the classic AOL AIM questions...

From: jameson (jazzmannzho@yahoo.com)
Date: 01/22/02 

From: jazzmannzho@yahoo.com (jameson)
Date: 21 Jan 2002 15:48:48 -0800

Hi all...
I just took a new job at a private school. They use a sonicwall
firewall and run NT 4.0 servers.
having said that I have noticed several teachers and even some
students will load AIM (aol instant messenger) onto thier computers. I
have no problem with this at all, I find it to be a useful tool myself
when trying to figure out problems, i keep friends in the industry on
it...
but being new to the networking industry my ears swiftly turn towards
word of AIM being a security threat, opening a straight VPN into my
network and AOLs.
So I want to prevent AIM from being used on my network. But there are
two versions: the "downloadable" one, and a java based one. Is the
java based one as much of a threat as the full version one? Like I
said, I have no problem with people using it, but my network security
will always take first place...

having asked that, what IS the down and dirty/quick and easy way to
block the downloadable version of AIM from being used? of course i
know it uses port 5190, but i also heard that if AIM cant get out on
5190 that it will simply look for another open one, and i cant go
around blocking all my ports!

thanks guys, any advice/answers appreciated!
jazz mann

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