block messenger apps at server?

[wengang]

How can the office server be set up to block programs like ICQ, Yahoo instant messenger or Hotmail messenger from sending and receiving on client PCs?

Is it one thing that blocks them all from working, or one by one?

thanks
wengang

[Lightning]

You could prevent the users from installing these application or you could find out what ports these apps use, and block those

[Ideas Man]

Disable the applications in Group Policy. If you need info on how to do it, just ask.

[wengang]

no, I was really asking the question in reverse. My server has blocked these apps from running and I was trying to figure out how to use them anyway.

[Ideas Man]

Oh, yeah that is confusing. Depends on what the Administrator has done.

[LabtroRob]

Depending on how your network is configured, in Windows 2000, you can unplug your PC from the network, log in under your domain user (it will use the cached information) and any network policies won't be applied (unless they transfered it all to local policies). It will let you get around the network group policies and install the application. Doesn't work in XP though.

However, most admins will simply block the port that these applications use, so even if you do get it installed, it won't help you.

Not only that, if you do the above, you can't really claim ignorance to the fact that you didn't know you shouldn't install it if you went to those lengths

[IntelSucks]

Wait...it wont let you install them, or they wont work? If you cant install them, you obviously dont have rights. If they dont work than you probably have some stupid proxy like bess. But if you just set up the right proxy withing the app (its probably under the setting or options, you will find it) this works with aim and trillian but I dont know about the other ones...it really all depends on the proxy or if this is even what you need to know, I am just rambling now and I feel stupid.