MS Word Issue

[killugh]

I am a high school computer administrator (hobbiest turned admin really for lack of anyone else). I am trying to close the holes by which students can access hotmail, etc. from our computer lab because of virus issues.

Anyhow, I have controlled the POP3 problem for the most part using special programs, etc. However, the more industrious students are using MS Word to access their hotmail and/or send hotmail.

They simply use the "mailto:" command in MS Word by using the control key and the fact that MS Word supports hyperlinks. I've gone through the help files and nothing is there relating to how this can be turned off.

Is there a reg hack for this? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated...

[Mike-C]

You could use the lmhosts.sam file to completely block hotmail's I.P. you should be able to find some info on google. This way they wont be able to access hotmail by any method.

[jroc]

If your an adminstrator.....then block the application at the firewall level...Im using Sygate Pro...and when I first opened word document..that had a link...and click on it...I had to allow it to access the internet via the firewall...you can set the firewall to block the application itself....or block the IP of hotmail... 207.68.172.239

[killugh]

I am amazed at how helpful everyone has been. I spent about 6 hours today scouring the Net for techniques, etc. with little to show for it. But I've been on here for 2 hours and already I've acquired more useful suggestions, etc. than comapred to the previous 6 hours. Kudos!

One last querry: anyone recommend a particular brand of firewall (hardware)? E.g. Links, etc. And or software? E.g. Sysgate Pro, etc.

And when I get the firewall I should be able to configure it so that I block ports 25 and 110 (which would take care of ALL web based emails) correct?

[BeenThereB4]

Uhhhh --WEB mail ---- WEB is port 80 - Port blocking this port will shut down all Web browsing! Block the ip as others told you!

[MCT]

i dunno what OS your using ( i will assume xp pro), but cant u give all users limited access & disable ms word from connecting 2 the net? (similar 2 what was said above, but a bit different with the firewall, u wouldnt need a firewall for this job if u dont it correctly)

regards

[killugh]

Unfortunately I don't know how to disable this feature from MS Word. I scoured the help files and all of the tool bars. Any suggestions?

[Tadly]

This isn't an MS Word feature, I'm pretty sure that the mailto: command is treated more like a file extension by the operating system. For instance, to save themselves time the students could probably just go to Start>Run type mailto: and get the same effect.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mailto\shell\open\command]
@=""

That registry code should clear out the program connected with the mailto: command. However if you are concerned about them accessing hotmail you should really worry about blocking access to the site, rather than blocking methods to access the site such as some of the other users have pointed out.