Question

How to prevent users downloading *.exe

Asked by: eriklee

some users in my lab are downloading exe files and hacks from the internet which kills processes in XP - such as anti viral processes. How can i stop such downloads OR prevent it from executing after they have downloaded it. any suggestions?

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Asked On
2006-12-28 at 19:04:36ID22105772
Tags

prevent

,

downloading

,

from

,

users

,

exe

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

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Answers

 

by: BillDLPosted on 2006-12-28 at 21:14:26ID: 18212549

One page to add to tim_gui's links:
http://www.winability.com/folderguard/restrict-downloads-ie.htm

If this is an academic environment using a server/workstation arrangement, then the following should have been in place:

1. A "responsible use" agreement signed by each user specifying what is permissible, and the consequences of failing to comply
2. Group Policies which can be used to prevent specific activity by specified user groups or individual users.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/group_policy_for_windows_xp_prof.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307882
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873449

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/mangxpsp2/mngintro.mspx

http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/a/3/aa32239c-3a23-46ef-ba8b-da786e167e5e/PolicySettings.xls

You also have the Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) at your disposal:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ie/reskit/6/default.mspx

This registry modification can be used to restrict access to the Windows Installer so that users won't be able to execute a setup package that uses it:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1148/

Disables the Right-Click > "Run As ..." option:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1308/

After reissuing all users with a hardcopy policy of use and telling them that contraventions will be treated as gross misconduct, I would disable the ability of all users to download ANYTHING until it sinks in:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/901/

You could relax it after a while and monitor user activity closely to isolate the culprits.

 

by: artofchoboPosted on 2006-12-28 at 21:23:42ID: 18212572

Hi eriklee,

Try out
http://www.youngzsoft.net/ccproxy/  ==> this is a very strong proxy software.

If you are deploying for enterprise solution, I'll reckon
microsoft ISA (internet security and acceleration 2004)

Regards,
Chobo

 

by: johnb6767Posted on 2006-12-29 at 10:59:35ID: 18215731

Additionally, I would consider preventing certain files from being run at all, not only downloaded from the web...Youd still have to worry about people bringing in thier own copies of regedit, the .reg files.cmd.exe etc... to bypass restrictions...

DisallowRun
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/93501.mspx?mfr=true

Once this key is enabled, you can stop them from getting to regedit, cmd.exe etc...

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
"DisallowRun"=dword:00000001
then you create another subkey under that called
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun
Strin values starting with 1, then 2 etc...Modify the values to correspond to the application you dont want run, like regedit.exe and then youre good to go....

Keep in mind, you can do the same thing with group policy, so this would be a good easy to duplicate solution if GPO is not available at the server level...


 

by: BillDLPosted on 2006-12-29 at 23:26:17ID: 18218245

Thank you, eriklee

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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