Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
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You're not alone, I see this a lot. If you're not careful, it's very easy to accidentally give someone else access to your account if you use MSN Messenger a public computer or someone else's computer.
It require's a little diligence on your part, or you're going to get into trouble.
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First, if it's already happened, change your password now. That will prevent any "Remember Me" functionality on other computer from working any longer, because of course they'll have remembered the old, now wrong, password.
Now, each time you use someone else's computer for MSN Messenger, you need to make sure the features are off.
To keep Messenger from automatically starting at login, and from allowing automatic login. Click on Tools, Options, General. Now UNcheck "Automatically run messenger when I log on to Windows", and "Allow automatic sign in when connected to the Internet".
We also need to force Messenger to forget who we are.
The next step that everyone seems to overlook is simple: Sign Out -> Hit the File Menu, and select Sign Out.
Now at this point you'll see that Messenger may still remembers who you are, AND remembers your password. So UNcheck: Remember Me, Remember my Password and Sign me in automatically.
At this point you should also click on "Forget me".
If you ever use Messenger on someone else's computer, you must check these settings each time you are done, or you risk leaving your information on their computer.
I've put together a short, less than two minute video walking through the steps to disable the automatic login and remember me features of MSN Messenger that you'll need to take each time you finish using it on someone else's computer.
Watch the video:
Preventing MSN
Messenger from Starting and Signing in Automatically.
Article C2508 - January 2, 2006 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
August 6, 2010 5:04 PM
Okay, so you all want to know how to stop MSN Messenger from starting Automatically when you turn on your computer or use Internet Explorer? You're tired of all of the foolishness and constant cosmetic non functional changes that Bill makes to the MSN products? You want to stop wasting your time learning program and function one after the other always with the promise of better features only to find out that the "new" change is just "window dressing" on a program or function that already works fine? You're tired of wasting your time? Then stop supporting Bill Gates and Microsoft and purchase an Apple. It's just that simple people. If you are tried of Bill and the Tinker Boys wasting your time "Windows 7 was their lame idea" then stop supporting Microsoft. Trust me, your life will be a lot less complicated with Apple, they do not unnecessarily waste your time learning marginally changed "window dressed" programs and features. It's just that simple. Say "NO" to Billy and the Boys and let them know that "Windows 7, and XP, and ME, and.... well you get it... seems that they can't make anything that lasts... that's their Idea. Just saying... APPLE.
August 10, 2010 9:56 PM
Did not stop messenger from autosignin when opening hotmail in firefox. xp.
May 13, 2011 2:09 PM
everytime someone signs in than out of yahoo messenger i see it in bottom right hand corner. how do I stop it from doing that? It's people not even on my list.
14-May-2011
July 10, 2011 11:21 PM
I Am thinking of suing msn ..cause of this..problem..I mean..it results in privacy issues..when you remember the password..what if we forget to signout
every one can use our msn id...See your friends..Other problem is it affects my privacy..
Really need to sue them for this flaw
December 12, 2012 10:28 PM
I cannot stop messenger from autosigning when opening hotmail in firefox. xp too!!!