Comments on: Blocking Instant Messaging Applications http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/ Technology & Security Tips & Guides Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:56:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: John http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-151 John Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:56:17 +0000 http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/#comment-151 DNS is your best software/cheap solution to BLOCK these IM's, although it does require periodic maintenance. WebSense or SurfControl is your second best software solution as previously mentioned - although you need a server to run the database on - I think a workstation will work as a server if enough RAM is installed. --- I wouldn't think BLOCKing is allowed at an Educational institution because that restricts learning. I think your best bet is the Packeteer appliance - with this you don't BLOCK (unlawful at an EDU) but limit the bandwidth of these IM apps to a miserable to use level - thereby slowly negating their use because the response is so slow. Unfortunately Packeteer is not FREE. DNS is your best software/cheap solution to BLOCK these IM’s, although it does require periodic maintenance.
WebSense or SurfControl is your second best software solution as previously mentioned – although you need a server to run the database on – I think a workstation will work as a server if enough RAM is installed.
— I wouldn’t think BLOCKing is allowed at an Educational institution because that restricts learning.
I think your best bet is the Packeteer appliance – with this you don’t BLOCK (unlawful at an EDU) but limit the bandwidth of these IM apps to a miserable to use level – thereby slowly negating their use because the response is so slow. Unfortunately Packeteer is not FREE.

]]> By: Jason http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Jason Thu, 05 Jan 2006 12:47:01 +0000 http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/#comment-60 Hi, Why don't you use a path rule rather than a hash rule? Just block msnmsgr.exe, ypager.exe and any others you find along the way. Whilst a user could simply rename the file, it seems easier to maintain than a hash list. Jason Hi,

Why don’t you use a path rule rather than a hash rule?

Just block msnmsgr.exe, ypager.exe and any others you find along the way.

Whilst a user could simply rename the file, it seems easier to maintain than a hash list.

Jason

]]> By: Jancis http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Jancis Mon, 05 Dec 2005 11:50:37 +0000 http://www.exploitx.com/140/blocking-instant-messaging-applications/#comment-34 I didn't read all postings, but i can suggest one easy step: drop all traffic to messenger central servers - just connect and write down IP's of servers. I didn’t read all postings, but i can suggest one easy step: drop all traffic to messenger central servers – just connect and write down IP’s of servers.

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