topic Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger in Web Security

How to block Windows Live Messenger

ezekiel_ironport — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:42:06 GMT

Dear All,

Greetings. Can anyone advise how can I block Windows Live Messenger? I have tried to block with the signature MSMSGS (which is for Windows Messenger), and MSN messenger.

Thanks,
ezekiel

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

scott.taylor_ironport — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:30:59 GMT

Doesnt blocking the webcat "Chat" do this?
If this is blocked, users shouldnt be able to sign into Live Messenger or even download the client.

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

jowolfer — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:17:06 GMT

Scott,

Kind of. You can block the Chat web category and that will block HTTP access to Chat related sites. This will 'help' prevent the downloading of such software, though if the installers are on a site like download.com, the clients will still be able to download it.

Once the software is already on the computer (installed previously, from an alternate download site, installed from a thumb drive, so forth), the chat software will most likely NOT use HTTP for communication with its servers. Which means the chat traffic will bypass the WSA and not be blockable.

The WSA will support these native chat protocols in the future.

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

ezekiel_ironport — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:50:47 GMT

Hi Scott,

I tried blocking with webcat "Chat", but it doesn't work.

Hi Josh,

Is this in the roadmap?

Thanks,
ezekiel

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

jowolfer — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:19:54 GMT

Ezekial,

It is definitely on the road map, but I'm not sure a what the ETA is.

Blocking Windows Live Messenger

scott.taylor_ironport — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:19:09 GMT

Managed to eventually block connection to Windows Live Messenger with a combination of two things:-
1) Block Chat Category on WSA
2) Block the Hosts 207.46.27.253 and 207.46.27.254 on your firewall.
These are the MSN hosts for Live Messenger, though you may find that other hosts may eventually need to be blocked.

Good Luck!

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

ezekiel_ironport — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:37:30 GMT

Guys,

Managed to just block Windows Live Messenger with blocking "login.live.com".

Regards,
ezekiel

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

ezekiel_ironport — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:20:45 GMT

Guys,

Managed to just block Windows Live Messenger with blocking "login.live.com".

Regards,
ezekiel

Sorry Guys,

This will in fact block hotmail as well.

Regards,
ezekiel

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

jowolfer — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:47:40 GMT

As you have found, login.live.com is used for many different Microsoft apps / services.

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

bartknippenberg — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:48:45 GMT

[quote="Josh"]Scott,

The WSA will support these native chat protocols in the future.

Hello Josh,

is there already a time frame know wenn this will be supported?

best regards

bart

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

jowolfer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:01:15 GMT

Bart,

I know that native IM functionality is on the roadmap, but I do not have any definitive information on time frame. This would best be addressed by your sales representive so that they may content PM.

Re: How to block Windows Live Messenger

jbg_ironport — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:00:38 GMT

Hello,

The best way to block msn would be to do a regular expression with "/gateway/gateway.dll" on a custom URL category and block it