.NET Messenger Problems

​I don't know what .NET Messenger is or does....does it have anything to do with my e-mail account (Hotmail). For the last several weeks, on my old computer, and now on my new one, everytime I boot up there are usually two pop-ups that state that my .NET Messenger is not connected. The "online contacts" button at the top of the MSN screen sometimes has a red X across it or says not signed in. The e-mail icon does not show the little button with the amount of new e-mails. I click on the mail icon anyway and my e-mails come up. ​

​And this evening I got another kind of pop-up in the lower right corner of the screen saything that there was an important security update for .NET Messenger from the "Service Staff". I am leery of updates unless they are absolutely necessary, since I have had some problems with them corrupting my Norton Anti-Virus files, although I do both Norton and Windows XP updates. I am not sure if I am even using this service, or need it​

​All I do is e-mail in Hotmail and on rare occasions e-mail another forum member from within the forum. My question is....do I need this .NET service, and if not, how can I delete it or and at least get rid of the annoying pop-ups. Hope this is the proper board to post this on.​

​ADDITIONAL: Also, I have been getting a pop-up now and then in a little window that says "Messenger Service". Turns out to be an offer from a site called MessageBasher.com that wants to take care of my pop-up problem!!. Of course I won't bite, but wonder how to get rid of this, have not idea where I got it.. An updated virus scan turned up nothing, neither did searches by bothe SpyBot and AdAware. Anyone have any ideas on how to stop this? ​

​Message Edited by dalem29 on 08-28-2003 08:15 PM​