How do i block MSN messenger from my computer? All my kids do is sit and talk on the computer all day!!
Judging by the number of questions I get on MSN Messenger, they're not alone. Do they lose it if the service stops working? I get a rash of panic-stricken questions each time that happens.
The other question I get a lot is "my school's blocked MSN Messenger, how do I work around that?".
Sigh.
I'm not sure that this problem can be solved with technology alone, but there are some things to do...
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I would:
- Uninstall Windows Messenger - Windows Messenger is a part of Windows, and can be used to chat just like MSN Messenger, with the same group of friends.
- Uninstall MSN Messenger.
- Password protect the account that they and you have been logging in as. Change that password, and the administrator's account password, to something that only you know.
- Create a new user account, not an administrator, that is for their use. They shouldn't be able to install Messenger.
That solves the immediate problem, and depending on how resourceful the kids are, that might be enough.
But kids can get very resourceful. They might install a different IM client, use a different IM service, or use one of the web based alternatives.
You can try blocking access to certain sites by using the "hosts" file to block access to them. Set their IP address to 127.0.0.1 (a special address that means "this machine", and effectively blocks access to whatever domain you've associated with it). Make sure to set permissions on the hosts file so that the account that the kids sign in with can't modify it.
Sadly, techniques like that are really only piecemeal, and prone to error. As soon as you plug one leak, your kids can find another.
Another approach is to look into some of the firewall or parental spyware packages, which may allow you to block specific applications. Again, while a stronger step, there are ways that these can be circumvented as well, if the kids are savvy and determined enough.
As I said, I'm not sure that this problem can be completely solved with technology alone.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - How do I uninstall Windows Messenger?
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Ask Leo! - How can I keep my kids safe from internet garbage?
Article C2350 - May 12, 2005
Why not use WFilter to block messenger and porn websites? WFilter has the most widely support of messenger and P2P protocols. You can download WFilter here: http://www.imfirewall.us
Posted by: imfirewall at April 16, 2007 4:47 AMHow do I know whom have me blocked?
Posted by: Lilyvet at May 31, 2007 3:23 PMIf i block someone in my msn messenger, is there anyway the user could notice it and does it apply also to hotmail email?? is the user cannot send email to the person who block them? thanks...
Posted by: Antonio at June 19, 2007 2:10 PMI have to say I actually take offence from the fact some idiotic nobody has claimed that msn is the cause of bad grammar. Why not go all out and ban the mobile phone? Let's regress to a stage in which communication was just beginning.
I agree the lower years in school should not be accessing msn because of the amount of work they have but in sixth form there is NOTHING to do in your free periods. And don't say we could be doing work.. because I've done it already. Msn is cheap and a convenient way to communicate. The school blocks a ridiculous amount of sites.. for example, hotmail.What is the point of that? I actually need my hotmail to organise matches with people but the school hinders that.
Fair enough with young kids you can make comments about msn not being beneficial but you cannot generalise that to teenagers who are in school VOLUNTARILY post 16. Maybe you should look at yourselves instead of judging the youth of today.
And as for the comment on grammar...I use msn constantly and my grammar is still in tact. BOOM goes your theory.
But yeah... people trying to get around it..web based msn sites are always getting blocked. But you can access other sites by using: http://www.glype.org
Posted by: ANGRYsixthformstudent at September 28, 2007 1:11 AMComment #3 is exactly why any kind of messenger program should be blocked from a school, is that kid retarded?
oh yeah, and a response to Antonio, Msn is not the cause of the bad grammar, your right, instead its our failing education system and lack of discipline..
Posted by: Kris at July 15, 2008 9:33 PMTo: ANGRYsixthformstudent
Intact! that is the right way to spell it, not IN TACT! No more MSN for you..
Posted by: JC at August 20, 2008 9:53 AMi need to know how to block the sites for pornogphy my niece has been on there and i cannot get my sister to cooperate with me so i will try to block it if i can please help me kitty spurrier
-Leo
You can use a software that will block chat applications. I know a free one. It's name is Messenger Blocker. If you need to block even websites, or chat rooms etc than you should try Application Blocker
Posted by: Anelly at January 29, 2009 5:07 AMI think it's a BIG crime to block MSN for my children! They should learn it not too often sitting on the pc. But it's so unkind if you block something. It makes me so sad :(
Good evening:
Posted by: M!ndbyte at January 31, 2009 7:58 PMM!ndbyte!!
I don't think it's a good idea to just block msn by default, but it does happen that some kids just get addicted and it starts to become a problem. When that happens, blocking it or removing their internet acces may be your only option. We eventually had to do this to my brother when he became addicted to all sorts of online garbage.
I found a fairly good block after many hours of messing about on my router. I use a D-Link DI704UP- a fairly basic home router, but it has an inbuilt filter system which a lot of other routers also have.
To access the router admin page, put 192.168.0.1 into your browser and enter the username "admin". There's no password for the first login.
From here, click "advanced", "filter" and finally "domain blocking". You can add up to 8 domains for the router to block.
To stop MSN from working, enter the following domains (you probably don't need all of them, but I'm not sure what the necessary ones are):
messenger.hotmail.com
www.e-messenger.net
messenger.live.com
webmessenger.msn.com
msn.co.uk
msn.com
gateway.messenger
Then just click "allow to access all domains except blocked domains" and click "apply".
To stop anyone else changing the settings, click "tools" and "admin" to set a new password.
Done!
MSN is now unable to connect to its server, with any attempt to do so coming back as a connection error and none the wiser.
There's also a URL blocker to block out some of the online alternatives.
If you're good with computers there's probably a way around this, but it should keep the average person from using it.
Posted by: Bob at June 16, 2009 10:35 PM