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restrict access to programs like AIM?

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JVZ

Programmer
Sep 3, 2002
205
CA
Does anybody know if there is a way to restrict access to programs like AIM during a certain time...?

I need to find a way to stop users from logging into those programs, however only during certain time...

Any suggestions?
 
AOL sells a coporate AIM server that acts sort of like a proxy for it's IM services behind a firewall. I haven't used it, but it looks promising.
 
For a certian time? Ohhh! I don't know. Try setting a Group Policy banning the .exe program, but then also create a schedule in Windows Scheduler to open the AIM app up but using a different user. Create a special user with a complex password for it. E.g.

User: AIMService
P/wrd: fdjsad9e4i209ur

(Let em' guess that one!)

Now I THINK the AIM app should run using this AIMService users credientials, which you have left out of this Group Policy. So any user who is logged on at a time you specify will have the AIM app opened for them and they should be able to use it.

Give it ago, I'd like to find out if it works!!! ;-)
Steve Hewitt
Systems Manager
 
I have solved this problem on my home lan by creating a vb6 program that does this exact thing. The process is simple..every time windows opens an executable, it references a registry entry. Modify the registry entry for .exe to load your program first before windows loads the requested executable. Your program gets a handle to the desired program, you check it against a forbidden list and then simply do not launch the program. If it is a program that is not on the list, you launch it from VB. Works great.. The same process is used for .bat, .lnk, .com and two others that escape me at the moment.

I am at work so I can not remember the exact registry entry but will look it up tonight and repost if you are interested.

Jim
 
Thanks for the response!!!...Yes I am very interested! :)
 
Sorry for the slow response..I forgot to check the posting...Here is the registry key that will allow you to do this.

HKEY_CLASS_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command. Replace the data portion with the complete path to your executable and it will work..
HOWEVER!!!!! Backup this registry key BEFORE you modify it because if change this key and it points to a program that does not exist, your machine will not be able to run ANYTHING!! It will say "Searching for ..." and then nothing will happen. If this happens, double click on the saved key and it will insert it back into the registry and then everything should be fine.

So.. good luck..It took me alittle experiementing to get it to work correctly.

There is also keys for .bat, .pif, .com , .exe and one other that escapes me at the moment.

BE CAREFUL!!!

Jim
 
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