and their needs. Sometimes certain services are designed for computer users with different needs than just a typical home PC, sometimes with time certain services have vulnerabilities that are used; its best to turn off all unncessary/risky services and start up programs.

Incidentally, your OS (if its the Pro version) comes with a number of MSC's (management consoles) that let you deal with a number of core settings. Search your C: drive for *.msc and you should see a number of them... try them out and discover them when you get the time.

[waiting]

Statica: thanks for your resource site... it looks interesting.

I'm using XP-home edition. Does that trigger any tips you'd like to forward to me? Thanks George

[waiting]

"services.msc" is a learning site..........eehhhhh? Thanks-- George