How to block AIM?

[specterge]

ok, I thought you guysmight be able to help me out, well i am setting up a computer for family freinds and they are asking me to somehow block AIM on the computer. I'm not exactly sure what the best way to do this would be. I was thinking that i could put the aim servers in the host file, that would block them, but i need to then know all of the aim servers to block. If anyone knows these or anything else i could do, i would appreciate this.

[AnyoneEB]

Well, that's the only way that might work, but you would need a list of every AIM server because it will probably try more than one before giving up. Currently the only AIM connection I have is listed as ads.web.aol.com
doing a nslookup on that I get:

Code: Select all

Server:  dhcp69.srv.hcvlny.cv.net (that's my ISP's DNS)
Address:  167.206.3.219

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    ads.web.aol.com
Addresses:  152.163.208.249, 205.188.165.57, 205.188.165.121, 205.188.165.185, 205.188.165.249, 64.12.174.57, 64.12.174.121, 64.12.174.185, 64.12.174.249, 152.163.208.57, 152.163.208.121, 152.163.208.185

Maybe you do only need to block a couple domains.

[specterge]

Thanks a lot man!!!
One question though, is this for AIM 4.8 or 5.0 and would that make a difference?

[MavyN]

AIM uses port 5190 to make its connections...just block the port

[specterge]

Two things, aim can change what port it uses to connect, can't it?? and if it can't, how can i block the port??

[fuuucckkers]

If you have a software firewall prog you can designate which ports to block. I used to use Sygate Personal Firewall, and I believe that feature is there. Or if you have a router, you can block ports through there.

[davisshaver]

Yeah but what about quick buddy and aim express???

[fuuucckkers]

Yeah but what about quick buddy and aim express???

Those are both programs built completely with JAVA. To my knowledge...there is no way to block those. Not unless AOL implements some features into those specific versions of AIM.

[waymon]

the best way to blocl those, would be to just search the web for sites that host those JAVA programs, and then block those sites.

[ziekke]

If the users of this computer are at all technical savvy, then the task of blocking ports will be extremely difficult (all you need to do is set AIM to connect using an unblocked port in the settings).

The best course of action in this case, would be to block all of AOL's IP addresses using either (or both) the hosts file and a firewall.

A couple firewalls out there are Tiny Personal Firewall and Sygate (as previously mentioned).

You can use Zonealarm as well to effectively block the application itself from accessing the internet.