Block Limewire from running..

Basq

Hello all,

Found out my girlfriend's sister is using Limewire to download software - and there's nothing like a good ol' trusty executable from Limewire! :rolleyes:

And considering i've installed a brand spanking new 250GB hard drive (and an extra 128MB of RAM) after just taking out a fried hard-drive from their machine.. no idea how that happened, by the way.. i really don't want the computer to be susceptible to the bounds and bounds of crap Limewire can inflict on a computer being navigated by a novice user.

So i want to block use of it altogether? What do ye suggest?... easiest way just to block the ports on the router? And any idea how to do this on the Netopia Cayman 3341 (standard router with any Eircom BB connection)?

Many thanks all!

Spear

basquille wrote:

Hello all,

Found out my girlfriend's sister is using Limewire to download software - and there's nothing like a good ol' trusty executable from Limewire! :rolleyes:

Many thanks all!

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what about applying some good ol' education to her. If she finds Limewire doesn't work she probably just get another client, and do the same.

put a password on the pc and don't tell her.

Basq

Spear wrote:

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what about applying some good ol' education to her. If she finds Limewire doesn't work she probably just get another client, and do the same.

No point in talking too her about it.. too stubborn!

She's not real up on the P2P thing.. she knows of Limewire and once that's gone, she'll more than likely try Kazaa and stop there. She wouldn't know any others well enough to install and use them (BitTorrent, eDonkey etc).

And if she tried Kazaa, i'd block Kazaa (or the the ports Kazaa is running on) and that'll be the end of that.

So after trying her last resort.. she'll give up knowing i was the victor!

hellboy99 wrote:

put a password on the pc and don't tell her.

Whatcha mean by password?... log-on password / administrator password?

I still want her to be able to use the PC... just not Limewire.

just block the ports and tell her that using Lime and Kaz puts your pc at a very high risk of getting worms, virus, spyware etc..

Fenster

Install Linux and use Shorewall to firewall the main filesharing ports?

That aside, education is the best thing. The problem though, is that many people who use PCs just don't want to learn, so they won't listen.

/shrug

Basq

hellboy99 wrote:

just block the ports and tell her that using Lime and Kaz puts your pc at a very high risk of getting worms, virus, spyware etc..

Well, that's the plan alright hellboy. Cheers for that but not positive how to actually block the ports on my particular router?

I read somewhere to blocks port 6300 - 6400 as Limewire typically uses an port in that range for both incoming and outgoing connections.

Fenster wrote:

Install Linux and use Shorewall to firewall the main filesharing ports?

Cheers but don't wanna install a second OS just for that.

Fenster wrote:

The problem though, is that many people who use PCs just don't want to learn, so they won't listen.

/shrug

You hit the nail right on the head there!

basquille

basquille wrote:

Well, that's the plan alright hellboy. Cheers for that but not positive how to actually block the ports on my particular router?

I read somewhere to blocks port 6300 - 6400 as Limewire typically uses an port in that range for both incoming and outgoing connections.

i think your right with them ports, i'll just check it for you to confirm it

Basq

hellboy99 wrote:

i think your right with them ports, i'll just check it for you to confirm it

Cheers mate!

Think 6346 is default... could be wrong!

block TCP port 6346 and stop UDP port 6346.

Basq

Cheers for that Hellboy.. presumed that alright!

Now to read up documentation on my router!

Thanks again - much appreciated

nag

like the guys said above, just turn on the guest account (assuming you're using win xp) or create a new unpassworded account that doesnt allow people to install crap on the pc and password your own account.

if people are ignorant enough not to want to pay attention to genuine security issues then they dont deserve access to your machine (assuming it is your machine). and what the hell are you doing letting your g/f's sister on your pc in the first place and then pussy footing around to try find a solution so as to try and avoid a conflict? id understand to some extent if it was a sibling but its not! excuse my french but grow some balls and tell that little twerp whats what

HTH

aside: dont take offence to that. i just dont like seeing people being pushed around and just putting up with crap like that. if youve put the time, money and effort into something like that, then you deserve respect and people should pay attention to what you have to say

Endurance Man

Why dont you just install a firewall and block the 2 programs? (is that what blocking the port is ?)
By the sounds of it she wont have a clue how to shutdown the firewall.

Basq

Cheers for the tip, nag!

But firstly, i don't want to restrict her PC use completely by giving her limited rights with regards to installing etc... not my place to do so as not my PC. And everytime she wants to install a legitimate program, i'll have to be there to either install it on my account or give her the password.

Oh.. and as i said above, it's not my PC (but if there's a problem with it, guess who'll be called to try and fix it). Her parents are somewhat naive and reckon Limewire's all safe so can't really lay down the law as both her and her parents won't listen. My girlfriend is the only person capable of using the computer in the household. And in their eyes, she's the golden girl.

So my plan was to restrict Limewire and tell her (and her parents) the Limewire service was shut down due to legal issues (blah blah yada yada).

Endurance Man wrote:

Why dont you just install a firewall and block the 2 programs? (is that what blocking the port is ?)
By the sounds of it she wont have a clue how to shutdown the firewall.

Was thinking about that at one point alright.. can you do this with the standard XP Firewall?

Endurance Man

basquille wrote:

Cheers for the tip, nag!

But firstly, i don't want to restrict her PC use completely by giving her limited rights with regards to installing etc... not my place to do so as not my PC. And everytime she wants to install a legitimate program, i'll have to be there to either install it on my account or give her the password.

Oh.. and as i said above, it's not my PC (but if there's a problem with it, guess who'll be called to try and fix it). Her parents are somewhat naive and reckon Limewire's all safe so can't really lay down the law as both her and her parents won't listen. My girlfriend is the only person capable of using the computer in the household. And in their eyes, she's the golden girl.

So my plan was to restrict Limewire and tell her (and her parents) the Limewire service was shut down due to legal issues (blah blah yada yada).


Was thinking about that at one point alright.. can you do this with the standard XP Firewall?

Ye, you can, fairly simple . You could also download Zonealarm, very good firewall and the sister is less likely to shut it down.

the_syco

Hmmm... how about something cruel, eh?

Delete some file that Windows needs (but which can be restored from the Windows CD), and say "it was proberly a virus from Limewire". Let her boil for a day or two, as your "trying to find out how to fix it", and then fix it (restore Windows).

After that, put a file saying "HAX0R3D by leet haxzors!", and delete everything else off it, that she may have downloaded.

omahony99

I've been using P2P software (BearShare) for a year and my PC has yet to get a virus on it.
I've accidentally downloaded lots of virus files but my antivirus software (McAfee) has always spotted them and deleted them straight away.
Of course I could have a virus on my PC without my knowledge but I've 3 anti-virus/anti-spyware packages which I run every 2 days and they've always given me the all-clear.
P2P is safe if you've decent anti-virus software and you take the right precautions e.g. don't run EXEs unless you're 100% sure its safe, extract all RAR and ZIP files and scan them for viruses (although McAfee looks inside all archive files anyway).

Blub2k4

How about laying it down to them and tellling them that Limewire causes problems. Tell them that you know this and are not prepared to help with a pc when the non-savvy owner will not listen to you. If they insist on running it then wash your hands of it and let them get someone else (the baby sister) to fix it when it goes wrong.

That's basically what I would do.

I find it astounding that they know enough to call you when things break but wont take your advice as to how not to break things?????????

I think the problem here is that you are afraid to lay down the law, and being the savvy one they should listen.

I'd tell them words to the effect of, I wont help if you wont listen, as I know I will be back and as a result I wont help.

Install torrents or an alternative and teach the kid how to do it properly.

Lying about limewire is not the way to go, the kid will find out from friends in school that your story is ****e......then you're a lier.

hobie

How about getting a new girlfriend? ....

(with no little sisters .... :rolleyes: )

sweno

Well if you don't want to restrict her privilages by using an account, blocking the ports is the best option.. The one's mentioned above I believe are correct last time I checked... there is one more think you could do seen as talking to her doesn't do much good.. You can password protect Limewire (there's loads of different programs for this).. But seen as its not your PC just block the ports and walk away!!

Smurfpiss

Yeah block the ports or use a firewall.
I have a cayman and it's not to hard to navigate...

KdjaCL

Insatall a virus dont fix the pc for a week then when you do fix it say its cos of limewire etc: she did it.

Education is the way to go if its her pc.


kdjac

Basq

Cheers for the suggestion all.. this is quickly turning into a Personal Issues thread!

Keeping the ports open for now as the girlfriend said the parents don't mind her using Limewire - so they're ignored both mine and her advice. I informed her and her parents that i'm taking no responsibility for any problems (present or future) with the PC.

And anything happens to it.. they can call in someone to have a look at it.

JackKelly

or pay the 6 grand when the IMA knock on the door!

My sis is the same with Bearshare. Never thought about blocking the ports though. Its an idea. For some reason, i'd feel better knowing they were using BitTorrent instead.

Capt'n Midnight

install it, then set rights on the program folder so no one has access to it
AND do the same for it's settings in REGEDIT

not sure if it would work , but might stop it being used / uninstalled and most importantly installed.

many AV programs can be set to recognise/block files by name - add it to the list so it triggers an AV alert and blocks access to the file/folder if someone tries to install it.

BUT since she has physical access to the machine you have to trust that she won't get a friend to open it up for her