How To Block Skype Chat

How do I block Skype Chat with IM Lock?

Some users wish to allow Skype for telephone calls, but wish to block the Skype chat function.

IM Lock Software can be configured for this purpose.

Simply go to Options, then Title Blocking.

Title Blocking is a way to keyword block titles belonging to programs (now browsers).

Under Title Blocking add the keyword “chat” – not case sensitive.

Now, if the Skype user opens the chat function, the Skype chat window will  be shut,
and you can optionally make a notification screen appear.

IM Lock Enterprise – What is it? Who uses it? and Quick Start

IM Lock Enterprise Home Page

What is IM Lock Enterprise?

IM Lock Enterprise is Instant Message Blocking and Internet Control software.

IM Lock Enterprise is designed to work on networks of 10 to 250 Computers.

Link To Full Blocking List and Features

Who uses IM Lock Enterprise?

IM Lock Enterprise is used by government, educational, corporate, and small business users around the world.

Our customers find that IM Lock Enterprise is better at blocking and controlling Instant Messaging and blocking MSN Messenger than any other software on the market today. And after installing IM Lock Enterprise, they find that there are many more incredible internet control mechanisms in place, P2P blocking, Streaming Media program blocking, and Skype Blocking, to name a few.

IM Lock Enterprise is ideal for networks of 10 to 200 computers where more expensive firewall filtering and URL packet sniffing software and hardware appliances are not feasible because of cost or network configuration constraints. This can happen in large organizations where there are remote offices, or segregated LANS, like testing labs for example.

IM Lock Enterprise is also ideal for small companies, consulting, service, education, and manufacturing concerns that are not budgeted or staffed for complicated and expensive solutions, but require that their valuable computer and network resources are limited to non-recreational use.

How does IM Lock Enterprise Work?

IM Lock Enterpise Screen Shot

IM Lock Enterprise is designed to allow many computers to be controlled by a single Administrative PC. Each installation of IM Lock can be set as an Administrative, Client, or Stand Alone. This is controlled by a radio button on the Network Administration screen. The Administrative and Client installs of IM Lock Enterprise are the same exact software, they are just configured by you, the user to be whoever you want.
There can be many Administrative setups on a network. There can be an infinite number of clients.
IM Lock Enterprise can also be run in standalone mode.

IM Lock Enterprise is installed on each PC that you wish MSN Blocking, Instant Message Blocking, Internet Control, etc. to occur. Most of the installs will be set as Clients. You can install IM Lock Enterprise by going to each PC and logging in with administrative privileges and installing the program, or you can use a windows push method and install the program automatically.

Each IM Lock Enterprise installation is pointed a folder on a network shared drive. This is accomplished by using a network browse button on the IM Lock Enterprise Network Administration screen. The shared folder will contain the blocking definitions. The client installations of IM Lock Enterprise will need only read privileges, the Administrative installations of IM Lock Enterprise will need read and write privileges for that share. IM Lock Administration setups and IM Lock Enterprise Client setups are the same exact software, they are just configured differently by a single radio button after install (IM Lock network control screen).

When you want to change the settings for all PC’s pointed to that share drive, the procedure is as follows:

1. Log into the Administrative Control Panel of IM Lock Enterprise.
2. Download the latest blocking updates.
3. Set the blocking settings how you want them
4. Export the settings to the shared folder. (this is done by pressing the “Export” button)
5. The IM Lock Enterprise clients will automatically detect the changes and acquire the same blocking configuration as was exported to the shared folder.

If you want to have different blocking schemas, you can have different shared folders, with different exports of schemas. Then you would point the IM Lock Enterprise clients to the appropriate share.

IM Lock Enterprise Home Page

Controlling Skype – Why Comvigo IM Lock May Work Best

Simply put, IM Lock may be the most effective way to block Skype Traffic on a Network.

Why?

Because most filtering solutions rely solely on port blocking or packet filtering. IM Lock uses algorithms beyond port blocking and packet filtering to block Skype clients at the source.

Skype encrypts and scrambles information that is transmitted over the Internet. Skype does not make public its encryption protocol. so it’s not possible to write exact filtering code to detect Skype packets.

Also, Skype changes the port that it uses each time it starts. Therefore, there is no standard Skype port. Skype is adept at port-hopping. entering port 80, Skypecan bypass most firewalls. Once inside the firewall, Skype then connects to other Skype clients and remains connected. If one of those connected Skype clients is infected with a Trojan or Virus, then all the machines that are connected to it can be infected with no firewall protection.

Four Difficulties in Skype detection for port blocking and packet sniffing network filters:

1. Skype does not run on any standard source port. Skype selects a random port on startup.

2. Skype is multi protocol, making it difficult to separate out voice, from chat, from video, etc.

3. Skype is a P2P (peer-to-peer), meaning Skype connects to many IP addresses dynamically, so these IP addresses keep changing.

4. All Skype communication is encrypted. This encryption is not public, making it difficult or impossible to detect and filter.

Thus you can see that filtering packets or blocking ports is not effective at blocking Skype, and may even put your network at risk. IM Lock uses algorithms that stop Skype clients at the source, and may be one of the most effective Skype Blocking solutions on the market today.

Link to IM Lock Home Page