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Want to stop MIRC and MSN Messenger..........

Hi all,
I want to block the use of MSN Messenger and MIRC for anyone who uses my PC...... i.e no one can sign in using MSN Messenger and MIRC.......How can I do this ? Maybe something like Zone alarm is what I need but I want it completely invisible from the user......Can it be controlled from within Windows ?
My actual situation is that I am the main user of my system....But when I am not at home my brothers keep on waisting time by chatting on MIRC and Messenger......I first tried to make an administrative user and then a Restricted user......But my brothers hacked through it and now they can enter through that administrative user as well......
In short I want to restrict my brothers from Using MIRC and MSN Messenger (Preferably if they are unaware of what is happening) and as you might have deducted my brothers also know quite a bit of Computers.........

I have Windows XP Professional with SP2 installed.........(Isn't there something in the firewall of windows that can help me)

Imran Arshad

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SheharyaarSaahil

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stevenshealthcare

My two cents. First, the above methods should provide you some relief. They should prevent your brother from abusing your system. Secondly, after you put them in place I suggest you take your brother out behind the wood shed. ;-)
David

SheharyaarSaahil

>> Secondly, after you put them in place I suggest you take your brother out behind the wood shed. ;-)

lol !! :D

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envoguecomputers

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ASKER

Sorry for the delayed response.....I was off for a dinner party.....I am going to check these suggestions one by one and let you know.......

Imran

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envoguecomputers,

>>Actually, you can download ZoneAlarm (firewall)
Yes I do have ZoneAlarm......But as I have stated earlier I want it to be invisible from the User.....Can Zone Alarm be used in stealth mode?

katacombz,SheharyaarSaahil and Longbow

You all have given almost the same link/method of using gpedit.msc /secpol.msc.....I have tested it and it worked quite nicely except one thing........It displays a pop up message "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a software restriction policy. For more information, open Event viewer or contact your system administrator"

I assumed myself on the place of my brother and googled to find the solution of this problem......and it took me 2 min. to find the solution, provided that I have administrative rights(Though I knew it beforehand).......

SheharyaarSaahil,

>>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=323525
applies to windows 2000 only........(at least the article says so)

Imran

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http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

SheharyaarSaahil

ok so here is the situation....

u can try to password protect ur account >>> he already hacked it !!
u can try restricting the use pf programs >>> he will search on google and get a solution
u can try restricting the Installation of programs >>> still if he can hack the Administrator account, and can search on google, and then he will be able to break this restriction also !!!
even if we put a BIOS on ur computer, so that he cannot start it..... there are 1001 methods out there to hack or delete the BIOS password !!!!

in short..... we can put Thousands of restrictions,,,,, but for every restriction there is a solution,,,, and if there is a solution,,,, he will get it via google..... so.... ?? :)

>>in short..... we can put Thousands of restrictions,,,,, but for every restriction there is a solution,,,, and if there is a solution,,,, he will get it via google..... so.... ?? :)

If google fails then reinstall the OS, right? :)

rsdn

Hi imarshad:

If you really don't want to allow others use mirc or other chat programs, then the best way is not to allow them to use your computer. Becuase if they are little bit clever about computer matters then they can easily find a way.

rsdn

SheharyaarSaahil

btw how do u connect to internet,,,,, via dialup or broadband ??

http://www.sharewareconnection.com/verschwindibus.htm

Can this software help you ?
It can hide windows on your desktop.

ASKER

>>btw how do u connect to internet,,,,, via dialup or broadband ??

Via Network Card and you can call it Broadband.......though the Max downloading speed is limited to 20k......

>>in short..... we can put Thousands of restrictions,,,,, but for every restriction there is a solution,,,, and if there is a >>solution,,,, he will get it via google..... so.... ?? :)

>>If you really don't want to allow others use mirc or other chat programs, then the best way is not to allow them to use >>your computer.

So I should stop thinking about blocking them ???

>>u can try to password protect ur account >>> he already hacked it !!

Maybe this is the important point......Can I create accounts so that it will be hard to hack ? I know anything is possible but has SP2 given some more security for the administrator User account ?

So can you guide me so that I can do the following

1) Delete all current accounts including Administrator accounts as well

2) Create a Power user that is invisible to all other users. It is like administrator of the system. It will be only used when there is some trouble around (Is something like this even possible)

3) Create an Administrative account, say by my name, that I will be using......

4) Create restricted accounts so that I will assign these to my brothers......

if you people like I will start a new Question for this ????

Imran

You can also hide an icon from the system tray ;
http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak909.aspx

And hide an application from the Task manager :
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/preventclose.asp

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SheharyaarSaahil

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SheharyaarSaahil

>> 1) Delete all current accounts including Administrator accounts as well

not possible!! in XP u cannot delete the original Administrator account, and neither can create another Administrator account... !! :-/

Set a password on your BIOS and lock the PC case with a good key !

ASKER

>>not possible!! in XP u cannot delete the original Administrator account, and neither can create another Administrator
>>account... !! :-/

How to access that original account ? How do I know that when I installed what User Name and Password I chose ? Is the user name of that account always administrator or it can be different ? I just want to change the password of that administrator account so that hacking from that side is not possible.........

>>another Administrator account...

I didnot mean another Administrator account but simply an account with administrative rights......

>>http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

katacombz, this is for Linux.... Are you advising me to shift to Linux ?

Imran Arshad

SheharyaarSaahil

>> How to access that original account ?

boot into safemode, and u will get there the Administrator user on welcome screen,,,,, this is the ORIGINAL Administrator account !!

Knoppix is a linus operating system that will run from a bootable cd with no hard drive in the computer.

what i was suggesting is that if you cannot control the behaviour of other users on your computer, and cannot lock the out to put the hard drive into a removable sled and when you are not at the system remove the hard disk from it and take it with you.

then allow all other users to boot to the knoppix cd and make them use that then no matter what they do they cannot mess up your computer. and since it si on a cd they cannot install software

ASKER

OK thanks all experts for your help...............
I will try to figure out a way from these suggestions....I will most probably split points on basis of useful information......

Imran Arshad

ASKER

>>boot into safemode, and u will get there the Administrator user on welcome screen,,,,, this is the ORIGINAL
>>Administrator account !!

I did and I found 2 accounts over there.....

1) Administrator (Computer administrator)
2) Imran (Computer administrator)

but the problem is that I cant change the password.....I loged into Administrator and through (Control Panel) / User Accounts I tried to change the password.....But when I click on the button (after entering all info of old and new password) I get the error "Windows Cannot change password".....Why is it so ? Is this behaviour normal ? How to change the administrator password?

Imran

SheharyaarSaahil

u must be entering a wrong OLD password !!

>> How to change the administrator password?
from the same control panel>user accounts, choose Administrator user, and hit Create a Password !!

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ASKER

Thanks katacombz,
This was useful......

>>u must be entering a wrong OLD password !!
This cant be the case.....as I have loged into Windows (Safe Mode) with the account titled Administrator and with the same password.....How can Windows let me allow to sign in using the same password but wont let me change the Password?????

Imran

SheharyaarSaahil

hmmmmm so u were trying to change the Administrator password, i thought u were trying to change the password for Imran user account !!
So has it changed now or still giving the same error :-?

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Why don't you just tell your brothers to cut it out?
Ask them not to do it, tell them you've had enough and it's not funny any more?
Ask them nicely, be sincere and you'll get better results.

I have a number of brothers of my own and believe me the more you try to get one up on them, the more they will try to get one back. It's a game called sibling rivalry.
The problem is - they will win, because you're competing over Windows and Windows is so easy to hack.
All it takes is one little Unix floppy disk and you can reset any Windows Administrator password.

Sure you could restrict the use of the floppy as a boot device, but then they go into the BIOS and change it back.

So you password protect the BIOS, and then they use the BIOS reset jumper on the motherboard to get around it.

My point being: Whatever restrictions you put on your machine they can be overcome. Windows does NOT provide enough security, and neither does your hardware. You are far better off TALKING TO YOUR BROTHERS!!!

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Hey Imran....

Gimmie Points.

please :o)

ASKER

I donot want to delete the question.......
I want it to be open for a couple of more weeks......

Imran

ASKER

In fact I want it to be open til 20th November.......After which I will split the points.....

Imran

ASKER

I hope that I have splitted the points correctly.......

Imran

Thanks imran for the points.

rsdn